On Friday April 3rd, two days after Governor Ron DeSantis announced Executive Order 20-91, also known as the statewide Stay at Home and Safer at Home order, DeSantis released a FAQ document that clarified and changed ambiguous portions of the order.
Below is a list The Daily City made showing (1) what Executive Order 20-91 states about a specific topic and (2) how the FAQ document clarifies and/or changes it. Any statement in the FAQ that is not a change or update is not listed below. View the FAQ document
Seven Points of Clarification
1. Vulnerable Residents
Original: Exceptions for the following language is omitted: “Senior citizens and individuals with a significant underlying medical condition... shall stay at home and take all measures to limit the risk of exposure to COVID-19.“
New Info: “Vulnerable residents may leave their homes when necessary to obtain or provide essential services or conduct essential activities.“
2. Essential Services
Original: The list of essential services and activities that people can obtain, provide and and conduct are made up of two sources: “Those businesses and activities designated by Executive Order 20-89 and its attachment which consists of a list propounded by Miami-Dade County in multiple orders” and the Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce list created by the Department of Homeland Security. View both here
New Info: The FAQ document shares a link to a brand new version of its list of essential services and activities that people can obtain, provide and and conduct. This new version appears to be a lightly edited version of the Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce list. It is very, very long. View the new list here
3. Church Services
Original: Attending church is an essential activity but the order omits a requirement for them to follow CDC guidelines.
New Info: The FAQ document also does not place a requirement on churches to follow CDC guidelines: “The Florida Department of Health *encourages* (churches) to follow CDC guidance specific to faith organizations.” Read the CDC guidance specific to faith organizations here.
4. Enforcement
Original: Executive Order 20-91 omits any mention of how the order will be enforced
New Info: “Violation of the Governor’s Executive Order is a second-degree misdemeanor.”
5. What Non-Essential Businesses Should Do
Original: Omits any mention of what non-essential businesses must do.
New Info: Services not deemed essential must close their physical locations but are encouraged to work from home, and offer pick up, take out and delivery services online or by phone. Businesses can also fill out a form to request that the state add them to the list of essential services. View the form here.
6. How The Order Affects Local Orders
Original: The executive order says "This Order shall supersede any conflicting official action or order issued by local officials in response to COY ID-19 but only to the extent that such action or order allows essential services or essential activities prohibited by this Executive Order." The unnanounced Executive Order 20-92 that came out a day later changed that language to read “This Order shall supersede any conflicting official action or order issued by local officials in response to COVID-19.”
New Info: “Local authorities (are) allowed to adopt requirements directly on businesses, operations or venues, including buildings, beaches and parks, that may be stricter than the Governor’s Executive Order." Those who wish to report a business that violates the Governor’s Executive Order should contact local law enforcement.
7. Is There a Permit Required for Doing Essential Activities and Services?
Original: The order omits any mention of a permit or any proof being required to leave one’s house to go to an essential service or engage in an essential activity.
New Info: There is no special permit required to leave one’s house if they are going to an essential service or essential activity. Some businesses may wish to provide a letter to employees to clarify that their business is indeed an essential service.
