Janelle Irwin Taylor
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor is meeting with members of the Hillsborough County Emergency Policy Group Monday at 1:30 where she hopes the county will take action and issue a stay at home order to amp up efforts to slow the spread of the new coronavirus.
Castor made it clear in several media interviews Saturday that she was hopeful such an order would come to fruition and would be surprised if it didn’t happen on Monday.
If that comes through, it’s like public calls from both residents and elected and health officials would begin looking to neighboring communities to do the same.
Ben Kirby, Communications Director for St. Pete Mayor Rick Kriseman wouldn’t say whether that was coming in his city, but said updates would be coming soon. Kriseman had been hoping for statewide uniformity on action.
Pinellas County Commissioner Pat Gerard said her board has not yet discussed the option, but is holding a conference call Monday with the County Administrator, emergency management team and the health department to assess next steps.
Under a stay at home order, all citizens would be asked to stay at home and non-essential businesses forced to close indefinitely. Businesses like pharmacies, gas stations, grocery stores and banks would still be permitted to be open as well as any other day-to-day necessities.
Restaurants have already been forced to close dining rooms, but would be permitting to continue to offer drive-through, take-out or delivery options, according to Castor.
Individuals and employees providing or utilizing remaining good and services would still be asked to maintain the social distancing recommendations of a six-foot buffer when in public.
Castor told the Tampa Bay Times the move is necessary to ensure a quicker reduction in case spread and to “flatten the curve.” But she reassured citizens that the result would not be a “police state.”
Castor, whose office referred to Saturday media remarks when asked for an update, maintained optimism that businesses and individuals would do the right thing and pointed to only a handful of business that have had to be addressed by Tampa Police for non-compliance with existing orders.
As of Sunday evening, 1,007 cases of coronavirus were reported in Florida including 937 from residents. Of those, 58 cases were in Hillsborough County, 54 of whom are residents. No one in Hillsborough has died of the virus has died, but six have been hospitalized.
The statewide and local cases reported continue to increase daily as more and more residents access testing, which Castor and other officials still believe to be woefully lacking.
16 comments
John Kociuba
March 22, 2020 at 6:53 pm
Dear Citizens ~
Re: U.S. Constitution
Only thru Invasion or Unlawful Insurrection can your God given rights be temporarily halted to protect and defend the Constitution. AND THE CONGRESS MUST ISSUE “WAR” FIRST!
“National Emergency” “Defense Authorization Act” Codified Law NOT ONE WORD WITHSTANDING!
What the media is doing is pure TREASON!
Anonynurse
March 23, 2020 at 11:45 am
https://www.ncsl.org/research/health/state-quarantine-and-isolation-statutes.aspx
Untrue. Just because you’ve received a forwarded message on Facebook doesn’t make it true. Each state has the power to legally restrict travel during a pandemic or health crisis.
The link I’ve provided lists all states and the statues.
Sonja Fitch
March 22, 2020 at 7:40 pm
Stay at home for 14 days. Looting Lenny did not even know of the cases or deaths in his first news report. Stay at home now all over Florida notice the count goes up as we test.
Jim Jackson
March 22, 2020 at 10:23 pm
All the experts say act as if you already have the Coronavirus, a total lockdown except for food, medication and fuel. Now
John
March 22, 2020 at 10:25 pm
This mayor needs to stay in her lane, she has not power to declare anything, what a joke, get a dose or reality you power hungry nutter.
Jim
March 23, 2020 at 9:59 am
At least she is trying where is Rick haven’t seen him on tv saying anything. St pete leaders care about cash not stopping issue
AnonymommyFL
March 23, 2020 at 11:49 am
Did you actually read the article? She’s *hoping* that those that actually do have the power – act upon it. The first 2 paragraphs are simple enough to read.
Neal Fargo
March 22, 2020 at 11:44 pm
Tremendous overreaching by the Mayor and Local Government. I do not believe this virus deserves this level of draconian measures.
Sophie
March 23, 2020 at 12:00 am
This is insane!
What about the economic collapse of our society, not to mention our civil rights?!?
Land of the free, my ass.
M
March 23, 2020 at 2:41 am
22 million people in this state, a little over 1000 have been tested positive, and 13 have died. My God, I’m more likely to get killed by a pack of coyotes gone wild! There is something far more worrisome about all this closure and shut down, lock down, stay home crap. How dumb do you think we are? Now we really do have something to fear.
James
March 23, 2020 at 7:40 am
This is not enforceable. A mayor doesnt have this kind of power. What a joke.
Me
March 23, 2020 at 8:20 am
If the Statue of Liberty could cry……
Charles Parenteau
March 23, 2020 at 9:46 am
So I guess we are all sheep now!!! What a joke!!!
Teresa Torres
March 23, 2020 at 10:28 am
I believe this is needed because so many people come in contact with others on a day to day basis, people that probably have no idea if they have the Covid-19 or if they even came in contact with someone who has it. I believe a stay at home order is crucial at this time and we should all comply. This is a very serious matter and we should all come together for those who are already at risk because of their immune system.
missy adams
March 23, 2020 at 11:18 am
you people need to calm down. I do not and will not feel that my civil rights as an American will be taken away. I would rather shelter in place for a few weeks than risk getting sick or infecting others. It’s for my health and safety.
Alex
March 23, 2020 at 11:55 am
So what about people that will not be allowed to work during those weeks? How much money do you plan on donating to those who are temporarily out of work during this?
Comments are closed.