ORLANDO, Fla. — It’s a group which was tasked last year with finding ways to reopen Central Florida safely.

The Orange County’s Economic Recovery Task Force reconvened Monday for the first time since July 2020, pivoting to boost vaccination numbers and keep those same businesses open.

It's an unenviable task, considering that COVID cases in the county have skyrocketed, as have hospitalizations, and infected patients, according to area hospitals and county health officials, are skewing younger.

Mayor Jerry Demings first brought together the more than 50 leaders from various economic sectors — business to hospitals, entertainment to schools — in April 2020.  

The group met virtually weekly as they navigated the post-lockdown period and discussed ways to restart the local economy.

By the summer, they doled out recommendations, working to reopen parks, venues, small businesses and restaurants in a phased approach.

As they gathered for the last time in July 2020, Orange County had just surpassed 23,000 active cases. The group talked about a campaign to encourage mask-wearing, announced the creation of Strike Teams to ensure businesses implemented safety protocols, and applauded Orlando Immunology Center’s selection as test site for the vaccine.

On Monday, Dr. Raul Pino with the Orange County Health Department said there were 924 new cases reported Sunday. The 14-day average positivity rate is now 17.9%. 

Pino said more than 95% of all hospitalizations came from new cases among unvaccinated people. 

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said a second county site for testing and COVID-19 vaccines will be opening soon. The Barnett Park testing site has been overwhelmed in recent weeks.

"While things have gotten bad, they can get better," Demings said. "They will get better. They will get better because of the collective efforts in this room. We have demonstrated that when we come together as a community, and we put our best and brightest minds together in a crisis, we always come out of it better than when we went into it."

Demings also says business leaders are making adjustments regarding COVID protocols across the board.

And as students prepared to return to class in the fall, like other Central Florida districts, Orange County Public Schools toyed with plans and encouraged parents to sign up kids for stay-at-home, online learning.

Now, more than a year later with steadily rising coronavirus cases, the same task force is reconvening to brainstorm ways to increase vaccination rates, keep employees safe and “commerce flowing.”

The group is co-chaired by President & CEO of Visit Orlando Cassandra Matej and President & CEO of the Orlando Economic Partnership Tim Giuliani.