As COVID-19 cases continue to rise across the U.S., states are starting to implement new rules to keep citizens safe and lower the increasing numbers of cases. Last week, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced that she would be issuing a mandatory stay at home order and gatherings restrictions for her city. Today, California’s Gov. Gavin Newsom did a live press conference and tweeted that he was ordering a curfew for 41 out of the state’s 58 California counties. These counties, which are considered “purple tier,” extended into more than 94 percent of the state’s population.
The “Purple Tier” refers to California’s color-coded system based on the number of Coronavirus cases in each county. Purple, or Tier 1, is the highest and most severe level. It validates that the virus has spread throughout the county and has more than seven cases per 100,000 residents, according to ABC News 7.
The limited “Stay at Home Order” isn’t a complete full lockdown compared to previous months. Orders will start this Saturday from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. All non-essential work, movement, and gatherings will have to stop in all purple tier counties. Governor Newsome received some backlash earlier this month for being spotted out at a dinner party with many guests amid Coronavirus safety protocols at a Napa Valley restaurant. What added more fuel to the fire is he was captured without a mask on.
He did apologize for not setting a better example. As of now, the curfew is set to remain in place until Dec. 21 at 5 a.m. Many people commented that this was a much-needed measure to take place because it has gotten out of hand with social activities.
