A million Californians have filed for unemployment this month, the governor announced on Wednesday. The staggering number comes less than a week after Gov. Newsom issued a mandatory stay at home order for individuals whose jobs he deemed to be noncritical. Californians can still go outside for recreation and make trips to the grocery store, but those activities don't pay the bills.
CA is issuing a statewide, mandatory STAY AT HOME order.
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) March 20, 2020
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.
Given the state's exorbitant cost of living, millions of Californians are feeling crushed by the unexpected loss of income. Workers in the service and hospitality industry have been particularly hard hit as most of California's residents have been ordered to remain inside their homes for an indefinite period of time.
To help blunt the economic impact of his order, Gov. Newsom announced that four major banks – Wells Fargo, Citi Group, JPMorgan and U.S. Bank – have all agreed to a 90 day grace period on mortgage payments for those impacted by the Wuhan coronavirus. The governor called out Bank of America for only offering a 30-day forbearance to borrowers amid the economic shutdown.
Families should not lose their homes because of COVID-19. Very pleased that Wells Fargo, Citi, JPMorgan, and US Bank have agreed to a 90 day grace period for mortgage payments for those impacted by #COVID19.
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) March 25, 2020
A big sigh of relief for millions of CA families.
The governor announced that 2,535 people in the state have now tested positive for the Wuhan coronavirus, adding that 51 percent of those who have tested positive were between the ages of 18-49. The virus has now resulted in the deaths of at least 60 people in the state as of Wednesday. Newsom warned the stay at home order could remain in effect for an additional 12 weeks.
UPDATE: CA has tested almost 67,000 people for #COVID19.
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) March 25, 2020
2535 have tested positive. 37 of those were people under 17. 51% were between ages of 18-49.
This disease can impact anyone. Stay home. Practice social and physical distancing. Take this seriously.
President Trump has decided to balance the difficult tasks of slowing the spread of a deadly virus with preventing an economic catastrophe, which the president warns may be worse than the virus itself.
On Thursday, the president blamed the "Lamestream Media" for trying to keep the country closed in an effort to hurt the president's shot at winning reelection. Trump claimed the "real people" in the country would like to get back to work as soon as possible.
The LameStream Media is the dominant force in trying to get me to keep our Country closed as long as possible in the hope that it will be detrimental to my election success. The real people want to get back to work ASAP. We will be stronger than ever before!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 25, 2020
On Tuesday, President Trump announced his goal of opening up the American economy by Easter Sunday, Apr. 12.