coronavirus

Monroe County Issues Nightly Restaurant Closures, Alcohol Sales Ban During Pandemic

The ordinance, which goes into effect July 24th, will close restaurants from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly and prohibit alcohol sales from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.

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Closing time will come sooner in locations across Monroe County and the Florida Keys after an ordinance was passed Thursday closing restaurants late and prohibiting alcohol sales during overnight hours.

The ordinance, which goes into effect July 24th, will close restaurants from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly and prohibit alcohol sales from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. until it can be re-discussed at an August 19th board meeting.

Any person violating the ordinance could be punished with a $500 fine or 60 days in jail while businesses will be fined $1,000 for the first offense and $5,000 for each repeat offense.

Florida had previously issued an order closing bars across the state last month. Three South Florida counties - Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach - already had their bars closed after not being part of initial reopenings.

Key West issued a new mask mandate Monday requiring everyone to wear a facial covering at all times, regardless of social distancing, while canceling the city’s annual Fantasy Fest just days before.

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