LA mayor Eric Garcetti has threatened to cut off power and water supplies to businesses that defy the city's coronavirus lockdown order.

"We're still getting reports each day of non-essential businesses continuing to operate as normal. This behavior is irresponsible and selfish," Garcetti said on Tuesday.

LA issued its lockdown order on March 19. It requires people to stay home, and all non-essential businesses to close.

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The mayor of Los Angeles, Eric Garcetti, threatened to cut off power and water to businesses that won't comply with the lockdown order imposed on the city to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Garcetti issued the warning on Wednesday in a public update on the city's "stay at home" restrictions, under which all residents must stay at home and non-essential businesses must close.

"We're still getting reports each day of non-essential businesses continuing to operate as normal. This behavior is irresponsible and selfish," reported the Mercury News.

He then reportedly went on to describe measures municipal authorities could take to force them to comply with the measure — including cutting off water and electricity supplies. They could also face misdemeanor charges, he said.

He provided assurances, though, that residential properties would not have their water or power cut.

"You know who you are. You need to stop it," Garcetti said. "This is your chance to step up and shut it down, because if you don't, we will shut you down."

Los Angeles was one of the first big US cities to issue a lockdown order as the coronavirus pandemic hit the US.

LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger said in a March 19 mandate that all non-essential businesses were to be shuttered, and gatherings of more than 10 people banned.

The order affected 10 million people across southern California, and followed the issuing of a similar order by authorities in San Francisco.