Gov. Gavin Newsom’s sweeping order for Californians to stay home to slow the spread of the coronavirus outbreak will dramatically restrict public movement.

The governor’s office provided a list of how the order will play out:

What stays open:

Pharmacies

Food: Grocery stores, farmers markets, food banks, convenience stores, takeout and delivery restaurants

Banks

Gas stations

Laundromats/laundry services

Essential state and local government functions including law enforcement and offices that provide government programs and services.

What is closed:

Bars and nightclubs

Entertainment venues

Gyms and fitness studios

Public events and gatherings

Convention Centers

Dine-in restaurants


What is behind this?

Officials hope telling people to stay homes and restrict social interactions will slow the spread of the virus and ultimately prevent hospitals from being overrun with sick patients.

Newsom asked Californians to practice social distancing when performing such “necessary activities.”

“We’re going to keep the grocery stores open,” Newsom said. “We’re going to make sure that you’re getting critical medical supplies. You can still take your kids outside, practicing common sense and social distancing. You can still walk your dog.”


No time frame was set for when the order would end.

What are exemptions from the order?

Newsom’s action orders “all individuals living in the state of California to stay home or at their place of residence, except as needed to maintain continuity of operation of the federal critical infrastructure sectors.”

The government order links to a Department of Homeland Security document that lists 16 “critical infrastructure sectors whose assets, systems, and networks, whether physical or virtual, are considered so vital to the United States that their incapacitation or destruction would have a debilitating effect on security, national economic security, national public health or safety, or any combination thereof.”

Chemical Sector


Commercial Facilities Sector

Communications Sector

Critical Manufacturing Sector

Dams Sector


Defense Industrial Base Sector

Emergency Services Sector

Energy Sector

Financial Services Sector


Food and Agriculture Sector

Government Facilities Sector

Healthcare and Public Health Sector

Information Technology Sector


Nuclear Reactors, Materials, and Waste Sector

Transportation Systems Sector

Water and Wastewater Systems Sector

Los Angeles

The city of Los Angeles issued a restrictive order, requiring all nonessential businesses to close, with companies able to operate only through work-at-home arrangements. The order also bans all public gatherings of any size outside homes.


Under the city’s new order, officials said residents are permitted to:

Go to the grocery store;

Go to the pharmacy to pick up medications and other healthcare necessities;

Go to medical appointments (check with your doctor or provider first);

Take a walk, ride your bike and be in nature for exercise — just keep at least six feet between you and others in the community;

Walk your pets and take them to the veterinarian if necessary;

Help someone to get necessary supplies.

Residents are not allowed to:



Go to work unless providing essential services as defined by the order;

Visit friends and family if there is no urgent need;

Maintain less than six feet of distance from others when you go out;

Travel to or from a job outside the city, unless to perform essential activities;

Travel to or from a vacation home outside the city;

Visit loved ones in a hospital, nursing home, skilled nursing facility or other residential care facility.

These are considered essential services:



City/county government services

Healthcare providers

Food and grocery service

Hardware stores and nurseries

Plumbers, electricians, exterminators, custodial/janitorial workers, handyman services, funeral home workers and morticians, moving services, HVAC installers, carpenters, landscapers, gardeners, property managers, private security personnel and others who provide services to maintain the safety, sanitation and essential operation of properties and other essential activities

Banks

Organizations and businesses that provide food, shelter, social services and other necessities of life for economically disadvantaged or otherwise needy individuals (including gang prevention and intervention and domestic violence agencies)

Laundromats/laundry service

Newspapers, magazines, television, radio, podcasts and other media services