Newsom Orders All Californians to Stay at Home, Exempts Essential Sectors in Response to Ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic

On Thursday evening, Governor Gavin Newsom issued Executive Order N-33-20 in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The executive order, which includes an order of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Sonia Angell, requires all Californians to stay at home or at their place of residence effective immediately and until further notice to protect the public’s health. The order exempts a series of critical infrastructure sectors, including healthcare services, grocery stores, pharmacies, and essential governmental operations.

The order further directs the healthcare delivery system to prioritize services to the sickest and prioritize resources, including personal protective equipment (PPE), to providers delivering direct care to the sickest individuals. The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) is also directed to take steps to ensure compliance with the order.

The Administration is expected to issue further guidance related to the statewide stay-at-home order.  

The State of California has also established a new website, www.covid19.ca.gov, to provide Californians up-to-date information on the ongoing emergency, including a series of public service announcements (PSAs) from key state officials.