Marion County

Orange County Strike Team to look into bars, businesses where COVID-19 might be spreading

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — The Orange County Department of Health is asking the Strike Team to look into a list of 17 businesses in town where COVID-19 might be spreading.

The agency said bars seem to be the biggest issue right now.

READ: Florida reports 84 more deaths, 3,600 new coronavirus cases as surge continues

Health Officer Dr. Raul Pino said people in their late teens and early 20s are gathering to cheer on college teams or their favorite NFL team, and the virus is spreading.

Pino sent a list of bars to Orange County’s Strike team for further investigation because he said people who have tested positive are mentioning these locations more than others as places where they might have been infected.

Positivity rate in Orange County on the rise, officials say

Bars being investigated are:

  • Treehouse
  • Basement
  • The Office
  • Gilt
  • Knight’s Pub
  • Knight’s Library
  • Saddle Up
  • Attic

State suspends alcohol license for 3 downtown Orlando bars citing failure to enforce social distancing, plans to appeal underway

Other businesses being investigated are:

  • Jesus School, Judah Church
  • Amazon distribution center, Boggy Creek
  • WWE Full Sail
  • WWE Performance Center on Forsyth Commerce Road
  • WWE Amway Arena
  • Plaza on University Apartments
  • Crunch Fitness on Colonial Drive
  • Crunch Fitness on Hoffner Avenue
  • Starbound Performers

In a statement, WWE said: “WWE is not open to the public, but rather operating on a closed set with only essential personnel in attendance. As part of on-going weekly testing protocols, Aventus Labs have administered more than 10,000 PCR tests to WWE performers, employees, production staff and crew resulting in only 1.5 percent positive cases as compared to the current national average of more than 5%. Additionally, extensive contact tracing takes place and impacted individuals are placed in 14-day quarantine and then only cleared after they test negative.”

The owner of Starbound Performers told Eyewitness News she does not feel her dance studio should be on the list because she said she has no knowledge of anyone there testing positive, and she hasn’t been contacted by the Department of Health.

Adam Poulisse, WFTV.com

Adam Poulisse joined WFTV in November 2019.