Califorina Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) issued a state-wide mandatory stay-at-home executive order on Thursday to help decrease the number of COVID-19 cases, also known as the Wuhan coronavirus. The order went into effect the same day and lasts until further notice.
As of Tuesday, there are 675 positive cases for COVID-19 and 16 deaths in California.
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.
Essential services such as gas stations, pharmacies, grocery stores, farmers markets, food banks, convenience stores, take-out and delivery restaurants, banks, and laundromats will remain open. Dine-in restaurants, bars, nightclubs, "entertainment venues," gyms, public events, and convention centers will be ordered to close.
"Essential state and local government functions will also remain open, including law enforcement and offices that provide government programs and services," the state said.
"We need to bend the curve in the state of California," Newsom said.
He added the state is "confident the people of California will abide by" and self-regulate to comply with the order.
"We will have social pressure, they will encourage people to do the right thing," he said.
Stay-at-home orders have already been put in place in cities like Los Angeles and San Fransisco. In a letter to President Trump, Newsom warned up to 25.5 million people, or 56% of the state's population, will be infected with the Wuhan virus during an eight-week period.
Governor Gavin Newsom makes a major announcement on California’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak. https://t.co/VlQM38OkYK
— Office of the Governor of California (@CAgovernor) March 20, 2020