Floridians file over 2,200 complaints on businesses that haven’t complied with COVID-19 restrictions

ORLANDO, Fla. — Florida residents have filed more than 2,200 complaints to the state over the past two months about businesses that weren’t complying with Gov. Ron DeSantis’ COVID-19 restrictions.

The state guidelines state in Phase 1 that retail stores and restaurants should reopen at 25% capacity and enforce social distancing.

Residents have since filed complaints with places such as vacation rental properties, restaurants and barbershops for not adhering to the guidelines.

Channel 9′s Lauren Seabrook checked with law enforcement officers in Orange County to see how things are going locally.

So far, the Orlando Police Department has received five complaint calls and four of them were cleared after being checked by officers for compliance.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office hasn’t received any complaint calls, but Mayor Jerry Demings said most enforcement would be handled by the State Department of Business and Professional Regulation or the Florida Department of Health.

State agents are not doing random checks on restaurants.

Orange County health officer Dr. Raul Pino said the community needs to report places that are not taking precautions to keep everyone healthy, especially if employees are not wearing masks.

“Also, it’s very important to clean surfaces because this virus is very heavy. It drops into the surfaces rather quick and it stays alive for a while," Pino said.

What should you do if you see Central Florida businesses not complying with capacity, social distancing?

The online form used for the complaints was posted the same day Gov. DeSantis issued the original order that closed nonessential businesses before the the governor began the Phase 1 reopening plan.

Due to being some of the hardest hit counties by COVID-19, Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties were not included in the Phase 1 plan.

It is not clear if fines have been issued to the businesses in question.

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