Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a mandatory statewide shutdown in a press conference Wednesday afternoon that will take effect Thursday (tonight) at midnight and last 30 days in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The executive order mandates that Floridians limit movements and personal interactions outside the home to only those necessary to obtain, essential services or activities. A list of those essential services can be found on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security website. Florida now is one of more than 30 states that are now under a stay-at-home order.
The executive order extended the stay-at-home recommendations another 30 days after the number of COVID-19 cases surged in Florida to almost 7,000, with a death toll of 87.
DeSantis said each person needs to use good judgment by following these recommendations.
DeSantis said that recent international travel to and from the state of Florida could be the reason for a surge in cases, citing orders like these will help to curb the spread. He suggested that non-essential businesses could still do business but with drop-off or delivery or other means that do not involve contact.
