During a virtual news conference on Monday, March 30, Mayor Lenny Curry announced that he signed an executive order prohibiting all hotels, motels, and other commercial lodging establishments from accepting or extending reservations for any person other than essential lodgers. The mandate will take effect Tuesday, March 31, at 5 p.m.
The order defines essential lodgers as:
- Healthcare professionals,
- First responders,
- National Guard members,
- Law enforcement,
- State or federal government employees,
- Airline crewmembers,
- Patients,
- Patients’ families,
- Journalists,
- Others responding to COVID-19,
- Displaced residents or visitors,
- Persons unable to return to their home due to COVID-19 impacts on travel,
- Persons who must vacate their home due to exigent circumstances, such as fire or flood,
- Persons utilizing hotels as transitional living arrangements,
- Persons sheltering in hotels due to domestic violence,
- Hotel employees, service providers, and contractors, or
- Individuals who, for any reason, are temporarily unable to reside in their home.
Mayor Curry stated: “Unfortunately, some cities have not been as proactive or as vigilant in enforcing the CDC’s guidance on proper social distancing and non-essential travel as Duval County has. Numerous people have congregated in the state for spring break, cruises and other personal travel. This measure is necessary to protect the residents of our city, and ensure lodging is available for people on the frontline and those who are in need.”
Executive Order 2020-4 is available to review at JaxReady.com/Virus.