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Hillsborough County moves closer to a stay-at-home order

If it passes tomorrow, it would take effect Friday night at 10 p.m.

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — It's not set in stone yet, but Hillsborough County moved two steps closer to issuing a stay-at-home order to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

The measure, which is paired with a curfew that mirrors the same language, would take effect Friday night at 10 p.m. -- if it passes a final vote tomorrow.

The group of eight mayors, commissioners and the sheriff all agreed on the time and date. There is a disagreement over using the term 'curfew' because of its negative connotations, but no member of the group said that would keep them from voting to pass the order.

The proposal, combining a curfew with other criteria including a “safer-at- home“ order seems to be an attempt at a compromise between the county and Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, who had called for a shelter-in-place order Monday.

Castor indicated she would attempt to pass such an order in the City of Tampa, but Hillsborough County Administrator Mike Merrill issued an order stating that no municipalities within the county could pass their own rules and that it would require an agreement of the full emergency policy group.

There will be another meeting Thursday at 1:30 p.m. -- via teleconference -- to vote on the finalized language for the order.

RELATED: Pinellas County issues 'safer-at-home' order to stop spread of COVID-19

RELATED: Stay-at-home vs shelter-in-place: Here's what they mean

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