NEWS - California's Governor Newsom Issues COVID-19 Emergency Order

NEWS – California’s Governor Newsom Issues COVID-19 Emergency Order

March 19, 2020 California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday issued a statewide order for all residents to ‘stay at home’ amid a coronavirus outbreak. “We need to bend the curve in the state of California,” Newsom said, as he announced a statewide order for Californians to stay home.

“There’s a social contract here, people I think recognize the need to do more … They will begin to adjust and adapt as they have been quite significantly. We will have social pressure and that will encourage people to do the right thing,” he said, in addressing how this order will be enforced.

Newsom added: “Home isolation is not my preferred choice … but it is a necessary one …This is not a permanent state, this is a moment in time.” The stay home order is in place till further notice. All dine-in restaurants, bars and clubs, gyms and fitness studios will be closed, according to the order. Public events and gatherings are also not allowed. Essential services will stay open, however, such as pharmacies, grocery stores, takeout and delivery restaurants, and banks.

In related news, Mayor Eric Garcetti today had also issued a “Safer at Home” emergency order, calling on residents of the City of Los Angeles to stay in their residences and limit all activities outside of their homes beyond what is absolutely necessary for essential tasks.

“We are all safer at home. Staying in our residences, being aggressive about hygiene, and practicing safe social distancing are the most effective ways to protect ourselves, the people we love, and everyone in our community,” said Mayor Garcetti. “Each one of us is a first-responder in this crisis, and Angelenos understand that we have to make big sacrifices right now to save lives. This isn’t forever — and we’ll get through it together.”

As outlined in the order, residents of the City of Los Angeles are ordered to remain in their homes — with lawful exceptions made for critical tasks such as securing food and health, safety and medical necessities, as well as caring for children, elder adults, family, friends and people with disabilities. Many establishments not covered in previous orders, including clothing and some other retail stores, are ordered to “cease operations that require in-person attendance by workers at a workplace.” The order takes effect Thursday, March 19, 2020 at 11:59 p.m.; however it shall be exempt, until Friday, March 20, 2020 at 11:59 p.m., to allow employees and business owners to access their workplaces to gather belongings or address other administrative needs, so long as social distancing requirements are followed. Such workplaces shall remain closed to the public in accordance with the order.

The order signed today acknowledges the profound impact of the novel coronavirus on daily life in Los Angeles over a short period of time — and expresses gratitude to Angelenos for showing “courage, compassion, wisdom and resolve” in embracing previous emergency orders “with a willing and generous spirit.”

Mayor Garcetti has taken several emergency measures to help protect Angelenos and slow the spread of COVID-19 — including a plan to quickly shelter thousands of Angelenos experiencing homelessness; restrictions placed on bars, nightclubs, restaurants, movie theaters, entertainment venues, bowling alleys and arcades, gyms and fitness centers; limits on public gatherings in City facilities; and moratoriums on residential and commercial evictions of tenants affected by the novel coronavirus.

It will be in place until April 19 and is subject to extension.

Read more about the Los Angeles order HERE.

Read more about California’s state-wide order HERE.