Gov. Ron DeSantis issues order telling all Floridians to stay at home for 30 days

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis at a news conference at a drive-through coronavirus testing site in Miami Gardens, Fla., on March 30, 2020. Wilfredo Lee / AP

Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an order today directing Floridians to stay at home for 30 days to help curb the spread of the new coronavirus.
The order, which goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. Friday, April 3, 2020, contains two key elements:
 - Seniors and people with significant underlying medical conditions “shall stay at home and take all measures to limit the risk for exposure to COVID-19,” the illness caused by the new coronavirus.
 - Everyone else “shall limit their movements and personal interactions outside of their home to only those necessary to obtain or provide essential services or conduct essential activities.”
Florida now joins more than 30 states that are under a "stay-at-home" order. 
​Florida is at just under 7,000 coronavirus cases as of Wednesday morning. The death toll is at 87.
Considered essential workers: healthcare providers, law enforcement, restaurant, grocery store and gas station employees, bankers, reporters, bus drivers and technicians, taxis and truck drivers.
Considered essential activities: Going to church and participating in recreational activities like hiking, swimming and fishing while following social distance guidelines. You are still able to grocery shop and get gas.
The order says public gatherings of 10 people or more is not essential and it’s up to local authorities to police this.
DeSantis said he spoke to President Trump and cited the national guidelines that extended the stay-at-home recommendations for another 30 days as a reason for taking action now.
"Although the guidelines don't call for any new action...I think it's clear it effectively represents a national pause," DeSantis said. "It makes sense to make this move now."