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Tampa Mayor To Request Countywide Shelter-In-Place Order

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor speaks at a podium
City of Tampa photo
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor will be asking Hillsborough County leaders to issue a county-wide ‘stay-at-home’ order as soon as Monday.

Castor said Saturday that she will take the request to ‘shelter in place’ to the Hillsborough County Emergency Policy Group – a consortium of the cities and the county making decisions related to coronavirus.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Clc0A1U5dRU&t=2s

"We know this is frustrating for individuals. It’s inconvenient. But think about it. If we take these actions now, we can flatten the curve,’’ she said. “We can reduce the number of cases hopefully save lives and we will be able to get back to our normal lives much quicker.

A stay-at-home order means that people will allowed to leave home for only essential services, such as going to the grocery store.

Hours after Castor posted her video, Hillsborough County Commissioner and board member Les Miller released a video, clarifying the process by which the order would be issued.

A board meeting is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.

Miller said no stay-at-home order has been issued for Hillsborough County, and such a decision would occur following a board meeting and announced by county administrator Mike Merrill.

"I know there are some people who are confused, because they heard there was going to be an emergency stay-home (order)," Miller said. "At this point in time, there is not."

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