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Government responses to and political effects of the coronavirus pandemic, 2020 (Florida)

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Responses by state

Ballotpedia’s coverage of COVID-19 includes how federal, state, and local governments are responding, and how those responses are influencing election rules and operations, political campaigns, the economy, schools, and more.

This article contains coverage of eight kinds of state government responses to the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. The article tracks developments in these areas that took place between the start of the pandemic in March 2020 through Dec. 4, 2020. The government responses covered here include:

Additionally, the article includes:

To view current coverage areas, including mask requirements, school responses, travel restrictions, and much more, click a state in the map below.

Documenting_STATE%27s_path_to_recovery_from_the_coronavirus_(COVID-19)_pandemic,_2020-2021


Changes to election dates and procedures, March 16 through November 19

See also: Changes to election dates, procedures, and administration in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

General election changes

Florida modified its voter registration procedures for the November 3, 2020, general election as follows:

  • Voter registration: The voter registration deadline was extended to October 6, 2020.[1]

For a full timeline about election modifications made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, click here.

Primary election changes

Florida modified its candidate filing procedures as follows:

  • Candidate filing procedures: Candidates allowed to submit qualifying documents, including signed petitions, electronically.

For a full timeline about election modifications made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, click here.

Click the gray bar below for more detailed information.


Statewide stay-at-home order, March 23 through December 4

See also: States with lockdown and stay-at-home orders in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

On April 1, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) issued Executive Order 20-91, which directed individuals in Florida to stay home except for essential activities and closed nonessential businesses in the state.[5] The stay-at-home order took effect April 2 and lasted until April 30. On April 29, DeSantis extended the order to May 4 to coincide with the planned economic reopening of the state.[6]

Executive Order 20-91 contains a list of all activities and services that are considered essential. The order is embedded below.

Executive orders, March 30 through June 29

See also: Executive orders issued by governors and state agencies in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020


Court closures, March 17 through November 4

See also: State court closures in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020
  • June 15, 2020: Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles Canady issued an order on June 15 which extended the term of the COVID-19 Workgroup through the end of the year. The Workgroup is charged with recommending ways state courts can return to full operation following the coronavirus pandemic.[7]
  • June 8, 2020: Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles Canady issued an order extending the suspension of civil and criminal jury trials through July 17. Jury trials were first suspended on March 13. The court subsequently extended that order, first through April 17, then through May 29, and again through July 2.[8]
  • May 21, 2020: The Florida Supreme Court extended restrictions on in-person proceedings and suspension of jury trials through July 2, with the exception of the Remote Civil Jury Pilot Program.[9]
  • May 11, 2020: Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles Canady issued a memo to chief judges in both the Florida District Court of Appeals and the state’s Circuit Courts outlining best practices developed by a statewide coronavirus working group, to help courts navigate new remote procedures. Best practices include ensuring technology is sufficient to allow courts to preside over and resolve matters effectively and accounting for ADA requirements and web content accessibility standards.[10]
  • May 4, 2020: The Florida Supreme Court extended restrictions on in-person proceedings and suspension of jury trials through July 2.[11]
  • April 7, 2020: The Florida Supreme Court extended restrictions on in-person proceedings and suspension of jury trials through May 29.[12]
  • March 24, 2020: The Florida Supreme Court extended their March 13 order suspending all face-to-face legal proceedings in the state through April 17.[13]
  • March 13, 2020: The Florida Supreme Court suspended all face-to-face legal proceedings in the state for two weeks, effective March 16.[14]

Legislative session changes, March 20 through October 1

See also: Changes to state legislative session dates in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

No modifications to state legislative activity in Florida were made.

Proposed and enacted legislation, March 25 through August 19

See also: State laws in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

See below for a complete list of bills related to the coronavirus pandemic in Florida. To learn more about a particular bill, click its title. This information is provided by BillTrack50 and LegiScan.

Rent, mortgage, eviction, and foreclosure policies, April 9 through November 24

See also: Changes to rent, mortgage, eviction, and foreclosure policies in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020


  • October 1, 2020: The statewide moratorium on evictions and foreclosures expired, after Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) announced that he would not extend it.[15]
  • August 31, 2020: Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) extended the statewide moratorium on evictions and foreclosures through October 1. To avoid eviction, the order required tenants to file a motion in court showing a coronavirus hardship caused them to miss payments. Landlords were permitted to seek an eviction judgment in court, but final judgments were postponed until the end of the moratorium.[16]
  • July 29, 2020: Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) extended the statewide moratorium on evictions and foreclosures through September 1.[17]
  • June 30, 2020: Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) extended a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures through August 1.[18]
  • June 1, 2020: Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) extended a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures in the state through July 1.[19]
  • May 14, 2020: Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) extended a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures in the state through June 2.[20]
  • April 3, 2020: Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an order which suspended all forclousures and evicitions in the state for 45 days.[21]


Prison inmate release responses, March 30 through July 1

See also: State and local governments that released prison inmates in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020
  • Between March 30 and July 1, Florida did not make an announcement concerning the release of incarcerated individuals due to coronavirus on a state level. A few counties made the decision to release incarcerated individuals on the local level.[22]


Debate in Florida over responses to the coronavirus

See also: Debate in Florida over responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

Ballotpedia is covering the debate over continuing restrictions and closures in Florida in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Click on the links below to read more about these debates.

Status of industries, May 15 through July 31

Between May 15 and July 31, we conducted detailed tracking of industries and activities in each state daily.

  • "Yes" means an activity was allowed or an industry was permitted to open. "No" means an activity was not allowed or an industry was not permitted to reopen.
  • Some rules were applied regionally rather than statewide. Each cell shows the loosest restriction in place at the time, or the broadest level of an activity permitted in the state, even if that activity was only permitted regionally. Where applicable, we indicated that an activity was only permitted regionally, and provided details in a cell note. For example, if gyms were permitted to open in half of a state, the spreadsheet would say "Yes (regionally)," and differences between the regions would be explained in a note.
  • A lack of detail in a note or parentheses does not necessarily mean that an activity or industry was "back to normal." We did our best to capture caveats, exceptions, and modifications to activities. We acknowledge, though, that states put forth a large number of requirements for many industries and activities.

Initial reopening plan from March and April 2020 closures

Florida released an initial reopening plan from March and April 2020 closures on April 29, 2020. An analysis of this plan appeared in our Documenting America's Path to Recovery newsletter on April 30. The sections below include an analysis of the plan, the details of the plan, and reactions from officials to the plan.

Summary from Documenting America's Path to Recovery

See also: Documenting America's Path to Recovery: April 30, 2020

On April 29, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed Executive order 20-112, titled "Phase l: Safe. Smart. Step-by-Step. Plan for Florida's Recovery." The order allows some businesses to reopen under certain conditions May 4.

DeSantis said, "We will get Florida back on its feet by using an approach that is safe, smart, and step by step. What is our biggest obstacle? Fear, fear of the unknown, fear sparked by constant doom and gloom and hysteria that has permeated our culture for the last six weeks."

Phase I's relaxation of restrictions on some businesses does not apply to Broward, Miami-Dade, or Palm Beach counties, the state's most highly populated counties and the ones with the highest number of COVID-19 cases. The executive order states that, in these counties, "allowances for services and activities from … this order will be considered in consultation with local leadership."

The order allows restaurants, retail stores, libraries, and museums to open to 25% of their building occupancy under certain guidelines. The order also allows elective medical procedures under certain conditions. It extends provisions in previous executive orders closing bars, nightclubs, and gyms and barring vacation rentals. The order maintains limits on public gathering sizes to no more than 10 people and says all people in Florida should avoid nonessential travel.

The order says Florida has "achieved several critical benchmarks in flattening the curve, including a downward trajectory of hospital visits for influenza-like illness and COVID-19-like syndromic cases, a decrease in percent positive test results, and a significant increase in hospital capacity." It also says the state has implemented "a data-driven strategy devoted to high-volume testing and aggressive contact tracing" and protocols to protect long-term care facility residents.

The order states it is based on guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and Scott Rivkees, Florida surgeon general and state health officer. The order's provisions are based on recommendations from the Task Force to Re-Open Florida.

DeSantis said he plans to reopen in three phases and the timing of the next phases depends on how Phase I goes. He said "[e]ach phase we’re thinking about weeks, not thinking about months."

Context

  • DeSantis declared a state of emergency in Florida on March 9, 2020, and issued a stay-at-home order effective April 3-30. On April 29, DeSantis extended the stay-at-home order until May 4.
  • Florida has had 33,690 cases of COVID-19, 5,589 hospitalizations, and 1,268 deaths. Miami-Dade County has had 12,063 cases—36% of the state's total.
  • Florida is a Republican trifecta, with a Republican governor and Republican majorities in both chambers of the state legislature.

Plan details

DeSantis' executive order contains guidance and requirements for individual behavior and for businesses.

Behavior requirements and guidance The order states that local jurisdictions will prohibit gatherings of more than 10 people in public places that do not allow for physical distancing. It also states that all people in Florida should avoid nonessential travel and adhere to CDC guidelines for isolating for 14 days after travel on a cruise, internationally, or to a place with significant COVID-19 presence.

The order also encourages senior citizens and those with underlying medical conditions to stay at home.

The following details relate to businesses and activities allowed to reopen or resume May 4:

Restaurants
Restaurants and food establishments can open under the following conditions:

  • Limiting indoor occupancy to no more than 25% building occupancy
  • Adopting appropriate social distancing measures

The order defines appropriate social distancing as "maintaining a minimum of 6 feet between parties, only seating parties of 10 or fewer people and keeping bar counters closed to seating."

Retail stores
Storefronts may open if they:

  • Operate at no more than 25% building occupancy
  • Abide by CDC and OSHA safety guidelines

Museums and libraries
Museums and libraries may open if they:

  • Limit to no more than 25% building occupancy
  • Keep interactive exhibits and child play areas closed
  • Are allowed to do so by local government, if a local public museum or library

Elective medical procedures
The order says elective medical procedures may take place under the following conditions:

  1. The facility has the capacity to immediately convert additional facility-identified surgical and intensive care beds for treatment of COVID-19 patients in a surge capacity situation;
  2. The facility has adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) to complete all medical procedures and respond to COVID-19 treatment needs, without the facility seeking any additional federal or state assistance regarding PPE supplies;
  3. The facility has not sought any additional federal, state, or local government assistance regarding PPE supplies since resuming elective procedures; and,
  4. The facility has not refused to provide support to and proactively engage with skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities and other long-term care residential providers.

The order states that bars, pubs, nightclubs, gyms, and fitness centers must remain closed.

Pertaining to bars, pubs, and nightclubs, the provision applies to on-site consumption at businesses that "derive more than 50 percent of gross revenue from the sale of alcoholic beverages." The order also extends a prohibition on vacation rentals.

Reactions

  • Florida Senate President Bill Galvano (R) said the plan "represents a fact-based, strategic and measured approach that responsibly balances the resilient spirit of hardworking Floridians across our state who are eager to return to work with sensible and science-based public health guidelines developed in conjunction with medical professionals."
  • Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez said, "There’s no denying the negative economic impacts that COVID-19 has had on our county and our entire state. However, thanks to the hard work of so many Floridians, we have made great progress in flattening the curve, and we continue to consult with health and medical experts to protect our residents. We are ready to begin re-opening through a safe and thorough approach. I thank Governor DeSantis for working with us every step of the way and for his leadership these past few months."
  • Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried (D) said, "I am encouraged by this cautious approach, and I agree that Florida's re-opening must be measured, in phases, and based on science and data. I remain concerned about key numbers in the weeks ahead, that testing must be increased and that all data must be accurately reported, both cases and deaths."
  • Florida Democratic Party Chair Terrie Rizzo said, "More than 1,000 Floridians have died in this pandemic, but you wouldn’t know it listening to Governor DeSantis’ indignant press conference today. Just like Trump, DeSantis did not spend his time at the bully pulpit thanking frontline workers or consoling families who have lost loved ones, but deriding the media and ‘doom and gloom’ scientific models that showed a no-action scenario. Enough with the self-congratulatory media performances, where are the tests?"

Coronavirus resources

Click the links below to explore official resources related to the coronavirus outbreak.

State resources

Twitter feeds for government officials and agencies appear below.

Federal resources

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ This change was not due to COVID-19. This deadline was extended after the state's voter registration website crashed.
  2. ↑ Florida Department of State, "Public Notice: Secretary of State Laurel M. Lee Provides Update about Voter Registration in Florida," October 6, 2020
  3. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  4. ↑ Tampa Bay Times, "Running for Florida office during a pandemic just got easier," April 3, 2020
  5. ↑ Governor of Florida, "Executive Order 20-91," accessed April 1, 2020
  6. ↑ Governor of Florida, "Executive Order 20-111," accessed April 30, 2020
  7. ↑ Florida Supreme Court, "Florida Chief Justice issues order extending term of COVID-19 Workgroup helping guide state courts through pandemic," June 15, 2020
  8. ↑ WJCT, "Suspension Of Florida Jury Trials During COVID-19 Extended," June 9, 2020
  9. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named May22
  10. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named May11
  11. ↑ National Center for State Courts, "Coronavirus and the Courts," May 5, 2020
  12. ↑ National Center for State Courts, "Coronavirus and the Courts - April 8, 2020," April 8, 2020
  13. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Mar25courts
  14. ↑ WCTV, "Florida courts to suspend face-to-face proceedings for two weeks due to coronavirus," March 13, 2020
  15. ↑ Tampa Bay Times, "DeSantis will let Florida’s eviction and foreclosure moratorium expire," September 30, 2020
  16. ↑ Bay News 9, "DeSantis Extends Eviction, Foreclosure Ban Again," August 31, 2020
  17. ↑ WPTV, "Gov. Ron DeSantis extends halt on evictions for Florida tenants through Sept. 1," July 29, 2020
  18. ↑ Click Orlando, "Gov. DeSantis extends temporary ban on evictions, foreclosure hours before it expired," June 30, 2020
  19. ↑ WFTV, "Gov. DeSantis extends mortgage foreclosure and eviction relief in Florida," June 1, 2020
  20. ↑ Florida Politics, "Ron DeSantis extends eviction and foreclosure moratorium to June 2," May 14, 2020
  21. ↑ The Patch, "FL Governor Suspends Foreclosures, Evictions Over Coronavirus," April 3, 2020
  22. ↑ Miami Herald, "Coronavirus is a get out of jail free card for some offenders in Florida," March 26, 2020
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