Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried is calling on Gov. Ron DeSantis to issue a statewide “stay-at-home” order in response to the spreading COVID-19 virus. 

She says the order would be similar to ones in California, Illinois and New York. 

The order would close all non-essential businesses for “a reasonable timeframe, after which time the situation could be reassessed.” 

Fried says the data show that Florida, the nation’s third-most populous state, is a week behind California, which has experienced a broader spread of the coronavirus. 

She acknowledges the economic impact but says that closing some businesses while allowing others to remain open creates confusion and uncertainty.