No Eating, Drinking While Standing At Bars: Hillsborough County

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL — After receiving more than 500 complaints about violations of the coronavirus mandates in Hillsborough County, county commissioners have authorized immediate revisions to the emergency ordinance for bars and restaurants.

Customers must be seated while eating or drinking in local businesses, and congregating in common areas such as dance floors unless waiting to be seated will be prohibited under changes approved Wednesday by Hillsborough County commissioners.

The changes to the county’s face coverings order were approved by a majority of commissioners and affect businesses such as restaurants, nightclubs and bars that serve food or drinks for on-site consumption. Under the amended order, patrons cannot be served while standing in a bar or common area, and standing at the bar is prohibited.

The changes also prohibit congregation in common areas unless waiting to be seated and observing social distancing.

According to the Florida Department of Health, 66,499 people in Hillsborough County have tested positive for the coronavirus since the pandemic began including 508 people on Tuesday; 2,421 have been hospitalized and 1,011 have died. The county's current positivity rate is 9.47 percent.

Those Who Have Tested Positive in Hillsborough County

Courtesy DOH

On Wednesday, commissioners also heard projections on the timeline of when and to whom the coronavirus vaccines will be distributed. Officials from the Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County told commissioners the vaccine will be distributed on a tiered basis, with the highest priority for health care workers, residents of long-term care facilities and those 65 and older with underlying health conditions. That effort has begun and will ramp up throughout January as the vaccine supply increases.

The second priority level will include workers in essential categories such as transportation, utilities and education. Those vaccines are expected to be administered beginning in February. The third priority will be the general public. Vaccine administration in that phase is projected to begin in late March or April.

The county has been awarded a two-year, nearly $14 million contract for coronavirus testing and vaccination services.

Commissioners also heard a presentation by Hillsborough County Chief Communications Administrator Liana Lopez regarding results of an ongoing survey asking residents about vaccinations. More than 4,600 residents have taken the survey, which began Dec. 9 and runs through Dec. 30.

Lopez said current results show 61 percent of respondents said they would get vaccinated when the vaccine is available; 29 percent said they would not; and 10 percent were undecided. Of those who said they would not get vaccinated, 68 percent cited fear of side effects. Of those who planned to be vaccinated, the top reason at 83 percent was to stop the spread of the virus.

The commission has extended the state of local emergency for the coronavirus pandemic through Dec. 24. A state of local emergency can be in effect for only seven days, unless extended. The emergency declaration gives the county administrator and emergency managers the ability to quickly take certain actions to ensure the health, safety and welfare of the community, and provides a path for federal reimbursement of certain expenses.

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