While Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade Counties are still a short way behind, most of Florida enters “phase one” of reopening starting Today (Monday, May 4). If you are wondering what that means, here’s what you need to know:

Retail stores, restaurants, museums, and libraries can reopen but they must operate at 25 percent capacity, with restaurants also making sure that all people are a minimum of 6 feet apart. Florida's state parks will be a part of the phase reopening as visitors will experience limited hours, capacity, and services.

Bars, gyms, and personal services like hairdressers will remain closed.

Schools will continue distance learning through the end of the school year. And visitors are still banned from senior living…

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Good news coming out of South Florida as the famous Breakers Resort announced this past Friday they plan to reopen their doors on May 22.

“In response to COVID-19 and in compliance with all government recommendations and orders, The Breakers and all related businesses will remain temporarily closed until our intended reopening at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 22,” the hotel said in a statement issued at 5 p.m. Friday.

“The health and safety of our guests and team members remain The Breakers’ highest priority,” the statement said.

The hotel, Palm Beach’s grand dame of resorts, announced March 17 that it would close the following day for at least three weeks in response to the threat of the coronavirus pandemic. The resort also closed its related…

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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is gearing up for the majority of his state to enter phase one of the reopening process Monday amid the coronavirus outbreak, and he says he’s optimistic.

DeSantis told Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures” he will exercise caution but has been looking forward to making progress.

“I think tomorrow is going to be a small step, I think it’s going to be a measured step, but I think it’s going to be an important step for people of Florida to know there is a light at the end of the tunnel,” DeSantis said. “We’re going to follow a safe, smart, step-by-step approach to Florida’s recovery. We’re going to follow data and facts, but we are intent on moving forward to be able to get this society on its feet again.”

According to…

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Phase 1 of Florida's reopening is set to begin Monday with some restaurants and retail stores opening on a limited capacity. But what will Phase 2 entail and when will it start allowing for businesses like bars, gyms, and salons to open?

Gov. Ron DeSantis' "Re-open Florida Task Force" is recommending bars, nightclubs and other businesses could reopen under Phase 2. Click here to see the complete three phases of the state’s reopening.

Those businesses, which have been closed since the April 3 statewide shutdown, would be allowed to operate at 50 percent capacity.

Gyms would be allowed to open up at 75 percent capacity.

Then restaurants, under Phase 2, could also bump up to a 75 percent capacity. That would be followed by salons and barber…

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Thankfully for those still in self-quarantine for the next few weeks, there is a great roster of new shows and movies coming up on Netflix this month.

Here are a few new movies and TV shows coming to the streaming service this month that you are sure to enjoy:

Movies

  • Above The Rim (1994): Jeff Pollack directs this sports drama featuring the late Tupac Shakur about a promising high school basketball star.

  • Back to the Future (1985) – The first of the classic trilogy returns to Netflix following Marty McFly.

  • Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) – The Johnny Depp Roald Dahl adaptation that sees lucky kids traverse around the famous chocolate factory.

  • Get In (2020) – French thriller where a man returns home and…

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While Palm Beach and Broward Counties will remain largely closed, it is a good sign that Monday, May 4th the rest of the state of Florida will begin reopening under “Phase 1” of DeSantis’ plan.

Businesses that can reopen under Phase 1 include:

  • Schools continue distance learning until further notice

  • Visits to senior living facilities are prohibited

  • Elective surgeries can resume

  • Restaurants may offer outdoor seating with 6-foot space between tables and indoor seating at 25 percent capacity

  • Large venues like movie theaters will remain closed

  • Retail can operate at 25 percent of indoor capacity

  • No change for bars, gyms, and personal services such as hairdressers (they will remain closed…

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has eased some of the physical distancing guidelines for people who’ve been exposed to the new coronavirus

The guidance, which updated yesterday, will allow asymptomatic people who’ve been exposed to the virus to go back to work as long they take their temperature twice a day, practice physical distancing, and wear a face mask.

According to the CDC, critical workers who have had an exposure but remain asymptomatic should adhere to the following practices prior to and during their work shift:

  • Pre-Screen: Employers should measure the employee’s temperature and assess symptoms prior to them starting work. Ideally, temperature checks should happen before the individual enters the…

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The City of Palm Beach Gardens announced this week that it will begin a "phased approach" to reopening some recreational activities to the public.

As of yesterday (4/29), the following city recreational facilities will be open for individual use:

  • Burns Road Walking Trail

  • Gardens Park

  • Joe Russo Athletic Complex

  • Lake Catherine Sports Complex & Lake Catherine Park

  • Lilac Park

  • Mirasol Park

  • Oaks Park

  • PGA Park

  • Plant Drive

  • Riverside Linear Park

  • Sandhill Crane Access Park

  • The Gardens North County District Park

  • Thompson River Linear Park

  • Twins Park

Sandhill Crane Golf Course will be open for calls to schedule tee times,…

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Gov. Ron DeSantis announced yesterday that he will begin opening most of Florida’s restaurants, retail and recreation. Palm Beach County, however, will remain under some broader restrictions for the time being. There should be further developments on Palm Beach and Broward counties as early as next week.

While South Florida is not in the mix to regain some economic freedoms, DeSantis said he didn’t think the region would trail for much longer given the downward trends in new cases and rates of those testing positive.

“If we’re making progress, we need to put people back to work,” He said. “I deliberately erred on the side of taking measured steps, maybe even baby steps to a brighter day.

“We need to focus on facts and not fear.”

The…

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Leaders kicked off the process of reopening parts of Palm Beach County on Monday, saying residents can hit up recreation areas starting Wednesday.

There are a number of nuances, though, and some spots will remain closed.

DuBois Park and the Juno Beach Pier, for example, won’t reopen Wednesday because the county considers them beach parks.

Other county and town parks in the Jupiter area will be open. Jupiter spokeswoman Kate Moretto said late Tuesday morning that the town was finalizing a list of what will and will not reopen Wednesday.

For example, Moretto said Jupiter will likely keep playground-centric parks, such as Old Town Hall Park, closed because the county’s new order requires playgrounds remain closed.

Notably for Jupiter, boat…

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