Effective March 24, 2020, Florida’s Governor issued Executive Order 20-80 in response to the fact that “many cases of COVID-19 in Florida have been as a result of individuals coming into the State of Florida from international travel and other states and exposing [Florida] residents” to the disease.  The Executive Order also noted that “Florida is seeing an increase in individuals fleeing to Florida from states where ‘shelter-in-place’ orders are being implemented, including from the New York Tri-State Area.”  

Executive Order 20-80 applies to people entering Florida through airports “whose point of departure originates from outside the State of Florida in an area with substantial community spread,” including Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York.  People covered by the Executive Order must isolate or quarantine for a period of 14 days from when they arrive in Florida, or for their entire stay in Florida if shorter than 14 days.  

While enforcement measures remain to be seen, Florida’s Governor directed the Florida Department of Health to “take any steps necessary to ensure the screening and appropriate isolation and quarantine of individuals covered by” Executive Order 20-80.  Florida’s Governor further noted that state and county law enforcement officials are duty-bound, if requested, to assist the Florida Department of Health in enforcing any isolation, quarantine, or order the Department of Health may issue pursuant to Executive Order 20-80.  Executive Order 20-80 further provides that the penalty for violating isolation or quarantine pursuant to this order will be a second-degree criminal misdemeanor under state law, punishable by imprisonment up to 60 days, a fine of up to $500.00, or both.  

As of the date of this article, Florida’s Governor has not issued a state-wide shelter-in-place order.  However, the following municipalities, cities, and counties in Florida are currently operating under shelter-in-place orders (and additional municipalities, cities, and counties are expected to follow suit as the week progresses):

• City of Miami Beach 
• City of Miami 
• Surfside 
• Golden Beach 
• Bal Harbour Village 
• Aventura 
• Alachua County 
• Leon County 
• Orange County 

For additional web-based resources available to assist you in monitoring the spread of the coronavirus on a global basis, you may wish to visit the CDC and the World Health Organization.  

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