Orange County

‘Spread the message, not the virus’: Orange County officials urge residents, businesses to follow stay-at-home order

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — While essential businesses like grocery stores, pharmacies and hospitals will stay open when Orange County’s stay-at-home order goes into effect Thursday night, many other local businesses will be forced to shut their doors for the next two weeks.

Hairstylist Angel Cardona said he spent Thursday morning at his salon taking care of the last few customers before Orange County’s order goes into effect.

According to the county website, salons and beauty shops are not essential and will need to stop providing services for the two weeks.

READ: Orange County, Osceola County stay-at-home order: What does it mean?

“We make our living based off of appointments and if we're not able to service any clients, then we're not making any money so it's hurting all of us,” Cardona said.

Cardona said business has already suffered because of concerns about coronavirus.

“I’m not sure if everyone is going be able to keep their doors open, especially if they’re going through major renovations at this point, and now they’re stuck with no work and not able to complete jobs, and stuff like that,” he said.

READ: Coronavirus: When and where you can grocery shop in Central Florida

Other businesses, like gyms and bars, were already forced to close by the governor. And restaurants can only prepare food for take-out or delivery.

The county's order is to get people to stay home as much as possible, part of efforts to stop the spread.

Read the order in full below:

The county also said that if you do have to hit the road for any essential business, they want you to go home when you’re done.

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said the stay-at-home order is not something official wanted to do, but something they had to do.

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“We have to stop the spread of the virus. We have to flatten the curve because if we don’t, we’re going to get other people sick,” Dyer said. “We’re going to overwhelm our hospitals. Our doctors and nurses will get sick, and we won’t have enough protective equipment for our first responders and for our health care professionals -- and that’s why it’s so important. Spread the message, not the virus.”

Local father Albert Fairley said he believes some people will do as they're told, others not so much.

“It's going to be hard, it's going to be stressful, especially if you ain't used to having your kids there all day for two weeks,” he said.

Local mother Naziha Shouman said she believes the order doesn't go far enough.

“I just feel like it’s giving people a reason to go out more when they’re bored rather staying home and settle down until this whole thing passes,” she said.

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Michael Lopardi

Michael Lopardi

Michael Lopardi joined Eyewitness News as a general assignment reporter in April 2015.

Sarah Wilson

Sarah Wilson, WFTV.com

Sarah Wilson joined WFTV Channel 9 in 2018 as a digital producer after working as an award-winning newspaper reporter for nearly a decade in various communities across Central Florida.