Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer is justifiably spooked about the large crowds that will flock to downtown Orlando nightspots this Halloween, and the possibility that this will lead to the spread of COVID-19 locally.
In an attempt to socially distance the throngs of costume-clad revelers (good luck), open-container restrictions will be allowed on closed streets in downtown Orlando on Halloween night.
With Florida well into Phase 3 of reopening, the great majority of bars and nightclubs downtown are open for business with no limits on capacity indoors, and with Halloween on a Saturday this year, that's a recipe for instant crowds everywhere you turn.
Dyer mentioned on Monday during the Orange County Government Coronavirus Update that the city was working on a plan to allow outdoors consumption of alcohol in designated area of downtown Orlando out of concern over the expected crowds that night, but didn't provide any further logistical details.
In an email sent to Orlando Weekly on Tuesday afternoon, some of the specifics of this one-night waiver were outlined by City staffer Samantha Holsten.We welcome readers to submit letters regarding articles and content in Orlando Weekly. Letters should be a minimum of 150 words, refer to content that has appeared on Orlando Weekly, and must include the writer's full name, address, and phone number for verification purposes. No attachments will be considered. Writers of letters selected for publication will be notified via email. Letters may be edited and shortened for space.
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