Collier County sets emergency meeting to weigh stay at home order

Collier County commissioners are set Friday to weigh whether to require residents to stay at home and close nonessential businesses, potentially the most drastic measures to date to slow the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus.

Commission Chairman Burt Saunders called for the emergency meeting, which is scheduled for 1 p.m. at the commission chamber and will be streamed live on the county's website, and asked the county attorney to draft the proposed order.

With some exceptions, the order would require all people in Collier to stay at home. All nonessential businesses in the county would have to cease activities, except for "minimum basic operations," and hotels and short-term vacation rentals would not be allowed to take new reservations until further notice.

Like similar orders passed in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, the order includes an extensive list of businesses — ranging from grocery stores and nursing homes to banks and gas stations — that are deemed “essential” and would be exempt from the mandate.

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The order would apply to Naples and Marco Island, as well, although those cities could pass more stringent measures.

The bottom line, Saunders said, is that the number of cases in Southwest Florida is increasing "dramatically."

"I think we need to do everything we can in the next couple weeks to stop the spread of the virus," he said.

Collier confirmed its first three cases of the novel coronavirus on March 11. About two weeks later, by Thursday morning, there were 65 confirmed cases in the county and the number of hospitalizations stood at eight.

There have been no deaths so far in Collier, but neighboring Lee County has had three due to the virus.

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Naples Mayor Bill Barnett said that if the county passes the order his inclination is that the city would do the same. 

“It just makes sense,” he said. “If they don’t, we most likely wouldn’t either."

Barnett said he has gotten a lot of emails on the subject and said many people are pushing for such an order.

“They’re concerned like everybody else and they probably feel like it would be a good thing for the area,” he said. “Some don’t want it. The bottom line is we want to get rid of this thing."

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Among Saunders' main concerns is that the local healthcare system could be overwhelmed and people who in the normal course of life may need hospital care won't be able to get it.

Physicians in Collier have recently called on Gov. Ron DeSantis to issue a shelter in place order, but the governor has so far resisted taking that step, which has led to an increasing number of local governments passing their own measures to try to stem the outbreak.

Saunders also worries about an influx of people from outbreak hotspots in New York and New Jersey flocking to the area. Those visitors can't be stopped from coming here, he said, but a stay at home mandate would at least require them to stay inside once they arrive.

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The county's nine-page proposed order would allow nonessential businesses to continue "minimum basic operations," which are defined as activities necessary "to maintain the value of inventory, preserve plant and equipment condition, ensure security, process payroll and employee benefits, and facilitate employees working remotely.” 

Those businesses would still have to ensure that social distancing and all other measures advised by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are being followed.

"All public and private gatherings of any number of people occurring outside a single household or living unit" would be prohibited, with some exceptions, according to the order.

Residents would have to stay in their homes unless they leave for “essential activities,” which include:

• Health and safety-related activities and tasks, including for family or household members and pets, such as "seeking emergency services, obtaining medical supplies or medication or visiting a healthcare professional."
• Obtaining necessary supplies and services "for themselves and their family or household, or to deliver those services or supplies to others," including "groceries and food, household consumer products, supplies they need to work from home, and products necessary to maintain the safety, sanitation and essential operation" of homes.
• Engaging in outdoor activity, like walking, hiking, running or biking, "provided the individuals comply with social distancing and all other measures" advised by the CDC.
• Certain types of work, including providing essential products and services at essential businesses.
• Taking care of others, including "a family member, friend, or pet in another household," and transporting "family members, friends, or pets for activities as allowed" by the order.

A litany of government workers, including first responders, emergency management personnel, emergency dispatchers, court personnel, law enforcement and corrections officers, child protection and child welfare personnel, and housing and shelter personnel, would be exempt from the order.

All “essential” businesses would be encouraged to remain open and should, to the "greatest extent feasible," comply with social distancing recommendations, including by "maintaining at least a 6-foot distance between both employees and members of the public at all times." 

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Examples of essential businesses listed in the order include healthcare providers; airlines, taxis and buses; convenience stores; businesses engaged in food cultivation; businesses that provide food, shelter, social services and other necessities "for economically disadvantaged or otherwise needy individuals;" newspapers, television and radio; auto-supply, sales and repair facilities; hardware, gardening and building material stores; construction sites, contractors and other tradesmen; businesses providing mailing, logistics, pick-up and shipping services; laundromats; and restaurants that prepare and serve food.

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Any business that employs five or fewer people where the employees do not come in regular contact with the general public in the course of business would also be exempt.

The order does not limit religious services, but those attending are recommended to not gather with more than 10 people and to practice social distancing.

To pass the order would have to garner a majority of yes votes from county commissioners on Friday.

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Commissioners earlier this week gave the go-ahead for Saunders and the county manager to reach out to officials in Lee to see if they would want to jointly ask DeSantis to give the two counties the authority to close nonessential businesses if cases continue to rise rapidly in Southwest Florida.

But although commissioners unanimously agreed, some were wary Tuesday about the economic toll of the virus and noted the need for “personal responsibility” in the community.

Lee County commissioners met in emergency session Wednesday but did not address Collier's request and decided not to impose a stay at home order. They plan to meet again Monday.

Collier has encouraged residents to submit public comments in advance of the emergency meeting. Residents can email those to PublicComment@colliercountyfl.gov or send text messages to 239-571-9348 until 10 a.m. Friday. Comments will be shared with commissioners in advance of the meeting.

USA TODAY - Florida Network reporter Brittany Carloni contributed to this report.

Connect with the reporter at patrick.riley@naplesnews.com or on Twitter @PatJRiley.