California s Covid curfew to begin as cases surge beyond past peak
| bbc.com 21 Nov 2020 at 15:44 |
World
Several states have imposed new mask mandates and restrictions to try to combat the rise.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has also urged Americans to avoid travelling for the Thanksgiving holiday next week to prevent increased transmissions.
Thanksgiving typically heralds the busiest week for travel in the US. Last year, an estimated 26 million people passed through the country s airports in the week surrounding the holiday.
On Friday it was revealed that . "Apparently I got the rona," he said in a video on social media, adding that he was asymptomatic so far and quarantining.
California reported a total of one million cases last week, making it the second state to do so after Texas.
The new daily curfew, from 22:00 until 5:00, begins on Saturday night and will carry on until 21 December, with a possible extension if needed, according to authorities.
Restaurants will be able to offer takeout and delivery outside these hours.
The stay-at-home order affects 41 out of California s 58 counties, covering more than 94% of the state s population.
Some counties have also warned that a more severe lockdown could follow. The latest measures are not as strict as restrictions imposed between March and May, when all nonessential business and travel was prohibited.
Other places, including New York City, are also operating a night-time curfew. Bars, restaurants and gyms are allowed to open until 22:00, but schools have been closed.
image captionCalifornian authorities permit up to three households meeting outdoors
The Californian curfew was announced by Governor Gavin Newsom on Friday. "The virus is spreading at a pace we haven t seen since the start of this pandemic, and the next several days and weeks will be critical to stop the surge," he wrote in a statement.
Hospital admissions are up 61% statewide in the last two weeks, according to the Los Angeles Times newspaper.
"The data looks really bad right now," said Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer on Friday.
Mr Newsom came under criticism last week when it was revealed that he broke his own rules with a 12-person dinner party at a restaurant earlier in the month.
Californian rules permit no more than three separate households to meet outdoors. However, a photo shared by a nearby diner showed showed top lobbyists at the same table as the governor.
