Orlando Residents Ordered to Stay Home to Prevent Spread of COVID-19

On Thursday, March 26, residents of Orange County, Florida, were ordered to stay at home to combat the spread of the deadly coronavirus. The mayor of Orange County, Jerry Demings, announced the order that covers all 13 municipalities as positive COVID-19 cases began to spike in Orlando and surrounding cities. The order allows very few exceptions for when the 1.3 million people living in the county may leave their homes. As national health officials have forecast that COVID-19 deaths might exceed 240,000 across the nation, many are comparing it to the 1918 Spanish flu epidemic that took out one-third of the world’s population.

Key Points of Orange County’s Stay At Home Order

Mayor Jerry Demings ordered Orange County residents to stay at home with an intent to help the county’s medical facilities from becoming overwhelmed. Ultimately, the goal is to prevent the spread of and to contain the virus. The number of coronavirus cases in Florida has exceeded 6,700 with 85 fatalities. Orange County leads Central Florida with the highest number of positive COVID-19 cases reaching 373 cases as of Wednesday, April 1.

●    When did the order go into place?

The Stay At Home order went into effect on Thursday, March 26, 2020 at 11:00 p.m. On April 1, however, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a mandatory order for residents to stay home for 30 days.

●    When will the order be lifted?

The order in Orange County will remain in place for two weeks and is currently due to expire on April 9, 2020 at 11:00 p.m. The Executive Order for the state of Florida will be lifted on April 30, 2020.

●    What are the violations and penalties associated with the order?

Violators of the Stay At Home order can be fined up to $500 or 60 days jail time.

●    What kind of order is it?

Orange County is under an Emergency Executive Order No. 2020-05 given by Mayor Jerry Demings.

●    What are essential businesses?

Essential businesses that are permitted to remain open include healthcare providers, veterinarians, grocery stores, gas stations, banks, companies that provide shelter, mailing services, legal services, and childcare facilities.

Residents are encouraged to wait as long as possible before shopping for groceries, medicine, household items, and to exercise caution when going into public.

Schedule a Consultation with Fighter Law

As Orange County goes under lock-down and residents are forced to stay at home, some victims of domestic violence are trapped under the same roof with their abusers. Increased reports from the National Domestic Hotline show that abusers are using this pandemic to their advantage and to isolate family members or domestic partners. Many courthouses are working with minimum staff, and it’s increasingly difficult for a judge to review requests for injunctions. If you’re trapped at home and suffering abuse by someone close to you, know that there’s help.

Fighter Law attorneys have years of experience in these legal matters and know what it takes to petition for an injunction successfully. Whether you need protection from domestic violence, repeat violence, or sexual violence, having our attorneys by your side through the legal process will exceedingly increase your chances of success.

Attorney Thomas Feiter at Fighter Law has a reputation of aggressively fighting for his clients. Contact him about your case to receive trusted legal counsel about your need for an injunction. To schedule your free consultation, complete an online contact form, or call today at (407) FIGHTER (344-4837).

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