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March 20, 2020

California Gov. Gavin Newsom Issues Statewide "Stay at Home" Order for 40 Million
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In the United States, where confirmed coronavirus cases have doubled
over the past two days, California Governor Gavin Newsom on Thursday
ordered all of California - 40 million residents - to remain at home,
effective immediately. The order came as models for the coronavirus
outbreak estimated 56% of Californians - or over 22 million people -
will become infected, with the state's hospital capacity at 20,000 fewer
beds than will be needed at the peak of the epidemic.

Gov. Gavin Newsom: "We need to bend the curve in the state of
California. And in order to do that, we need to recognize the reality.
The fact is, the experience we're having on the ground throughout the
state of California, the experience that's manifesting all across the
United States and, for that matter, around the rest of the world,
require us to adjust our thinking and to adjust our activities."

Governor Newsom's order will close restaurants, bars, social clubs and
gyms across California. Essential services will remain open, including
pharmacies, grocery stores, takeout and delivery restaurants, and banks.

The lockdown order came as a group of unhoused and housing-insecure
people in Los Angeles - including mothers and their children - have
moved into at least 12 vacant and publicly owned homes in the
neighborhood of El Sereno. The families say the government has failed to
provide them with shelter to protect their health during the pandemic.


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