Fort Myers Beach: no hotel reservations for 90 days

The Fort Myers Beach town council has banned new and upcoming hotel/vacation reservations for 90 days in an effort to curb coronavirus spread.

AFTER A CAPE CORAL CITY EMPLOYEEIS SPOTTED WITH HER KIDS AT AWATER PARK.FIRST BEACHES -- AND NOW HOTELSAND TIMESHARES.FORT MYERS BEACH IS NOW CLOSINGMORE LODGING AND VACATIONRENTALS TO HELP FLATTEN THECURVE.THE TOWN COUNCIL MADE THAT CALLAT A MEETING EARLIER TODAY.FOX 4’S ROCHELLE ALLEYNE SATDOWN WITH THE TOWN’S MAYOR TOTALK ABOUT THAT DECISION.31-38((different shots fmb lookinglike ghost town))THESE DAYS SILENCE IS SPEAKINGLOUD AND CLEAR IN FORT MYERSBEACH.((Anita Cereceda//Fort MyersBeach Mayor))((cover))"This is a time when the islandis alive with energy, withpeople, with young people."AND AFTER MONDAY’S TOWN COUNCILMEETING -- IT’S ONLY GOING TOGET QUIETER.THE COUNCIL PASSED SEVERALMEASURES -- INCLUDING ONE THATCALLS ON HOTELS AND OTHER PUBLICVACATION RENTAL SPACES TO*CANCEL ALL UPCOMINGRESERVATIONS FOR THE NEXT 90DAYS.THEY’RE ALSO NOT ALLOWED TO BOOKANY NEW ONES FOR THE TIME BEING.((Anita Cereceda//Fort MyersBeach Mayor))"When I think that everything wedo could save even just onelife, I don’t find itdifficult."I SAT DOWN WITH THE TOWN’S MAYORWHO SAYS THIS IS ALL IN ANEFFORT TO STOP THE SPREAD OFCOVID-19.BUT ITS ALSO NOT LOST ON HERTHAT THIS DECISION WILL HAVE AMAJOR IMPACT ON THE LOCALECONOMY--((Anita Cereceda//Fort MyersBeach Mayor))"Do I worry about our hoteliersand our small businesses?

Ofcourse I do, I’m one of them.I’m one of them, I have threebusinesses on this island."MAYOR CEREDA TELLS ME THAT ABOVEALL ELSE -- SHE WANTS VISITORSTO KNOW THAT THEY’RE THINKING OFTHEM -- AND HOPE TO SEE THEM ASSOON AS ITS SAFE.((Anita Cereceda//Fort MyersBeach Mayor))"We need them to know that thare our lifeline.

Just, just thethought...(gets emotional).

Just the thought of seeingthem at some time in the futuregives me hope."MAYOR CERECEDA ADDS THAT THE 90DAY TIME LIMIT ISN’T COMPLETELYSET IN STONE -- AND CAN