California And New York Under Mandatory Curfew

2024 Author: Steven Freeman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 08:15

Faced with the health crisis unleashed by the coronavirus, California Governor Gavin Newsom ordered the nearly 40 million residents of the state to stay home to prevent the spread of the disease.

On Thursday afternoon, the politician addressed Californians to put into effect the order that restricts their leaving their homes, except for trips to buy food and medicine or attend medical appointments or jobs that are considered essential in this time of crisis.

With this order, California became the first state to impose mandatory restrictions on its residents in the United States in an attempt to control or stop the spread of the coronavirus.

So far, 19 people have died from the virus and more than 900 have tested positive in that state, according to reports in the local press.

This curfew, which will remain in effect until further notice, comes a day after the governor reported that more than half of the state's residents are predicted to be infected with the virus in the next two months.

The alarming figure - and the speed of the virus's spread - led the governor to announce the curfew. "This is a time where we need direct conversation," Newson said during his press conference. "As individuals and as a community, we need to do more to accomplish this right now."

Under the order, essential services such as food stores, gas stations, pharmacies and food delivery restaurants, as well as local government agencies, including the police, will remain open.

At the moment, law enforcement authorities will not compel residents to comply with the curfew, but the governor expects Californians to abide by the order simply because it is in effect.

"I don't think the people of California need to be told by the authorities that it is appropriate to just be at home in isolation, to protect yourself," said the president. "We are confident that the people of the state of California will abide by it and do the right thing."

For his part, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo followed in Newsom's footsteps and on Friday morning ordered a state lockdown in light of the worsening situation in that state.

"I want to be able to tell the people of New York, I did everything we could," he said during a press conference, according to the New York Post. "And if everything we do saves only one life, I will be happy."

The restriction will start Sunday at 8 pm and requires all non-essential businesses to stop operations.