Orange County will order its more than 1.3 million residents to stay at home beginning Thursday, it’s harshest effort yet to stamp out spread of the novel coronavirus, Mayor Jerry Demings said Tuesday.
The order will take effect at 11 p.m. Thursday and covers all 13 municipalities in the county, and is seen as a way to “flatten the curve” or ensuring the medical facilities aren’t overwhelmed as more cases of the virus emerge.
Only people traveling for essential business, including trips to work, the grocery store or pharmacy, will be allowed on the streets. The order will be in effect for two weeks. People are allowed to exercise outside, but are discouraged from doing so in groups.
Demings said he doesn’t take the order lightly and said the goal is to stop the spread as first responders as firefighters, TSA officers and medical professionals have been infected. One Orange County deputy, who traveled overseas, tested positive for the virus.
Demings pointed out that just one week ago there was only one confirmed case in Orange County. But today there are 50.