TAMPA, Fla. — There were no citations issued Monday night, the first after the Hillsborough County Emergency Policy Group voted to implement a curfew order.

Residents are asked to stay home from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., except for essential business activities.

The measure comes after several large gatherings were reported in the county over the weekend.

Overnight, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office did report a high number of calls  from people trying to find out what was and was not allowed under the new curfew.

Despite all the confusion, most streets in Tampa were empty overnight.

According to Emergency Policy Group member and county commissioner Les Miller, essential jobs or emergencies are the only reasons residents should be leaving their homes during curfew hours.

However, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor says taking your dog for a walk or going for a jog would not be a violation.

Officials said what residents need to focus on here is the spirit of this curfew.

Sheriff's office officials said it received more than 200 complaints of social distancing violations with almost 40 of those coming over Easter weekend.

Officials said more people are beginning to violate the safer at home order as the days go on.

So the EPG on Monday said the curfew would add some teeth to the safer at home order and hopefully convince more people to stay home.

Even tighter rules could be in place by Thursday when the EPG is expected to vote on an order to require people to wear face masks outside their homes. 

A similar request is now in effect in Osceola County.

Hillsborough, meanwhile, is now the second county in the Bay area with a curfew. 

The first one enacted was in Manatee County.