Under the direction of Executive Order 20-86 by Governor Ron DeSantis, motorists who are traveling from areas with substantial community spread including Louisiana, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, will be required to isolate for a period of 14 days upon entry to Florida or for the duration of their visit, whichever is shorter, and should be prepared for additional monitoring by DOH to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
As of Sunday March 29th New York had 52,318 cases with 29,766 of those cases existing in New York City, New Jersey had 11,124 cases, Louisiana had 3,540 cases, Connecticut had 1,524 cases.
Florida Highway Patrol will staff a checkpoint at I-10 at the Alabama/Florida line, 24 hours a day with approximately 16 troopers in 12-hour shifts.
At the checkpoint, motorists will be directed by law enforcement to enter the weigh station. Depending upon the motorist’s origin, they will be directed to either proceed back to the Interstate or to pull aside for further screening.
No commerce is impeded, however. Commercial motor vehicles will be directed to proceed in the left lane and will bypass the checkpoint to ensure timely delivery of products across the state. "The Florida Department of Transportation fully supports the trucking industry and appreciates the critical services they provide across the state while protecting Floridian’s safety during COVID-19," FDOT stated in a March 28th press release.
Upon entry in Florida, each arriving traveler or responsible family member (if traveling as a family) will be required to complete a traveler form. The form requires key information, including each traveler’s contact information and trip details. Failure to complete the form and failure to follow any isolation or quarantine order from DOH are a violation of Florida law.
Additionally, travelers will be provided with a traveler card, which has contact information and guidance in the event the traveler exhibits symptoms while in isolation that are attributed to COVID-19, including fever, cough, or shortness of breath.
Executive Order 20-86 does not apply to persons performing military, emergency, health or infrastructure response, or persons involved in any commercial activity, including individuals that live in Georgia and commute to work in Florida.
