FLORIDA KEYS, March 31, 2020 – Because of the threat of spreading the COVID-19 virus, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on March 30 issued an executive order to “restrict public access to businesses and facilities deemed non-essential” through April 15 in Monroe County and South Florida’s three other counties.
“Over 60 percent of Florida’s identified COVID-19 cases are in these neighboring southern counties, which make up a large percentage of Florida’s population,” the order says. As of this writing, there have been 23 COVID-19 cases reported in Monroe County. Florida overall reported more than 5,000 COVID-19 cases as of March 30.
The governor’s executive order references non-essential as some commercial and retail establishments. It does not include things such as grocery stores and gas stations.
“No county or local authority may restrict or prohibit any essential service from performing a function allowed under this order. Essential service establishments not subject to closure shall continue to determine, adopt and maintain reasonable measures to ensure sanitation and cleanliness of premises and items that may come into contact with employees and the public, and such establishments shall take reasonable action to ensure that people adhere to the CDC’s social distancing guidelines.”