The governor of California, Gavin Newsom, issued a statewide stay-at-home order to help combat the spread of the coronavirus Thursday evening. The order asks residents to stay home as much as possible and leave when necessary, effective immediately. It will remain in place until further notice.
What We Know:
- Governor Newsom’s announcement came about an hour after officials in Los Angeles County ordered people to stay home except for essential needs or jobs and for indoor shopping malls and nonessential retail to close.
- San Francisco and surrounding counties had previously issued orders to stay at home to stop the spread of the coronavirus and the illness it causes, COVID-19.
CA is issuing a statewide, mandatory STAY AT HOME order.
Those that work in critical sectors should go to work. Grocery stores, pharmacies, banks and more will stay open.
We need to meet this moment and flatten the curve together.
Go to https://t.co/xtXFwVeWc2 to learn more.
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) March 20, 2020
- Newsom said the statewide order is consistent with the local orders. Places like grocery and convenience stores, delivery restaurants, gas stations, pharmacies, banks and laundromats will remain open.
- The main goal is to encourage “social distancing,” which health experts have restlessly stressed is one of the best methods to limit the spread and keep health systems from being overwhelmed.
- Also Thursday, Newsom asked U.S. House and Senate leaders for $1 billion to support state and local health systems. The money would go to setting up state-run and mobile hospitals, housing options to help people socially distance, along with testing and treatment for people without health insurance.
As of Thursday, there have been more than 1,030 cases and 18 deaths linked to the illness, according to AP News‘ count of reported cases. This includes those who have recovered, those who have died, and those repatriated to the U.S. from other countries.
