“Safer at Home” Orders issued by Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties this week limit individual activity while generally allowing for commerce and business activities to continue so long as businesses operate consistent with the CDC guidelines. These orders are in addition to restrictions already in place due to prior state and local orders.  

The Executive Office of Governor Ron DeSantis has issued a number of Executive Orders related to the COVID-19 pandemic, in order to protect the State of Florida’s residents and businesses. These Executive Orders have far-reaching statewide applicability and effects:

• EO 20-83 (March 24): directing State Health Officer and Surgeon General to issue public health advisories regarding protection of vulnerable populations, advising against gatherings of 10 or more people, and urging those who can work remotely to do so

• EO 20-82 (March 24): mandatory isolation of persons traveling from the Tri-State area to Florida by any means; such persons must quarantine themselves for 14 days upon arrival to Florida, or for the duration of their visit, whichever is shorter

• EO 20-80 (March 24): mandatory airport screening and isolation; persons whose point of departure is an airport in the Tri-State area (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut) must quarantine for 14 days upon arrival to Florida, or for the duration of their visit, whichever is shorter

• EO 20-72 (March 20): prohibition of any medically unnecessary, non-urgent, or non-emergency procedures 

• EO 20-71 (March 20): closure of bars and nightclubs; prohibition of restaurants serving alcohol for consumption on-premises; prohibition of restaurants serving food for consumption on-premises (delivery or take-out only, including alcohol); closure of gyms and fitness centers

• EO 20-70 (March 20): closure of on-premises services of restaurants, bars, gyms, movie theaters, lounges, bowling alleys, etc. to customers in Broward County and Palm Beach County

• EO 20-69 (March 20): suspending the statutory in-person quorum requirements for governing bodies at public meetings; allowing for teleconferencing to conduct public meetings and allow public participation

• EO 20-68 (March 17): regulating restaurants; this order is superseded by EO 20-70

• EO 20-52 (March 9): declaring state of emergency in State of Florida

• EO 20-51 (March 1): directing State Health Officer to declare public health emergency in State of Florida

What are the ramifications?

• Local Government and state agency public meetings may be vastly altered statewide.

• Bars and nightclubs are closed statewide. 

• Gyms and fitness centers are closed statewide. 

• Non-emergency and elective medical procedure appointments have been cancelled statewide, including dental and orthodontics. 

• Restaurants are effectively closed statewide, other than the ability to serve take-out or delivery meals. 

The Governor has not yet issued a Stay-at-Home order mandating residents to shelter in place unless essential to leave their home. Various cities and counties in the State of Florida have issued “Safer at Home” or “Stay-at-Home” orders for their own residents, and more jurisdictions are currently considering the issuance of such an order. The orders that have been issued in many cases mandate the closure of “non-essential” businesses; the lists of essential businesses vary minimally per jurisdiction, and are provided in the text of the respective orders. In some cases, non-essential businesses may remain open if they can maintain adherence to CDC social distancing guidelines. 

CLICK HERE to access a chart documenting the measures taken by various jurisdictions of the State of Florida in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with an emphasis on jurisdictions in the greater Tampa Bay Area.