FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Last Friday, Broward County Administrator Bertha Henry issued an emergency order allowing adult entertainment establishments and other nightlife businesses to re-open after months of COVID-19 closure, mandating dancers to maintain at least 10 feet of distancing from customers.
Broward County’s Emergency Order 20-26 comes on the heels of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis temporarily suspending the county’s ability to fine individuals for not wearing a facial covering during the coronavirus pandemic.
DeSantis' highly controversial decision opened the floodgates for the mass gathering of individuals without minimal personal virus spread precautions. Broward’s strip club order, however, still enforces social distancing and capacity limitations inside businesses.
“Our community has taken measured steps in our reopening to better promote public health and control our COVID-19 numbers," Henry said in a statement quoted by news station Local 10. "Because of the Governor’s order, I am compelled to expedite the opening of certain establishments," including the thriving Miami-adjacent and Fort Lauderdale strip clubs.
The Broward order limits table uses to six people, mandates a plexiglass partition for bar counters and places costumers six feet apart.
Broward County Mayor Dale V.C. Holness told Local 10 that “with the reopening of all remaining businesses, it is as important as ever to adhere to local emergency orders, including wearing facial coverings, practicing social distancing and good personal hygiene.”
“This is a very important time in the recovery process to understand we must not let down our guard,” Holness said.
