The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is providing a new challenge to our personal and professional lives on a daily basis, including whether or not business may continue to operate in the face of local and statewide emergency orders. A major determining factor on continuity of operations in the face of COVID-19 is whether a business is deemed “essential” by governing authorities. From the early days of the infection in Florida to today as we near the projected peak of infection rates in our communities, FRSA has been working tirelessly to ensure that roofing and related services are deemed “essential” and thus permitted to remain operational.
The frontlines of this battle have shifted several times in recent weeks. Local governments in Florida were the first to act, with Miami-Dade County issuing the first stay-at-home order in mid-March. Our team and other members of the construction industry worked with county leadership to highlight the critical role roofing and construction activities play in our community and in the economy. Further, we highlighted the unique nature of our worksites, where open environments and limited access provide ample opportunity for progress while adhering to CDC guidelines for social distancing. Federal guidance from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) provided additional strength to our position. Miami-Dade County deemed all construction “essential” in its order, which has become the model for other governments across Florida.
On Wednesday, April 1, Governor DeSantis signed a statewide “safer-at-home” order restricting Floridians’ travel outside their homes to only “essential” services and activities. Florida was the 34th state in the nation to pass such an order. In the days leading up to the order, FRSA worked directly with the Governor and his legal team to reinforce the need for roofing and construction to be included as an essential service, which they were. The Governor’s statewide order adopted both the federal DHS guidance and the Miami-Dade order by reference, strengthening the designation of construction services as essential. We thank the Governor and his team for this action.
As we continue to weather COVID-19, the frontline of this effort now shifts to our worksites around the state. As an essential service, roofers and construction as a whole may remain operational in accordance with CDC social distancing guidelines, local regulation (which may be more stringent than the statewide order) and industry best practices. We must continue to do our part to advance our projects while halting COVID-19 transmission. FRSA members will continue to lead the charge, keeping our state’s infrastructure sound and our economy afloat as we collectively beat COVID-19 and prepare for the economic recovery ahead.
Previous Article
Next Article