Some 40 million Californians are being required to stay at home to help slow the spread of the coronavirus.
“This is a moment where we need some straight talk, and we need to tell people the truth: We need to bend the curve,” California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) said on Thursday night.
“In order to do that, we need to recognize the reality,” Newsom said, adding, “The experience that’s manifesting all across the United States — and for that matter around the rest of world — requires us to adjust our thinking and to adjust our activities.”
Newsome continued to note that some 23 million Californian residents are already under a stay at home order. He added that while the state is large, “there’s a mutuality and a recognition of our interdependence” that led him to determine it was appropriate for a state-wide stay at home order.
“That requires of this moment, that we direct a state-wide order for people to stay at home. That directive goes into force in effect this evening.”
Watch his comments below:
BREAKING: California Gov. Newsom announces statewide order for people to "stay at home" amid novel coronavirus outbreak. https://t.co/AK0jiBbJUz pic.twitter.com/POLlS8sBSl
— ABC News (@ABC) March 20, 2020
“We are confident that the people of the state of California will abide by it. They’ll do the right thing. They’ll meet this moment. They’ll step up as they have over the course of the last number of weeks to protect themselves, to protect their families, and to protect the broader community, and this great state, and the world that we reside in,” Newsom added.
The order will allow residents to go out to get food or prescription drugs. It will also allow workers in fields considered essential to go to work. But, everyone else is ordered to shelter in place.
Newsom’s order is now the strictest order aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus and comes after he warned that some 56% of the state’s population could become infected with the virus within the next eight weeks.
The order states that it will remain in effect “until further notice.”