On March 17 and 20, 2020, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Orders 20-68 and 20-71, announcing unprecedented state-wide closures of bars and nightclubs, restaurants for on-site dining, and stand-alone gyms. Since then, additional counties and municipalities in Florida have enacted more stringent measures attempting to slow the spread of COVID-19.

The virus has continued to spread rapidly in South Florida, including the Tampa Bay area. As of March 26, 2020, the Florida Department of Health reported 2,359 confirmed cases of COVID-19 among Florida residents and 29 deaths. The counties with the highest reported cases were Dade (654), Broward (505), Palm Beach (174), and Hillsborough (151). Pinellas County reported 65 cases.

Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners issued the first safer-at-home order impacting Tampa Bay, Resolution No. 20-20. The order is effective March 26, 2020 through the expiration of the countys declared State of Local Emergency or until the Board of County Commissioners determines that a policy change is in the publics best interest. Hillsborough County Emergency Policy Group passed a similar safer-at-home order effective 10:00 p.m. on March 27, 2020, until it is rescinded by the countys Emergency Policy Group.

Both counties orders require businesses to close if they do not provide Essential Services or cannot maintain the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) social distancing and group gathering guidelines to keep at least six feet between persons.

Pinellas County

In Pinellas County, non-essential businesses must post a notice that is clearly visible at all times to those present on the premises including patrons and employees, in a form to be established by the County Administrator. A list of frequently-asked questions can be accessed on the countys website. Businesses that do not comply with the order may be subject to enforcement action up to and including orders to close and criminal charges.

The Pinellas County order also broadly defines Essential Services, to include the following:

Hillsborough County

The Hillsborough County safer-at-home order emphasizes that all residents are directed to stay at home as much as possible twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, except in limited circumstances. In addition to social distancing, businesses are required to follow Florida Department of Health guidance and to use best practices, as set forth by the CDC and the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act, to reduce the risk of worker exposure to COVID-19 in workplaces. A violation of the order may be prosecuted as a second degree misdemeanor punishable as provided in section 775.082 or 775.083, Florida Statutes.

The order exempts the following essential individuals, businesses, and services:

Similar measures involving closure of certain businesses are currently effective in other counties and municipalities across Florida, including:

Employers may want to review these orders to ensure they are in compliance in all areas of Florida where they conduct business.

Read the rest here:
COVID-19 Safer-at-Home Orders Now Effective in Tampa Bay and Other Florida Counties and Municipalities - Lexology

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