Florida should reissue stay-at-home order to slow the spread of COVID-19, researchers say

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Researchers say Florida and Arizona should reissue stay-at-home orders to help control the rapid spread of COVID-19 in each state.

According to a new tool designed by Harvard University’s Global Health Institute, Florida and Arizona are the only states with unchecked community spread, meaning there are more than 25 new cases per 100,000 people daily.

For Florida, 24 of the 67 counties also have unchecked community spread. Here is a breakdown of Central Florida’s counties’ numbers:

Seminole County: 34 cases per 100,000 daily.

Osceola County: 32 cases per 100,000 daily.

Orange County: 50 cases per 100,000 daily.

Click here to see the full data across the country.

When asked about the analysis, Orange County Health Officer Raul Pino said, “The best solution is not to stop the economy and start the economy every three months, but it’s to adhere to the guidance that has been put in place so that we learn to live with this.

Read: Mask Up campaign encouraging residents of color, disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, to wear face coverings

Pino said much of transmission has been happening in break rooms, and urges businesses that have them to “clean those break rooms really well.”

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