With the number of Covid-19 infections surging and testing data still lagging, state Senator Janet Cruz (D-Tampa) on Tuesday called on Governor Ron DeSantis to close non-essential businesses and issue a stay home order to protect the people of Florida.
“The longer this virus sickens our population, the longer the damage to our economy,” said Senator Cruz. “We can continue to slap on band aids, and hope for the best, or we can take immediate, bold action to stop the coronavirus in its tracks. For the sake of our health and our economy, I hope the governor chooses the latter.”
Senator Cruz’s call echoes others made by prominent Democrats in Florida, including Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, who first called on the governor to issue a statewide “stay-at-home” order last week.
Thus far, the governor has chosen to take a piecemeal approach, leaving vulnerable large swaths of Florida’s population to the spread of the disease as seemingly healthy individuals who may be unaware they are even carrying the virus continue to move freely about the state.
In Hillsborough County, there have been 75 confirmed cases of Covid-19 as of Monday afternoon. Thus far, none have died.
