ORLANDO, Fla. —
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Wednesday that he will issue an executive order directing residents in the state to stay at home except for essential services starting at midnight Thursday.
The order will remain in effect for 30 days.
DeSantis issued a statewide stay-at-home order as federal and local pressure mounted for him to abandon the county-by-county approach he had implemented.
Coronavirus in Florida: The latest info
DeSantis told reporters Wednesday that he is issuing the order after consulting with President Donald Trump and White House advisers, who have said Americans need to stay home throughout April.
DeSantis' move came hours after the U.S. surgeon general, Dr. Jerome Adams, said on NBC's “Today” show that he would tell DeSantis that the federal guidelines for social distancing should be viewed as “a national stay-at-home order.”
The number of coronavirus cases in Florida will surpass 7,000 on Wednesday as the state’s death toll continues to climb.
State health officials said Wednesday that 87 Florida residents have now died after becoming infected with the virus and the state has a total of 6,955 cases.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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