Gov. Ron DeSantis is ordering Floridians to stay at home beginning at midnight Thursday.
Florida had been the only state with more than 5,000 cases to not issue such an order, with DeSantis insisting localized orders for South Florida and by individual cities and counties were sufficient. But Wednesday, he announced an order for Floridians to “limit all movement” outside of essential services and activities.
Health data experts gave clearer estimates of coronavirus’ toll, they warned that even with social distancing, Florida could see a median of 6,937 deaths, and the virus could kill between 100,000 and 240,000 people in the United States in the coming months.
Florida now has 6,955 cases with 87 deaths. Nationwide, with over 190,000 cases, the U.S. death toll surged to 4,102 by Wednesday. Worldwide, there are over 885,000 cases and more than 44,200 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins University & Medicine Coronavirus Resource Center.