TAMPA, Fla. -- Hundreds of thousands of Floridians are calling on Governor Ron DeSantis to issue at statewide order amid the coronavirus pandemic.
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An online petition has upwards of 340,000 signatures from residents asking Florida to take measures similar to other states.
Locally, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties have issued "safer-at-home" initiatives.
The governor has previously said he doesn't think a statewide stay-at-home order would be effective. He also said he doesn't believe the counties that have no or few positive COVID-19 cases need one.
Florida's Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried has urged Gov. DeSantis to issue an order. Fried said in a press release that Gov. DeSantis needs to take action as Florida is starting to see "dramatically increasing" number of coronavirus cases. While she understands a statewide stay-at-home order may impact Florida's economy, Commissioner Fried said: " It is a decision that will save lives ."
