At a press conference yesterday Escambia County Commissioner Robert Bender announced that Pensacola Beach will remain open but its hotels will limit themselves to 50% capacity in response to the coronavirus. Jason Nicholson, vice president of operations for Innisfree Hotels, said his company was expecting to lay off 90% of its workforce because of cancellations, but keeping the 50% occupancy rate would enable the company to retain staff. Escambia County will keep the beaches open with the stipulation that people don’t gather in group of 10 or more. Okaloosa and Walton counties closed their public beaches yesterday morning.
