Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis To Issue Statewide Stay-At-Home Order
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced on Wednesday afternoon that he will issue a statewide stay-at-home order in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19.
The executive order will go into effect at midnight on Thursday, April 2 directing residents in the state to stay at home except for essential services.
“I’m gonna be doing an executive order today directing all Floridians to limit movements and personal interactions outside the home to only those necessary to obtain or provide essential services or to conduct essential activities,” the governor said during a news conference in Tallahassee.
The order will remain in effect for 30 days.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, the following are considered essential:
- Healthcare/Public Health (i.e. Hospitals and Doctors)
- Law Enforcement, Public Safety and First Responders (i.e. Police and Emergency Management Services)
- Food and Agriculture (i.e. Farmers and food manufacturers)
- Energy (i.e. Natural Gas and Nuclear facilities)
- Water and Wastewater (i.e. Water Department)
- Transportation and Logistics (i.e. Trucking and shipping)
- Public Works and Infrastructure (i.e. Safety inspectors for public facilities including dams, bridges, etc.)
- Communications and Information Technology (i.e. maintainers of communications infrastructures, such as wireless, internet and cable providers)
- Community and Local Government (i.e. federal, state, local, tribal and territorial employees who support Mission Essential Functions)
- Critical Manufacturing (i.e. metals, PPE, supply chain minerals and employees that support other essential services)
- Hazardous Materials (i.e. healthcare waste and nuclear facilities)
- Financial Services (i.e. banks)
- Chemical (i.e. workers supporting the chemical and industrial gas supply chains)
- Defense Industrial (i.e. essential services required to meet national security commitments to the federal government and U.S. Military)
- Commercial Facilities (i.e. workers who support the supply chain of building materials)
- Residential/Shelter Facilities (i.e. workers independent care services)
- Hygiene Products and Services (i.e. laundromats, personal and household goods repair and maintenance)
As of Wednesday, April 1 at 2 p.m. there were 6,955 positive cases of COVID-19 in Florida and 87 deaths according to the Florida Department of Health.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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