Christopher Hong

chong@jacksonville.com

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Mayor Lenny Curry said Monday that he is crafting changes to his existing executive order limiting social gatherings to also require businesses to allow any employees who can work from home to do so.

Curry said he continues to see local businesses take “unnecessary risks” that are working against a national effort to strictly limit gatherings that could spread the coronavirus.

Curry said he also discussed enacting a local curfew with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office after hearing reports of large gatherings continuing to happen at homes. However, he said he decided against doing that because enforcement would be a major burden to local police.

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"We're asking you to do the right thing," he said. "If you don't do this and we don't flatten the curve, you could see a federal or state curfew, and they will enforce it.“

Curry said he acknowledged the impact the restrictions have put on small businesses and citizens. He said the city is exploring policy measures to offer businesses relief, and he recommended people speak with friends and family, listen to music and exercise to relieve their stress.

“We have to take care of each other,” Curry said.

Curry said the city-sponsored drive-thru testing site has administered roughly 300 tests since opening last week. Duval County residents who want a test must be screened through a phone app or website. People approved for testing will be given an appointment.

Curry said efforts to establish a field hospital in Jacksonville are a preparative measure, and that the site will only open if hospitals in the region are overwhelmed. He said the location of the hospital won’t be released unless it is opened. If opened, the hospital could treat 250 critical-care patients. He said local hospitals have not reached capacity at this time.

City officials have been working with the state to distribute protective medical equipment to local hospitals, said Emergency Management Chief Steve Woodard. He said the city has distributed 3,600 N95 masks, 25,000 surgical masks and 400 packages of hand sanitizer to local healthcare facilities.