AP Photo/Lynne Sladky
This time last year when the media began focusing on the seriousness of the coronavirus after downplaying it for two months, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was hammered for not issuing drastic New York/California-like statewide stay at home/lockdown-style orders as videos of teenagers frolicking on the beaches were broadcast on an endless loop and shared all over social media.
And in contrast to how DeSantis was routinely being ripped to shreds by the national press, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) was treated with the utmost reverence despite the nursing home scandal that most media outlets looked the other way on because Orange Man Bad.
Daytona Bike Week turns 80 in 2021 - Orlando Sentinel orlandosentinel.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from orlandosentinel.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
When the bikers arrive, however, they will find reminders that the pandemic is still a reality.
What are COVID restrictions during Daytona Bike Week?
At the event’s traditional hub on Main Street in Daytona Beach, indoor capacity at many familiar watering holes will be capped at 60%, although there will be music blaring from outdoor stages and the usual array of outdoor vendors selling everything from T-shirts to grilled turkey legs to ice-cold beers.
In January, the Daytona Beach City Commission voted to issue the permits that allow businesses to temporarily present outside activities during the event that runs Friday through March 14. In exchange, those bars, restaurants and shops must agree to limit indoor occupancy to 60% during the event.