Sunshine Sentinel

Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, each state has taken various measures to protect its citizens from the deadly virus.

Restaurants have been one of the hardest-hit industries with many governors issuing executive orders restricting dine-in services in restaurants and bars.

Some governors, however, have taken a more liberal approach on business closures, mask requirements and social distancing practices.

Florida is one of the states that does not have a statewide mask mandate, although some municipalities require masks. Indoor seating capacity is restricted to 50-100 percent, and restaurants are allowed to seat a maximum of 10 guests per table.

The restrictions on restaurants have caused many to go out of business.

By early December, more than 110,000 restaurants across the country had closed long-term or permanently, according to Bloomberg.

In a letter to Congress on Dec. 7, Sean Kennedy, executive vice president of public affairs at the National Restaurant Association, referred to the findings and urged the federal government to step in to rescue struggling restaurants.

“The restaurant industry simply cannot wait for relief any longer,” Kennedy wrote. “What these findings make clear is that more than 500,000 restaurants of every business type -- franchise, chain and independent -- are in an economic free fall.”

The state-by-state survey was conducted by the National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Law Center called Official Return to Work State Guidelines for Foodservice Establishments.