May The Force Of Health Be With You As St. Pete Slowly Reopens

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — May the force be with us all as Florida slowly reopens with phase one starting today, May 4. If only the coronavirus could die with a quick stab of a lightsaber then we could say goodbye to masks and flood the St. Pete hair salons.

Phase one opening:

• Retailers can operate at 25 percent of indoor capacity and restaurants may offer outdoor seating with 6 feet of space between tables and indoor seating at 25 percent capacity and must abide by CDC and OSHA safety guidelines.

• St. Petersburg's beaches and city pools have reopened. The play pool at the city pools will remain closed.

The Florida Department of Health reports that 36,078 Florida residents have tested positive for coronavirus, and 743 of those tested positive are Pinellas County residents. Forty-two residents in the county have died of coronavirus, and a total of 1,379 deaths from the pandemic have occurred around the state.

Even with the high amount of coronavirus cases, small business owners from around St. Pete and other Florida locations told Patch in a recent survey they are eager and ready to reopen.

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The city of St. Petersburg posted on their Facebook page what remains closed during this phase:

• School buildings; online learning continues
• Gyms
• Bars and personal services such as hair and nail salons
• Playgrounds
• Museums
• Movie theaters, acting theaters and concert halls
• Tattoo and piercing services
• Bowling
• Massage (unless directed by a medical provider)
• Dog parks

Residents should continue to take these steps to safeguard themselves and others:

• Seniors and individuals with a significant underlying medical condition are strongly encouraged to stay at home except when participating in essential activities and obtaining essential services and should take all measures to limit the risk of exposure to the coronavirus.
• Cloth face coverings are recommended in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g. grocery stores and pharmacies).
• To reduce risk, the Centers for Disease Control recommends washing hands often, and regularly cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces.
• Visits to nursing homes and long-term care facilities are prohibited.

For more information about Safe. Smart. Step-by-Step. Plan for Florida's Recovery, including a list of frequently-asked questions, visit the county government's website.