NEW YORK — New York City will begin to fine people who violate social distancing rules, Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Sunday.

Police will start with warnings, but will escalate to $250-500 fines after that, de Blasio said.

"We're going to give people every chance to listen, and if anyone doesn't listen, then they deserve a fine at this point," de Blasio said.

People have been told to stay home as much as possible. People can still go outside their homes, but they are required to stay six feet away from anyone who isn't a member of their household. Nonessential businesses have been shut down.

De Blasio had warned about possible fines on Friday.

"We have seen some noncompliance that is really a concern," he said. "We obviously have to think about the warmer weather coming ahead and we need to make sure that people understand this is really, really serious."

There are more than 30,000 cases of COVID-19 in New York City.

This story was originally published by Aliza Chasan on WPIX in New York.