SACRAMENTO, Calif. – California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday ordered the state's 40 million residents to stay at home, restricting non-essential movements to control the spread of the coronavirus that threatens to overwhelm the state's medical system. “This is a moment we need to make tough decisions,” Newsom said. "We need to recognize reality.” His move came after counties and communities covering about half the state's population already had issued similar orders.
He said the restriction is "open-ended," and it could raise false hopes if he predicted how long the order might last. People may still leave their homes for walks and exercise and for essential needs such as food and medical care.