OAKLAND, Calif. — Gov. Gavin Newsom has ordered California
into a statewide curfew, escalating his response to rapidly rising
coronavirus numbers.
More than 94 percent of Californians must remain in their homes
between 10 p.m and 5 a.m. unless performing essential activities.
The requirement applies to the 41 counties that have landed in the
state’s most restrictive tier due to wide coronavirus spread.
“The virus is spreading at a pace we haven’t seen since the
start of this pandemic and the next several days and weeks will be
critical to stop the surge. We are sounding the alarm,” Newsom
said in a statement. “It is crucial that we act to decrease
transmission and slow hospitalizations before the death count
surges. We’ve done it before and we must do it again.”
The curfew will start Saturday night at 10 p.m. and last until 5
a.m. on Dec. 21, more than a full month. To explain the curfew,
Newsom’s statement essentially said higher spread occurs during
activities fueled by inebriation and late night antics.
“Activities conducted during 10 PM to 5 AM are often
non-essential and more likely related to social activities and
gatherings that have a higher likelihood of leading to reduced
inhibition and reduced likelihood for adherence to safety measures
like wearing a face covering and maintaining physical distance,”
the statement said.
Even before Newsom issued the order, local law enforcement vowed
to defy it. Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones said in a
statement Thursday afternoon that he would not enforce “any health
or emergency orders related to curfews, staying at home,
Thanksgiving or other social gatherings inside or outside the home,
maximum occupancy, or mask mandates.”
The order will likely deepen resentment among those opposed to
Newsom’s efforts to reimpose tough measures to contain the virus.
Assemblymember Devon Mathis (R-Visalia) excoriated Newsom for a
“huge overreach,” especially considering a vaccine is on the
horizon.
“They’re clearly targeting people having parties,” Mathis
said.
The directive appears to prohibit people from different
households from spending time together past 10 p.m., even at a
private residence. It does not apply to people who are homeless.
The order was formally issued Thursday by Acting State Public
Health Officer Erica S. Pan.
It exempts trips to grocery stores, pharmacies and food
retailers, as well as workers performing essential functions, which
range from health care to public safety.
Virtually the entire state now lives in a county that must
adhere to the toughest level of guidelines, slamming the door on
indoor dining, church services and various forms of commerce. All
of Southern California and the Central Valley, plus most of the Bay
Area, must adhere to the curfew.
Newsom and public health officials have warned the state is
entering a perilous new phase and have urged against large
gatherings during the coming holidays.
Los Angeles had already instituted a lighter curfew that ordered
businesses to shut their doors between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. starting
Friday. If cases breach the 4,500 per day threshold in the county,
California’s largest, there are plans to clamp down further with
a renewed stay-at-home order. Officials have also further limited
the capacity of restaurants and retail shops and the size of social
gatherings.
Newsom is tightening his state’s restrictions as he navigates
a sustained firestorm of criticism over his decision to attend a
birthday celebration for a top aide and lobbyist at the French
Laundry, an elite fine dining destination. Executives from the
California Medical Association joined.
The backlash has extended to Capitol Hill, where Rep. Tom
McClintock (R-Calif.) mocked Newsom from the House floor on
Thursday for ignoring his own “idiotic Covid edicts as he partied
at one of the few restaurants that’s not yet been forced out of
business.” House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy told
a POLITICO reporter that Newsom had “lost a lot of
credibility.”
