TAMPA -- In an emergency teleconference Monday aftern, members of the Hillsborough Emergency Policy Group rejected Tampa Mayor Jane Castor's call for a "shelter in place" order in Hillsborough County, much like the ones in place in several states and large cities including Dallas and Nashville.
Castor said the order was necessary because Governor Ron DeSantis "has no intention" of calling for any statewide action on a shelter in place command. "We need to make a decision... that is going to save lives." She said radio stations and community leaders could help get the word out about the stay at home order. "The longer we wait, the more people are going to get infected."
DeSantis insists that too many people would defy such an order. Plant City mayor Rick Lott says the county should be rallying around DeSantis, questioning how one could tell Polk County residents driving into Hillsborough County that they were breaking the law.
The policy group will meet again by teleconference Thursday.
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