March
31, 2020
The
Levy County Board of County Commissioners met today and adopted an emergency
order for Levy County to assist all citizens as we continue to battle the
spread of the COVID-19 virus. The following are snips of the emergency order to
include some of the most frequently asked questions. A full version of the
emergency order can be viewed on the Levy County Department of Emergency
Management’s web page at www.levydisaster.org.
Sheriff McCallum said, “I want to ensure the
safety of each and every citizen of Levy County and the order adopted by the
Board of County Commissioners will help. The COVID-19 virus will not be stopped
unless we continue to work together. My
deputies will respond to your calls and in efforts to keep everyone safe I ask
you to please follow the new emergency order. Our deputies will use discretion
when responding to calls related to the emergency order. However, we will use enforcement
action if appropriate and necessary. I encourage all citizens’ cooperation in continuing
to keep Levy County SAFE.”
Exact
Quotes from the Emergency Order:
“1.
All public or private gatherings that bring together more than ten people in
the same room or indoor or outdoor space at the same time are prohibited,
except for the limited purposes and venues permitted by this Emergency Order.
2.
This Emergency Order does not include a gathering occurring in a single
household or living unit.
3.
This Emergency Order does not include gatherings in venues that provide
essential goods and services, including grocery stores, facilities providing
health care to humans or animals, gas stations, and banks/credit unions.
4. This
Emergency Order does not include gatherings of people performing essential
services, including: all government services and functions; food production,
distribution and sale; construction projects; building management and
maintenance; operation and maintenance of utilities including water, sewer, gas
and electric; public transportation; road construction and maintenance;
cybersecurity operations; flood control; solid waste and recycling collection,
removal, and processing; telecommunications systems.
5. This
Emergency Order does not include gatherings for government meetings held in
government buildings or religious services in churches; provided that those
gatherings include social distancing measures of maintaining a minimum of six
feet between any attendees or participants.”
What
is exempt?
The order does not apply to the following:
Gatherings in a single home or living unit
Grocery Stores
Health Care Facilities
Health Care Facilities for animals
Gas Stations
Banks/Credit Unions
Essential Government Services
Food production and distribution/sales
Construction projects
Building management and maintenance
Utility service operations
Public transportation
Road construction and maintenance
Cybersecurity operations
Flood control
Solid waste and recycling collection, removal, and processing
Telecommunications systems
The order also exempts the following gatherings,
provided that those gatherings include social distancing measures of
maintaining a minimum of 6 feet between any attendees or participants
Government meetings held in government buildings
Religious services in churches
How
long is this order going to be in place?
This order will be in place as long as the
county is under a state of emergency, OR, when cancelled by the Levy County
BOCC.
What if I want my
family or friends to come over to my home?
This order does not apply to a gathering in a
single family household or living units. The intent is to ensure that proper
social distancing is being followed to prevent the spread of COVID-19, not to
stop families from stopping normal functions.
What about my church
service? Do we have to cancel it?
Religious services inside a church are allowed
to continue, as long as the church enforces social distancing measures of
maintaining a minimum of 6 feet between any attendees or participants.
What if I want to
have a party or family reunion somewhere other than a single household?
A party or family reunion or other similar
gatherings of 10 or more people outside of a single household or living unit
would be prohibited by this order.
What if I witness
someone breaking the rule?
If you witness a group that you feel is
violating the emergency order, you should contact the Levy County Sheriff’s
Office NON EMERGENCY line at 352-486-5111. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO BREAK UP THE
GATHERING YOURSELF.
What about grocery
stores? What if they aren’t practicing social distancing?
Grocery stores are specifically exempt. It is
up to the local store to set their rules for their customers.
My business has more
than 10 employees. Do I have to shut down my business?
No. The intention is not to shut down private
business. We anticipate an amendment to clarity this better at the next board
meeting.