Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday issued Executive Order 20-112, announcing a gradual re-opening of Florida businesses beginning Monday, May 4, in all counties except for Miami-Dade, Palm Beach and Broward, which will be phased in at a later date. Those counties account for 19,979 COVID-19 cases and 723 deaths in the state, according to data from the Florida Department of Health.

DeSantis is calling his plan the "Safe. Smart. Step-by-Step Plan for Florida’s Recovery." His executive order permits restaurants to open indoor seating at 25 percent capacity with six-foot distancing between tables and parties no larger than 10 people. It also allows for outdoor seating with appropriate social distancing in place. Bars, gyms, salons and movie theaters will remain closed for the time being; DeSantis is continuing to encourage remote working when possible; he also recommends that the elderly and immunocompromised or those with underlying health conditions continue to shelter in place. Nursing home visits are also still prohibited.

As of Thursday morning, there are currently 33,690 total cases of COVID-19 in the state, and 1,268 people have died as a result of the virus.