Hillsborough Coronavirus Policy Group Agrees On Countywide Curfew

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL — The Hillsborough County Emergency Policy Group will meet Thursday to vote on the final wording of an order to impose a countywide curfew during the coronavirus outbreak.

During a teleconference Wednesday, policy group members hashed out the details of the order, which would establish a curfew for county residents from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. except for medical and other essential personnel.

"We're doing what we have to do to protect the people of Hillsborough County," said County Commissioner Les Miller who chairs the policy group.

Most of the discussion during Wednesday's teleconference revolved around the word "curfew," which some members felt has a negative connotation. Others said the word "curfew" was needed to communicate the severity of the order.

"Curfew is confusing for people who work all week," said Hillsborough County School Board chairwoman Melissa Snively. "The curfew language causes confusion. Not all of us work 9 to 5 Monday through Friday. It doesn’t seem to accomplish what we want to accomplish."

"I know the word curfew has negative connotations but I don’t think that’s all bad," said acting Temple Terrace Mayor Andy Ross. He said the word carries more urgency than the term "stay at home."

Miller warned the group not to get hung up on the language and lose sight of what the group is trying to accomplish -- to keep people in their homes as much as possible to prevent the further spread of the virus.

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"Let’s not let the word 'curfew' negate the overall matter of what we’re trying to do," said Miller. "Please don’t let one word keep us from coming together in a cooperative manner."

There was also discussion on when to begin the stay-at-home order.

Snively, who is also a small business owner, said employers need time to make arrangements for their employees to work from home.

"I'm getting emails now as people are listening to this meeting," said Plant City Mayor Rick Lott. "There already is panic. We need to allow enough time for people to understand what we’re doing here. We need to give citizens time to get their arms around this."

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, however, urged the group not to delay putting the order in place.

"We have got to take action," she said. "If you haven’t planned for your employees to work from home, it’s a little late. I don’t know what universe some individuals are in but this is a serious issue."

"I understand there is urgency," said Miller. "But I do think people are going to need time to make plans."

He suggested putting the order in place starting at 10 p.m. Friday. Fellow policy group members unanimously agreed.

The policy group told Hillsborough County Administrator Mike Merrill to return to the policy group's teleconference on Thursday with the final language for the order. The policy group will take a final vote at that time.

The police group is made up of three county commissioners, the mayors from the cities of Plant City, Tampa and Temple Terrace, the sheriff, and chairwoman of the School Board. Its purpose is to enact policies dealing with the health, safety and welfare of county residents during declared emergencies.

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