FILE — In this March 12, 2020 file photo, California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks to reporters about the state’s response to the coronavirus during a news conference in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)
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UPDATED 7:55 PM PT — Thursday, March 19, 2020
California Governor Gavin Newsom has issued a statewide ‘Stay At Home’ order to help combat the spread of the coronavirus. The order, which was set to go into effect on Thursday night, asked residents to only leave their homes “when necessary.”
“Everyone is required to stay home except to get food, care for a relative or friend, get necessary health care or go to an essential job,” stated Newsom.
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
The governor urged all Californians to stay at home “as much as possible,” except for trips to essential businesses like grocery stores, pharmacies and banks. Those employed in critical sectors were encouraged to go to work.
In this March 17, 2020, photo, Liam Elkind, 20, leaves the Associated Supermarket with a bag of groceries including salad ingredients and fresh produce for 83-year-old Carol Sterling, who is self-quarantined in her apartment in New York due to the coronavirus outbreak. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)
California is allegedly the first state in the U.S. to enforce such an order.
The declaration came after state health officials reportedly predicted that 56 percent of local residents would contract COVID-19. Newsom mentioned the number during his evening address to the state.
“The virus will impact about 56 percent of us,” he said. “You do the math and in the state of California, that’s a particularly large number.”
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
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