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Advertisement Protesters gather in downtown Orlando calling on officials to reopen Florida Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Dozens of protesters gathered in downtown Orlando on Friday afternoon to call on state and local officials to reopen Florida’s economy. Many in the group appeared to defy social distancing orders as they shouted “open up the state” ahead of an Orange County coronavirus briefing. Florida’s economy has been crushed since the COVID-19 outbreak prompted a statewide stay-at-home order and led to skyrocketing unemployment rates. During the briefing, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said he thought the demonstration was “much of a circus.” “Perhaps one person has the right to risk their own health and safety, but not the safety of others. It’s not fun and games. This is serious stuff,” Demings said. “There are some people who don’t accept science as facts and I suspect that’s some of who's outside,” Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said of the protest. Dr. Raul Pino, the state health officer for Orange County said he hopes that he is not standing up at a briefing next week talking about coronavirus cases that resulted from the gathering.Demings announced during the briefing the creation of the 'Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force' that will be co-chaired by the President of Visit Orlando George Aguel and Tim Giuliani, the president of the Orlando Economic Partnership.The group will consist of nearly 50 individuals representing local hospitals, theme parks, financial institutions, hotels, small businesses and nonprofit economic development agencies. The task force will also include representatives from Lake, Osceola and Seminole counties.They will focus on recommendations for reopening Orange County, including a phased approach to easing restrictions, while ensuring the safety of employees and the public, county officials said. President Donald Trump detailed a plan Thursday in which states could reopen, moving away from a "blanket shutdown."The federal three-phase guidelines to reopen the economy rely on "gating" criteria that states would have to pass before starting each phase.The criteria include a "downward trajectory" of COVID-19 cases in a 14-day period, and a return to pre-crisis conditions in hospitals, according to the document.In the first phase, schools currently closed should remain so, and employees who are able to telework should keep working from home. Large venues, including some restaurants and gyms, could operate under strict social-distancing protocols, but bars should remain shuttered.Phases 2 and 3 would gradually decrease the recommended restrictions. Vulnerable populations would remain sheltered in place until phase 3.The phased approach encourages all individuals to "strongly consider" using face coverings in public. And the document encourages employers to use social distancing, temperature checks, testing and sanitation practices in their workplaces.