Florida governor issues stay-at-home order

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a statewide stay-at-home order Wednesday as federal and local pressure mounted for him to abandon the county-by-county approach he had implemented in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The order directs "all Floridians to limit movements and personal interactions outside the home to only those necessary to obtain or provide essential services or conduct essential activities," he said.

DeSantis told reporters that he is issuing the order after consulting with President Donald Trump and White House advisers, who have said that Americans need to stay home throughout April.

The state's confirmed cases are approaching 7,000, with 86 deaths and almost 900 people hospitalized.

An outbreak model cited at the White House shows exponential growth in the coming weeks.

More than 30 others states had already issued such orders a week or more ago.

DeSantis also spoke to the cruise ships stranded off the coast of Florida.

"My concern is simply that, we've worked so hard that we have adequate hospital space in the event of a COVID-19 surge that we wouldn't want those valuable beds to be taken because of the cruise ship," he said.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks.

For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.

The vast majority of people recover.