Mayor says Gainesville will continue to operate under stay-at-home order

While states like South Carolina and Georgia relaxed their stay-at-home guidelines and reopened the economy, Gainesville Mayor Lauren Poe doesn't plan to follow their lead.

At an emergency meeting Tuesday, Alachua County commissioners said that they will continue to operate under the governor's stay-at-home order.

Without a vaccine or treatment for COVID-19, Poe does not expect the city to immediately return to normal.

Poe fears that if commissioners reopen the city, there's a strong possibility residents will suffer from another outbreak of coronavirus infections. This time, Poe said, it could be worse and deadlier than the one before.

However, leaders could reopen some establishments slowly.

With businesses in every sector suffering under the enormous hardship of a lack of revenue, owners would love to see their regular customers flock back to their business.