Lines of cars wait at a coronavirus testing site outside of Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Friday (Wilfredo Lee/AP)Florida banned alcohol consumption at its bars on Friday as the coronavirus threatened to spiral out of control in the state. The move came as Florida’s daily confirmed coronavirus cases neared 9,000, a new record almost double the previous mark set just two days earlier. The Florida agency that governs bars announced the alcohol ban on Twitter just minutes after the Department of Health reported 8,942 new confirmed cases, topping the previous record of 5,500 set on Wednesday. The new order prohibits any establishment that makes more than 50% of its revenue from alcohol sales from serving alcohol for consumption on site. Business and Professional Regulations Secretary Halsey Beshears said he issued the order because too many bars and patrons were breaking the rules, overwhelming his department’s inspectors.

Source: Irish Independent June 27, 2020 06:19 UTC