Orange County Florida is Slowly Eliminating Social Distancing and Mask Requirements in Phases

By: Alana DeRose

britanicca.com

Orange Country, Florida mayor Jerry Demings announced plans to change the county's Covid-19 executive order after the Biden administration announced they would soon be more lenient on outdoor mask requirements.

Orlando, Florida is one of the cities a part of Orange County and the home for Universal Orlando and Walt Disney World.

"Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort have not yet made announcements regarding changes to their physical distancing and mask requirements, beyond Walt Disney World’s recent change allowing maskless photos outdoors," according to Universal Parks News Today.

These changes will come in three different phases based on vaccination levels.

Phase 1:

• Effective immediately

• Social distance requirement from six feet to three feet

Phase 2:

• Begins when over 50% of the population over the age of 16 has received their first dose of the vaccine

• Face covering mandate will be lifted for OUTSIDE

Phase 3:

• Begins when 70% of the population over the age of 16 has received their first dose of the vaccine and Orange County's 14-day positivity rate is 5% or lower.

• All mandates will be lifted meaning no mask indoors

According to UPNT, "The CDC has also been considering reducing their physical distancing recommendation and recent studies have found that a three-foot distance is safe when wearing a face mask."

Also, currently, only 35.7% of the eligible population (ages 16+) are vaccinated.