Orange County stay-at-home order: What you can and can’t do

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer announced Tuesday afternoon that a stay-at-home order for all of Orange Orange will last from 11 p.m. Thursday to 11 p.m. April 9.

“The virus does not spread alone, we spread the virus,” Dyer said during a news conference. “These decisions are not made lightly and we know they will have continued economic and emotional impacts on our community, but we must continue to act now to save lives.”

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So what can you do and what can’t you do during a stay-at-home order? Well, county officials said you CAN leave the house, but only for certain reasons:

• To buy groceries
• To order takeout
• To buy supplies to work from home
• To exercise
• To visit the pharmacist or doctor’s office.
• To take your pet for a walk.

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Also, those who are unable to work from home CAN leave for work. However, once the stay-at-home order goes into effect businesses that do not sell “essential items” must close.

Here are some examples of essential businesses:

Health care providers, pharmacists, veterinarians, therapists, restaurants, grocery stores, farmers markets, produce stands, banks, news organizations, hardware stores, gas stations, licensed contractors, mail and shipping services, waste management, laundromats, airlines, assisted living facilities, landscapers, day care facilities and more. Click here to see a full list.

What is a nonessential business? Here are some examples:

Amusement rides, carnivals, water parks, pools, zoos, museums, arcades, fairs, children’s play centers, playgrounds, theme parks, bowling alleys, pool halls, movie and other theaters, concert and music halls, country clubs, social clubs and fraternal organizations.

So what CAN’T you do during the stay-at-home order?

• You CAN’T visit other people’s homes, except to provide care or supplies.
• Social distancing is still in place, so you CAN’T gather in groups of 10 more.

Sheriff John Mina said he and his deputies are not interested in arresting people who violate the stay-at-home order. Instead, he said he wants the public to be in the “right frame of mind.”

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