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- Several US cities and states have taken major steps meant to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.
- On March 19, California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a state-wide "stay at home" order, shutting down all non-essential businesses.
- Connecticut, Illinois, New York, Delaware, New Jersey, and Louisiana followed suit issuing their own stay at home orders.
- Several other states have closed all bars and restaurants except for delivery and takeout.
- Public-health experts and government officials have stressed the importance of social distancing to slow the spread of airborne infections.
- As of March 22, the US had confirmed more than 35,000 cases of the disease COVID-19, including over 470 deaths.
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Several US cities and states have taken major steps meant to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, including shutting down nightclubs, canceling holiday festivities, and forcing restaurants to serve food by delivery or takeout only.
As of March 22, the US had confirmed more than 35,000 cases of the disease COVID-19, including over 470 deaths.
Public-health experts and government officials have stressed the importance of social distancing to slow the spread of airborne infections. The term refers to bread measures meant to keep people away from one another, including canceling sporting events, closing schools, having employees work from home, and maintaining distance from sick people.
On March 15, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention put forward new guidelines recommending that all gatherings and events of 50 people and more be postponed until May. It stressed that large gatherings included "festivals, parades, concerts, sporting events, weddings, and other types of assemblies."
The CDC said the recommendation "does not apply to the day to day operation of organizations such as schools, institutes of higher learning, or businesses," but local and state governments are already heeding the CDC's advice.
On March 16, President Donald Trump said Americans should "avoid gathering in groups of more than 10 people" in order to stop the disease spread.
And on March 19, California became the first US state to order all residents to stay at home. The next day, Illinois, Connecticut, and New York also issued similar orders.
Here are some of the measures local and state governments are taking to limit public gatherings.
On March 19, California became the first US state to issue a statewide stay at home order.
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California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a state-wide order for all 39 million California residents to stay at home.
"This is not a permanent state, this a moment in time," he said. "And we will look back at these moments as a critical decision."
As a result, this also means that all non-essential businesses will close.
Newsom said that those who work in critical sectors should go to work and that grocery stores, pharmacies, and banks will stay open.
Newsom said the order would last for at least eight weeks starting immediately but said that he could not give a concrete end date.
"We could not give you a deadline that we really could believe in," he said. "This is a dynamic situation."
The "stay at home" order supersedes local measures already in place.
Connecticut issued the stay at home orders on March 20.
Nathan Layne/Reuters
Gov. Ned Lamont ordered non-essential workers to stay home, local out the CT Post reported on Friday.
The "Stay Safe. Stay Home," initiative will go into effect at 8 p.m. local time on March 23 and is expected to end on April 22.
The measure does not apply to journalists, grocery stores, gas stations, health care offices, pharmacies, child care, banks, public transportation, auto repair, vehicle repair shops, large construction projects, major defense contractors, and package stores.
New York also ordered all non-essential businesses to close.
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While Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he wasn't calling it a stay at home order, he said all non-essential businesses would be shut down starting Sunday night, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Hospitals, public transportation, pharmacies, grocery stores, and other essential businesses would remain open.
Cuomo said the measure could last for months and businesses that don't close could face civil fines.
As of Friday, the state had more than 8,400 cases and 46 deaths.
"This is the most drastic action we can take. This is not life as usual. Accept it, realize it and deal with it," Cuomo said according to The Journal.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
See Also:
- Confirmed New York coronavirus cases surged to 1,500, more than any other state. Here's what the state is doing to address the outbreak.
- Almost all US states have declared states of emergency to fight coronavirus — here's what it means for them
- New York City will ban dining out, limiting restaurants, bars, and cafes to takeout and delivery
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