On Thursday, Nov. 19, California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a curfew for all counties in the Purple Tier for COVID-19 monitoring. 

In a Tweet Thursday, Newsom credited the increasing number of COVID-19 cases across the state as cause for another layer of precautions set out by public health officials. The curfew puts a halt to “non-essential” work and gatherings after 10:00 p.m.

“Due to the rise in #COVID19 cases, CA is issuing a limited Stay at Home Order. Non-essential work and gatherings must stop from 10pm-5am in counties in the purple tier. This will take effect at 10pm on Saturday and remain for 1 month. Together–we can flatten the curve again,” Newsom’s tweet read. 

The tweet comes just a few days after Newsom announced that Orange County and 40 other counties were added to the Purple Tier on Monday Nov. 16. 

Orange County has seen a rise in COVID-19 cases, with more than 2,000 cases in one week.

“The virus is spreading at a pace we haven’t seen since the start of this pandemic and the next several days and weeks will be critical to stop the surge. We are sounding the alarm,” Newsom said in a press release. “It is crucial that we act to decrease transmission and slow hospitalizations before the death count surges. We’ve done it before and we must do it again,” he said.

Earlier this week, Orange County officials have announced the nation’s first at-home testing kit for COVID-19 that will be available for more than 500,000 residents in Orange County by next year. 

On Thursday, Nov. 19 the Orange County Health Agency reported 582 new COVID-19 cases with nine deaths.

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