The governor of California on Thursday evening issued a statewide stay at home order to help combat the spread of the novel coronavirus.
The order is effective Thursday night and asks residents to leave their homes only when necessary.
Gov. Gavin Newsom's announcement came less than an hour after officials in Los Angeles County ordered people to stay home except for essential needs or jobs for indoor shopping malls and non-essential retail to close.
San Francisco and surrounding counties had previously issued orders to stay at home as a way to stop the spread of the coronavirus and the illness it causes, COVID-19.
Newsom said the statewide order is consistent with the local orders.
The governor said he hopes people will voluntarily obey the order to stay at home if possible, saying “there's a social contract here."
