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Bars and nightclubs ordered to close for 30 days in Florida

Posted at 11:05 AM, Mar 17, 2020
and last updated 2020-03-17 17:50:22-04

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis will sign an executive order to close all bars and nightclubs in Florida for the next 30 days. The closure begins Tuesday at 5 p.m.

DeSantis said restaurants can remain open, but can only have 50 percent capacity so patrons can maintain social distancing. The tables must be six feet apart.

Florida isn't the first state to close bars amid the coronavirus outbreak.

RELATED: Delray Beach prohibiting gatherings of '10 or more people on city-owned property'

The governor will ask the board of governors for state colleges to finish the semester with online classes.

MORE: Latest coronavirus news | What's canceled, closed? | Everything you need to know about COVID-19

DeSantis also said that he wouldn't be ordering beaches to be closed. He is leaving that decision up to local governments. Public beaches in Fort Lauderdale and Miami Beach were closed by their local governments Monday.

Officials say the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Florida is 192 including 5 deaths.

How many coronavirus cases are there in Florida? Check the state's interactive coronavirus map