Officials with the Los Angeles County have ordered all residents within the county, including those in Santa Clarita, to stay at home as part of the “Safer at Home” mandate in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19, also known as the coronavirus.

County and City Officials Announce Additional Public Health Orders Regarding COVID-19 Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Los Angeles City Mayor Eric Garcetti,Department of Public Health Director Dr. Barbara Ferrer, Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia,and Pasadena Mayor Terry Tornek will announce additional public health orders in response to coronavirus (COVID-19).Visit lacounty.gov/covid19 for resources. Posted by County of Los Angeles on Thursday, March 19, 2020

During a press conference Thursday, officials with the Los Angeles County issued an order for the over 10 million residents of the county to stay at home effective midnight Thursday, March 19.

“We’re asking people to refrain from gathering within an enclosed space in groups of more than 10,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger. “We know that this will have an impact on the social fabrics of our community.”

See Related: How To Prepare For A Coronavirus Quarantine

According to Los Angeles County officials, businesses that do not provide “essential” services are required to send their employees home. Those essential services include grocery stores, pharmacies, restaurants (for delivery only) and hardware stores.

Additionally, health care workers, emergency responders, and utility providers are also exempt from the mandate, according to officials.

Residents will still be able to leave their homes in order to get essentials such as food and water, seek medical care, and exercise in a limited capacity, according to officials.

We just declared the "Safer at Home" Public Health Order, which emphasizes the importance of social distancing. This doesn’t mean being alone—you are still an important part of your community. #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/EMdKYioQ55 — Supervisor Kathryn Barger (@kathrynbarger) March 20, 2020

“We can’t tell you exactly how long these orders will be in place, but we can tell you that they will be temporary,” Barger said. “Being safer at home does not mean being alone.”

Across Los Angeles County, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases has risen to 230 as of Thursday afternoon, with four coming from within the Santa Clarita Valley. Two people in Los Angeles County have died as a result of COVID-19.

To read the full “Safer at Home” order, click here.

Ed. Note: This is a breaking news story, more information will be posted as it is made available.

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