Like something out of a sci-fi movie, one in five Americans will soon be under a “stay at home” order.
State officials in Connecticut and New Jersey are joining Illinois and California in telling residents to stay put in order to flatten the curve of the spreading coronavirus.
In New York, Gov. Cuomo has ordered all non-essential businesses to close starting 8 p.m. Sunday. Cuomo’s edict came as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in New York rose to 7,000 – the highest in the country.
“These provisions will be enforced,” Cuomo told reporters. “These are not helpful hints.”
About 260 Americans have died and more than 18,500 have been infected by COVID19.
People in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and New Jersey can forget about getting their hair and nails done or getting a tattoos as personal care businesses will be shut down.
Nor can they enjoy watching sports. All outdoor team sports like basketball are banned under the new edicts.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom estimated that more than half the 40 million residents of his state would catch COVID19 over the next two months.
Californians seem to be paying attention. Some of the eeriest images of the US during the epidemic come from Los Angeles, where the normally grid-locked freeways and packed beaches are virtually empty.