WUWF Coronavirus Live Blog

A Pensacola landmark is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, but will running with a new set of rules when it reopens this month.  

“I bought 50 acres on the corner of W Street and Highway 29, and the park now sits on about 25 of those (acres),” said Richard Sanfilippo, the owner of Sam’s Fun City in Pensacola.

Executive Order number 20-123 from Gov. Ron DeSantis kicked in on Monday, putting Florida in full phase one of the state’s reopening plan in the time of coronavirus. Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson addressed the change during his Monday news conference.

“The executive order allows gyms and fitness centers to open at 50% capacity; and allows restaurants, retail, museums and libraries to increase to 50%,” said the mayor.

The mayor also was to have requested that DeSantis reopen gyms, but the executive order rendered that moot.

Gov. Ron DeSantis is expanding Florida’s first phase of reopening during the coronavirus pandemic, by allowing a number of popular gathering places and entertainment venues to operate at twice the current capacity.

Speaking Friday in Jacksonville, the governor announced that restaurants and retail stores may expand from 25% to 50% capacity as of Monday.

With another active hurricane season expected beginning June 1st, Florida emergency management officials are taking into account a massive new factor: the coronavirus.

Speaking last week in Sarasota, Gov. Ron DeSantis said it’s not known how the virus will react a month from now or three months from now; but we have to assume that it’s going to be with us in some capacity.

He added that they’re working with FEMA in preparing for the six-month season.

On May 8 of each year, the city of Pensacola pays homage to Spain’s Bernardo de Galvez — who led a multi-cultural army that defeated the British in the Battle of Pensacola in 1781. But with the coronavirus and wildfires in the region, WUWF’s Dave Dunwoody reports the day kind of flew under the radar.

“We didn’t get the chance to say it on Friday, Galvez Day, so we did have a chance to celebrate it,” said Mayor Grover Robinson. “We typically have a reenactment [and] some things we didn’t get a chance to do over at the [Galvez] statue on Palafox.”

Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson says complying with Gov. Ron DeSantis’ reopen order is going to take some work and cooperation from city government, local merchants, and residents to keep all safe against COVID-19.

In perhaps the shortest-ever “Morning with the Mayor” — 19 minutes — Robinson spoke about closing Palafox Street to vehicular traffic on Mother’s Day. He and the First Lady visited the area, and had dinner there.

A new group of professionals are joining the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. They’re called contact tracers.

As part of Phase-1 of reopening businesses in Pensacola that were closed down by the coronavirus outbreak, merchants can get some advice on the limits under which they’re coming back.

“This service is provided as a courtesy of the city of Pensacola to the business community; you’re certainly welcome to contact the fire services,” said Mayor Grover Robinson, who in his weekly news conference read Executive Order 20-112 from Gov. Ron DeSantis.