California Governor Gavin Newsom is issuing stay-at-home orders for areas of his state where ICUs are almost full. The order includes some of the biggest cities in the state. Newsom equated this to pulling “an emergency brake,” pointing out “If we don’t act now, our hospital system will be overwhelmed.”
On Twitter, Newsom wrote: “Remember: this is temporary. Hope is on the way. Relief is on the way. A vaccine is coming — with first doses arriving in the next few weeks. We can get through this — together.”
The Los Angeles Times says that “eleven counties in Southern California and 12 counties in the Central Valley could be required to implement the new restrictions.”
Southern California counties affected by the order are Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Imperial, Inyo and Mono.
Those communities will be required to close personal service businesses including hair and nail salons, playgrounds, family entertainment centers and campgrounds for overnight stays. Restaurants in the affected communities will be required to return to take-out service only.
Politico adds, “Schools that are already open can remain so even if they are in counties that come under the new orders. Retailers would be able to continue operating indoors but would need to sharply curtail their operations so they only allow 20 percent of their capacity. People could still seek non-urgent medical and dental care.”