California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday announced an emergency order that will shut down portions of the state hardest hit by a resurgence of the coronavirus pandemic.
With COVID-19 cases booming in the Golden State, Newsom said stay-at-home restrictions will go into place in sections of California where the availability of intensive care beds dips under 15 percent.
Once triggered, all but essential services will be shuttered for three weeks, the order said.
The announcement comes as the state closed in on 20,000 deaths from the deadly virus.
Newsom called it, “the most challenging moment since the beginning of the pandemic.”
“We really need to step up,” he said. “We need to do everything we can to stem the tide.”
The order divides the state into five regions — Northern California, Greater Sacramento, Bay Rea, San Joaquin Valley, and Southern California — with most expected to hit the 15-percent threshold in the next few days.
Once the stay-at-home order is triggered, bars, wineries, personal care services and hair-care services will have to shut down, ABC News reported.
Retail stores will be allowed to operate at 20 percent capacity, and restaurants will be limited to delivery and pickup operations.
