Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry is ordering all nonessential businesses in Duval County to close and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a statewide stay-at-home order.
Both executive orders take effect at 12:01 a.m. April 3.
Curry’s “Safer at Home’ order excludes businesses the city deems essential during the coronavirus pandemic, including health care facilities, grocery stores, manufacturing facilities and restaurants offering food for delivery and takeout.
The executive orders do not mean a full lockdown. Curry said in a virtual news conference April 1 that in addition to leaving their home for essential needs and services, people still can go outside for recreation while maintaining social distancing guidelines.
“While we are confident that citizens will be much safer at home in the coming weeks, I want to make it clear that this executive order does not restrict people’s ability to go outside to take a walk or ride a bike,” Curry said. “This only prevents residents from traveling to businesses deemed nonessential.”
Under Curry’s order, city-operated and private boat ramps, marinas and docks will remain open.
“I know that this is a major decision that will have major impacts on the lives of citizens throughout Jacksonville,” Curry said. “But my top priority as mayor is your health and safety.”
DeSantis told reporters less than three hours after Curry’s announcement that he was issuing the statewide stay-at-home order. DeSantis said his order is meant to “limit movement and personal interaction outside the home.” He said the order would restrict Florida residents from leaving their homes except to seek essential services and needs.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends keeping at least 6 feet between people, and only gather in closed family and friend groups no larger than 10 individuals.
In his order, DeSantis outlined what are considered essential activities. Outdoor recreational activities such as walking, biking, hiking, fishing, hunting, running and swimming are permitted; caring for pets, family and friends; and attending religious services. The order said more essential activities could be added in consultation with the state health officer.
The governor’s order is similar to what Curry mandated locally, but DeSantis’s order states it does supersede any conflicting guidance in local orders. City Director of Public Affairs Nikki Kimbleton said in a phone interview April 1 that the essential businesses listed in Jacksonville’s order were determined by federal guidelines, and it’s based on a similar “Safer at Home” order issued by Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez, on March 19.
DeSantis expanded Gimenez’s mandate March 30, issuing an executive order implementing “Safer at Home” in surrounding Broward, Monroe and Palm Beach counties.
Ending nonessential business operations means Desiree Bailey, marketing and merchandising manager at San Marco Bookstore, will have to close the store.
But Bailey won’t end all sales. The book retailer has an online store and Bailey said customers already staying at home to avoid the virus have been using it. She also will take email and phone orders.
“We’ve actually shifted to more online orders and phone orders than in-store business,” she said. “Luckily we have everything in place. It’s not what I prefer, I prefer to talk to my customers and see them and be able to give them advice.”
A full list of essential retail and commercial businesses is on the city’s website at JaxReady.com/virus.
Curry, like DeSantis, had resisted a full shelter-in-place order. DeSantis said April 1 that he began to consider a statewide stay-at-home order after President Donald Trump extended federal coronavirus response guidelines through May 1.
At a March 31 news conference, DeSantis said he’d only consider a full statewide shutdown if the recommendation came from White House coronavirus task force. U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams said April 1 that the president’s guidelines are a national stay-at-home order, when pressed on DeSantis’ comments by NBC News TODAY co-anchor Savannah Guthrie.
Curry said last week he feared a full shutdown order would have the opposite effect on people’s behavior, like the crowded public beaches reported after California issued a statewide order March 19.
The mayor’s latest executive order keeps in place other restrictions made under a March 13 public emergency proclamation. Curry said this includes requiring employers to allow their employees to work from home, if possible.
Duval County hotels were required as of March 31 to limit guests to “essential lodgers” like health care workers, law enforcement, military personnel, displaced travelers and residents and other professionals responding locally to the COVID-19 pandemic.
JEA waives late fees
The city’s water and electricity utility will be waiving all customer late fees to help lessen the financial strain caused by COVID-19. Curry said April 1 that JEA will waive the fees in addition to the utility’s March 19 decision to end all disconnects.
Florida restaurants have been operating without opening their dining rooms since March 20 when Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order ending on-premise food and alcohol consumption.
Daily Record Staff Writer Katie Garwood contributed to this report.