Leon County Commission Chairman Brian Desloge announced on Tuesday that the county will be enacting a stay-at-home order starting Wednesday.
With the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) spreading daily, the stay-at-home order is designed to limit the spread of the virus. Along with the stay-at-home order, Desloge announced a curfew from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. starting Wednesday.
This order comes one week after Governor Ron DeSantis ordered a 30-day ban on all nightclubs and bars to limit social interaction and large gatherings. Large gatherings usually take place during the late-night hours, putting more people at risk.
“I don’t feel as if this will change anything because a majority of business are already closed during these hours in the Tallahassee community,” Florida A&M University senior Yennifer Castillo said.
Sabrina Ramos, a sophomore, asked: “What exactly is there to do between eleven at night and five in the morning? Is the virus going to go to sleep between these hours?”
Desloge said that businesses and restaurants can remain open (for carry-out only), people can still travel for essential activities, and families can still walk a dog or visit parks while maintaining social distancing.
The order is not to close any businesses, stop people from buying goods, or confine people to their homes, Desloge said.
However, many believe as if this is a Band-Aid to deal with the actual issue at hand.
Tallahassee native Ariel Ward, said, “I personally feel like the stay-at-home order and timing of the curfew are not beneficial to the city if people are still working late and overnight shifts. Most establishments were already closed prior to the order. The majority of Tallahassee’s population is going to be out during the day regardless.”
Residents and students like Castillo are still being made to work full shifts despite the pandemic. She explains how her health is constantly being put at risk during the day-time hours of the day.
Leon County’s news release informed residents that respective authorities are now allowed to disperse any crowd larger than 10. Authorities can stop anyone between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. to ask where they are going and what they are doing. This can include but is not limited to criminal charges and fines.
For more updates about the growing pandemic as it relates to the Tallahassee area you can go to tallahassee.com or wctv.tv.