Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday announced a curfew limiting the nighttime movements of more than 90% of Californians.
The order, intended to deal with a worrying surge in coronavirus cases, requires most non-essential work, movement and gatherings to stop between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.
The order goes into effect 10 p.m. Saturday. It applies to counties in the purple tier — or 41 of the state’s 58 counties. That includes all Southern California counties.
“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 wrote in a news release. “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 idea is to reduce opportunities for disease transmission, according to the governor’s office, as activities taking place at night are more likely to be non-essential social gatherings, during which people may be more likely to become intoxicated — making them less likely to adhere to mask-wearing and other health guidelines.
Under the order, people from the same household are allowed to venture out together after 10 p.m. as long as they don’t interact with anyone else. The order does not apply to people without housing.
There is no mention in the order of how the curfew will be enforced.
Dr. John Swartzberg, clinical professor emeritus of infectious diseases and vaccinology at the UC Berkeley-UCSF Joint Medical Program, said he was “delighted” by Thursday’s curfew order.
“Because we need to be doing more aggressive things to take this on, to really change the direction that things are going,” he said. “Because they’re going very quickly in the wrong direction.”
Swartzberg would like to see the state go even further, even reverting back to the full stay-at-home order imposed in March. But the curfew is an important step, he said. For one thing, it sends a strong message to the public that the surge in cases must be taken seriously.
Coronavirus cases are surging in California. The state reported more new infections in the past week than during any other seven-day period, and hospitalizations and deaths are increasing too. On Wednesday, county health departments around California combined to report 11,646 new cases and 107 new deaths, according to data compiled by this news organization — the highest single-day death toll since Oct. 21 and just the third time at least 10,000 cases have been recorded on three consecutive days.
Newsom took steps earlier this week to reduce the spread, moving most counties back to the purple, or most restrictive, tier in his reopening plan — forcing them to shutter restaurant dining rooms and other indoor businesses.
Newsom on Monday threatened to impose a curfew to help keep COVID-19 cases down, but didn’t provide further details at the time. Curfews of varying intensity and other restrictions have been imposed around the country in recent days as virus cases surge nationally. New York last week mandated businesses with liquor licenses close indoor and outdoor dining by 10 p.m., and New York City on Thursday suspended in-person classes for students.
El Paso, Texas imposed even stricter measures, requiring people to remain at home at night unless they’re required to travel for emergencies or essential services. Washington also imposed new restrictions throughout the state this week, including banning indoor social gatherings with people from multiple households unless participants quarantine beforehand. And Los Angeles County officials tightened restrictions on Tuesday, Nov. 17, noting the potential for stricter orders if the numbers get substantially worse.
Source: Orange County Register
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