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'Stay-at-home order' begins in Florida: Here's what you can do, what will be open, and more

Updated  April 3, 2020 8:49am EDT
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FOX 35 Orlando

Stay-at-home order goes into effect at midnight

Florida's stay-at-home order will go into effect tonight at midnight.

ORLANDO, Fla. - Governor Ron DeSantis has signed an executive order, issuing a "stay-at-home" mandate across all of Florida.

With this order, residents statewide must stay at home except to complete essential errands and activities. Essential businesses may also stay open but must enforce social distancing.

The mandate officially began on April 3rd at 12:01 a.m. and will last until April 30th. Several other Florida counties, like Orange and Osceola, issued separate stay-at-home orders pior to Governor DeSantis' decisions.

Governor issues statewide stay-at-home order

While several counties across the state have enacted their own stay-at-home orders, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday announced a statewide order that will go into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Friday.

WHAT CAN I DO?

Errands and activities that are considered essential can still be done as long as you practice CDC social distancing guidelines. This includes but is not limited to:

  • Purchasing groceries and other essential items.
  • Picking up take-out food or curbside orders.
  • Visiting the doctor and picking up medications from the pharmacy.
  • Taking of pets, including visiting the vet.
  • Caring for loved ones who need assistance.
  • Attending religious services that follow social distancing guidelines.
  • Participating in recreational activities, such as exercising, riding bikes, fishing, hunting, and playing golf, as long as you maintain social distancing guidelines.
  • If you have to go to work and do not have the ability to work from home, you can drive to work.

WHAT CAN'T I DO?

Any activities or errands that are not essential or would force you to break social distancing guidelines is not allowed. This includes but is not limited to:

  • Visiting friends and family if there is no urgent need.
  • Participating in activities that force you to maintain less than six feet of space between you and others.

WHAT WILL BE OPEN?

Essential businesses will be open but must enforce social distancing guidelines. This includes but is not limited to:

  • Grocery stores
  • Banks
  • Doctors
  • Veterinarians 
  • Restaurants with take-out or curbside service
  • Mail and shipping services
  • Waste management

WHAT WILL BE CLOSED?

Businesses that are not essential and do not provide essential services do not have to completely stop operating, Governor DeSantis clarified. He said that "we're not necessarily saying anything to a nonessential business, but under the order, you just wouldn't be able to go into some of these things and conduct business and be following the order."

So, businesses can stay open as long as they follow social distancing guidelines and offer services that allow for this. For example, stores with curbside services are okay to stay open.

Places that will be closed include but are not limited to:

  • Malls
  • Gyms
  • Theme parks
  • Arcades
  • Museums
  • Movie theaters
  • Playgrounds
  • Parks
  • Concert venues
  • Bowling Alleys

You can view the full executive order signed by Governor DeSantis below. It includes more details on what is considered essential during the statewide "stay-at-home" mandate.

MOBILE USERS: Click here to view the full executive order

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