Governor Gavin Newsom has issued a stay-at-home order for all residents of California in response to the rapidly growing threat of COVID-19.

“To protect public health, I as state public health officer and director of the California Department of Public Health, order all individuals living in the state of California to stay home or at their place of residence except as needed to maintain continuity of operations of the federal critical infrastructure sectors,” stated Newsom in his order. 

Said exceptions can be found here. Services still in operation include essential medical care, grocery stores and gas stations. The state may designate additional critical sectors as need develops.

The order is indefinite, staying in effect until further notice.

“This order is being issued to protect the public health of Californians,” clarifies Newsom. “Our goal is simple, we want to bend the curve, and disrupt the spread of the virus.” 

The order is enforceable by law, and the Office of Emergency Services has been given the authority to take necessary steps to ensure its compliance. This order utilizes California Government Code section 8665, which mandates that any person who violates or willfully neglects to obey the shelter in place order can be found guilty of a misdemeanor. Failure to adhere is punishable by a fine up to $1,000, a maximum sentence of six months jail time, or both.

The California Department of Public Health is establishing a consistency of prohibitions across the state in order to mitigate the impact of COVID-19. 

“The supply chain must continue, and Californians must have access to such necessities as food, prescriptions, and health care,” states the governor. Those who must leave their homes for essential actives must practice social distancing at all times. 

California’s health care system has mandated that they will be prioritizing services to those that are sickest, funneling resources to their care. 

A copy of Executive Order N-33-20 can be found here. 

COVID-19, or the coronavirus, has rapidly spread throughout the state of California, with Los Angeles seeing confirmed cases rise from 40 to 230 overnight. A 34-year-old man with underlying conditions died today, becoming L.A.’s second victim of the coronavirus infection. 

For updates on Los Angeles’ response to the coronavirus and existing shutdowns, visit corona-virus.la. For information on COVID-19 visit the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, California Department of Public Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the World Health Organization (WHO). L.A. County residents can also call 2-1-1. 

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