TALLAHASSEE, Florida – Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried, who is also a member of the Florida Cabinet, asked Governor Ron DeSantis to implement a statewide “stay-at-home” order in response to dramatically increasing COVID-19 cases in the Sunshine State:
I want to recognize the difficult choices the Governor has had to make in this public health crisis.
No Governor in recent history would have expected to have to make a decision like California, New York, or Illinois have made in the past 72 hours.
Shutting down one of the nation’s largest states is a decision that will have an economic impact – but it is a decision that will save lives.
Based on the data, we know we are a week behind California’s vast increase in COVID-19 cases. The individuals and businesses I’ve spoken with are growing more anxious by the day.
As the nation’s third-largest state, we need to go further, and we cannot afford to lose another week.
I am asking the Governor to consider implementing a statewide “stay-at-home” order, closing all non-essential businesses for a reasonable timeframe, after which time the situation could be reassessed.
A piecemeal approach of closing certain communities and businesses risks sowing further confusion.
I encourage the Governor to take this decisive action today to save lives and preserve Florida’s economy for our shared future. I will stand by the Governor should he make this difficult decision, and I implore him to do so now.
