Gov. DeSantis says it's 'not advisable' to issue a stay-at-home order for Florida
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (CBS12) — Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that he will not be issuing a statewide stay-at-home order, calling it "not advisable."
The announcement came in a news conference Monday afternoon about the state's response to the coronavirus pandemic.
The governor believes that issuing a statewide stay-at-home order isn't a good idea because it would throw people's lives "into disarray" and the virus isn't "affecting every corner of the state." DeSantis also said he doesn't believe the order would work, as there have been massive non compliance in states where there is one and that it would possibly cause a spike in domestic violence, abuses cases and suicides.
DeSantis also addressed the actions that were already taken, such as prohibiting visits to nursing homes and closing all schools until April 15.
He says the strategy from the beginning had five steps: stop the introduction of the virus into Florida, protect the elderly, expand access to testing, support social distancing and to prepare for any hospital surge that could result from the transmission of the coronavirus into the community.
Over 1,100 Floridians have tested positive for coronavirus, with 14 deaths statewide, according to DeSantis. The bulk of cases are in South Florida, with Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties leading the state in cases.
DeSantis says while he's not issuing a stay-at-home order for the state, he is issuing an executive order that orders anyone who travels to Florida from the New York or New Jersey area must self-isolate for 14 days upon arrival. Staying with family members during this self-isolation would violate the executive order.
According to DeSantis, there are still 190 direct flights from New York to Florida and that many New Yorkers left after the stay-at-home order was issued. The governor believes that each of those flights probably has someone with coronavirus on it.
DeSantis says local and state law enforcement, as well as state health officials, will meet people at the airport for temperature checks.
