Haifagirl: That’s absolutely incorrect.
No it isn’t.
You need three conditions to return food to the fire:
– flame covered
– intention to return
– still holding onto pot.
Not putting it on the floor is absolutely one of the requirements. The flame’s being covered is a precondition. However, if there is no blech on the fire when you remove the pot, you can put the blech on after you remove the pot, before you put it back.
Ask your LOR.