WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Two new executive orders are in place in Palm Beach County. While they stop short of being a "shelter-in-place" order, there are questions on what the orders cover and what they mean.
The first order involves shutting down all non-critical businesses in Palm Beach County. Non-critical means many retail and commercial operations. Those businesses are allowed minimal operations like payroll, security and online shopping as long as there are no customers in their stores. This order does not shut down businesses that are essential.
"To healthcare providers, public health operations, including but not limited to hospitals, doctors, dentist offices, urgent cares, clinics and rehabilitation facilities," County Administrator Verdenia Baker said.
The list of places allowed to remain open also includes grocery stores, delivery businesses and day cares, with restrictions.
FOR A FULL LIST OF THE CRITICAL BUSINESSES THAT WILL REMAIN OPEN, CLICK HERE.
"The second one, which is entitled emergency order No. 3, that closes all golf courses in the county down and all public parks, regardless of whether it's a county, municipal or district park," Palm Beach County Mayor Dave Kerner said.
Kerner said these new directives are not shelter-in-place.
"Some may see this as a precursor to shelter-in-place. Some may not," he said. "Those orders will be forthcoming depending on how the community reacts and abides by these current orders."
Kerner made it clear that this will not be the last time the county hands out an executive order.