On March 26, the Hillsborough emergency policy group voted unanimously to put the county under a safer-at-home order, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The order states that residents are to stay at home “as much as possible” and are only to leave their homes for essential tasks such as going to the grocery store, exercise and care for friends and family.

The order also allows essential businesses such as restaurants (carry-out, drive thru and delivery only) to stay open.

The order will go into effect at 10 p.m. Friday March 27 and will stay in effect until another executive order terminating or pausing it is issued.