After weeks of scrutiny for not acting sooner, Florida Ron DeSantis has just issued a statewide stay-at-home order for nonessential businesses. "It’s really an order to individuals saying you can engage in essential services and activities. But other than that, you need to stay close to home," said DeSantis at a live conference on Wednesday, April 1.
The executive order, which "limits movements and personal interactions outside of the home," will go into effect at midnight Thursday, April 2, and remain in place for 30 days.
More than 400,000 Floridians have already signed a petition to shut down the state, though DeSantis cites the White House’s 30-day extension of CDC social distancing guidelines as the impetus for his latest stay-at-home mandate.
Florida joins states such as California and New York where statewide stay-at-home orders have been in place for more than a week.
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