Staff Reports
Last Call — A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.
First Shot
A statewide stay-at-home order compelling residents not to leave their houses except for essential trips goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. Friday.
Gov. Ron DeSantis made the call one day after the state reported more than 1,000 new cases of the coronavirus in 24 hours. The order also comes after the Governor had spent the last week defending his decision not to issue a state-level order, leaving the decision to local governments.
President Donald Trump’s decision to extend social distancing recommendations through the end of April played was the impetus, at least in part.
The order will still allow for some out-of-home activities, such as caring for family, shopping for necessities or exercising — so long as people maintain the six feet of personal space that social distancing calls for.
County sheriffs will be able to enforce the order with the threat of criminal charges, but DeSantis said not everyone out doing something nonessential will necessarily be arrested or subjected to a criminal penalty.
Coronavirus Numbers
Positive cases:
— 7,495 FL residents (+801 since 11 a.m. Wednesday)
— 278 Non-FL residents (+17 since 11 a.m. Wednesday)
Origin:
— 807 Travel related
— 1,164 Contact with a confirmed case
— 504 Both
— 5,020 Under investigation
Hospitalizations:
— 990 in FL
Deaths:
— 101 in FL
Evening Reads
“Here’s how to make up for lost time on COVID-19” via Bill Gates for The Washington Post
“A fear-filled lockdown” via Paul Theroux for The New York Times
“Protective gear in national stockpile is nearly depleted, DHS officials say” via Nick Miroff of The Washington Post
“Joe Biden raises doubts about whether Democrats will hold convention in July, saying ‘It’s hard to envision that’” via Matt Viser of The Washington Post
“Ben Carson promises Rick Scott foreclosure moratorium will continue into May” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics
“Ron DeSantis issues stay-at-home order for Florida” via Renzo Downey of Florida Politics
“Experts worry Florida moved too slowly on coronavirus — and the worst is yet to come” via Skyler Swisher of the Sun-Sentinel
“Does DeSantis’ safer-at-home order allow megachurches to continue meeting? Looks like it” via Janelle Irwin of Florida Politics
“Possibility of outbreak in prisons sparks fears” via Ana Ceballos of the News Service of Florida
“Jacksonville Mayor announces safer-at-home executive order to slow virus’s spread” via Florida Times-Union
“Zaandam cruise to arrive in South Florida soon. Carnival, county have not finalized plan” via the Sun-Sentinel
“Governor ‘willing to accept’ Floridians from cruise ship with virus-infected passengers, status of others remains unclear” via Ryan Nicol of Florida Politics
“Florida warned nearly 900 bars to follow Gov. DeSantis’ emergency order to close” via Mark Puente of the Tampa Bay Times
“LaBelle residents break social distancing, throw ‘coronavirus party’” via NBC 2
“Can Florida schools conduct business as usual during coronavirus?” via Jeffrey Solochek of the Tampa Bay Times
“Parents as educators? Now is the time to rise to the occasion” via Janelle Irwin of Florida Politics
“Latest census estimate calls The Villages America’s fastest-growing metro” via Scott Powers of Florida Politics
Quote of the Day
“At some point, you do need to just exercise good judgment. The government can’t ham-fist everyone into their bedroom. That’s just not practical.” — Ron DeSantis, on enforcing the statewide stay-at-home order.
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