Moments ago, Governor Gavin Newsom announced a statewide stay at home order during a press conference from the California Office of Emergency Services Operations Center in Sacramento. It expands upon local orders already issued in 20 of California's 58 counties. The stay at home order is open-ended with no deadline, but the Governor indicated that the next eight weeks would be critical.
Click here to read the Governor’s executive order.
Click here to learn more about the order.
Click here to see the Governor’s address to Californians this evening.
Asked if there will be any "practical enforcement" of the order, Governor Newsom stated, "We want people to go to essential jobs and deal with their essentials in a thoughtful way. The vast majority are practicing social distancing without law enforcement."
Asked, "why now," Governor Newsom stated that, based upon conversations with health professionals, Governors, the President, CDC, and models, the state felt it was appropriate.
Asked about recently released state estimates that 25.5 million people in California will contract COVID-19 in eight weeks, Governor Newsom shared that California used available literature, advice from CDC, and the state's own models to prepare, but that through social distancing and stay at home orders it is possible for Californians to "bend the curve."
Governor Newsom reiterated previous estimates that 19,543 people will need to be hospitalized above existing capacity of our healthcare system. This assumes 56% "attack rate" and 20% hospitalization rate.
California has 416 hospitals, with capacity to surge the number of beds beyond its current 78,000 by an additional 10,207. Given the State's estimated need of 19,543 more beds, California is looking at a delta that requires about 10,000 hospital beds beyond its current surge capacity. Governor Newsom was careful to note that this is a "planning document," saying, "if we change our behavior and meet this moment we can bend the curve."
As part of the press conference, Governor Newsom announced that the state just secured Seaton Hospital in Northern California and will announce a second procured hospital in Southern California for a total of 750 new beds. The state is also securing hotels and working with leaders of UC and CSU to identify dormitories. Conversations occurred today with the President, Vice President, and Secretary of Defense to request field units.
During the press conference, Governor Newsom reflected, "I get people asking every day if this is the new normal; this is a moment in time. We will triumph over fear, anxiety, and this disease."
Governor Newsom applauded utilities that have instituted flexibility for ratepayers affected by COVID-19 and shared that the Public Utilities Commission may do more to manage the situation if needed.
The Governor also referenced an "important conversation" today with the CEO of pharmaceutical company Gilliad and noted there are treatments in trial, including at all five UC hospitals. The state is also working with the private sector and entrepreneurs to repurpose manufacturing to help with ventilators. The Governor hinted that Elon Musk was one of those entrepreneurs.