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State officials have recommended "social distancing" as a means of curbing the spread of coronavirus, and on Tuesday Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered night clubs and bars throughout the state closed for 30 days to try and curb the spread of the disease.

He also ordered restaurants to operate at 50 percent capacity and have six feet between tables. Beaches were ordered to keep groups to less than 10 people and to keep six feet away from other groups. Locally, all city and county-permitted events of more than 50 people were canceled.

Coronavirus::Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis suspends school testing, orders bars and nightclubs closed

Testing:Two new coronavirus testing sites coming to Pensacola in next week

Beaches:Pensacola Beach, Navarre Beach stay open, officials call for groups no larger than 10

Escambia County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Chip Simmons said they have received a lot of questions about whether law enforcement would be actively enforcing the directive.

"We want to come together as a community for voluntary compliance, whether it's an order or not," Simmons said. "Ultimately, we do not want to take law enforcement action, but we will if we need to. If there is an order from the governor or an ordinance from the Escambia County Board of Commissioners, we would enforce that. But what I've seen from Escambia County in the past is that we come together ... and we know that we are in this together."

Simmons was among a group of community leaders at a press conference Wednesday morning that also included Escambia County Commissioner Lumon May, Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson and Dr. John Lanza, director of the Florida Department of Health in Escambia County to discuss what they are doing to fight coronavirus.

Lanza, Robinson and Simmons urged businesses that were not directly ordered to close but that might be likely places for transmission — restaurants, hair salons, gyms and the like — to exercise caution and common sense to protect themselves and their customers and neighbors.

"We can overcome this, but it is going to require each of us to own that responsibility," said Faulkner. "So be wise, follow the advice and counsel those that are experienced and knowledgeable, be discerning and make good choices to keep yourself and your loved ones safe. This is a time for unity, to share resources and to come together as a community."