On Thursday night, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a shelter in place order for the entire state of California, mandating citizens stay at home to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. Residents may still venture out to acquire food, prescriptions and medical care.“We need to bend the curve in the state of California,” Newsom said during a news conference. “There’s a social contract here. People, I think, recognize the need to do more. They will adjust and adapt as they have.”“This is a moment we need to make tough decisions. This is a moment where we need some straight talk and we need to tell people the truth,” Newsom added.#placement_573654_0_i{width:100%;max-width:550px;margin:0 auto;}var rnd = window.rnd || Math.floor(Math.random()*10e6);var pid573654 = window.pid573654 || rnd;var plc573654 = window.plc573654 || 0;var abkw = window.abkw || '';var absrc = 'https://ads.empowerlocal.co/adserve/;ID=181918;size=0x0;setID=573654;type=js;sw='+screen.width+';sh='+screen.height+';spr='+window.devicePixelRatio+';kw='+abkw+';pid='+pid573654+';place='+(plc573654++)+';rnd='+rnd+';click=CLICK_MACRO_PLACEHOLDER';var _absrc = absrc.split("type=js"); absrc = _absrc[0] + 'type=js;referrer=' + encodeURIComponent(document.location.href) + _absrc[1];document.write('');According to the state’s coronavirus responses website, https://covid19.ca.gov/stay-home-except-for-essential-needs, Newsom’s executive order identified 16 essential public sector businesses that may remain open, including:— Gas stations— Pharmacies— Food: Grocery stores, farmers markets, food banks, convenience stores, take out and delivery restaurants— Banks— Laundromats/laundry servicesEssential state and local government functions will also remain open, including law enforcement and offices that provide government programs and services.The order closes the following venues:— Dine-in restaurants— Bars/nightclubs— Entertainment venues— Gyms and fitness studios— Public events and gatherings— Convention centersNewsom said during the press conference he expects the order to be enforced not through law enforcement, but rather through social pressure.“People will ask ‘Well, how will you enforce?'" Newsom said. “As I say there is a social contract here, people I think recognize the need to do more and to meet this moment.”“We will have social pressure that will encourage people to do the right thing,” he added. “I don’t believe the people of California need to be told through law enforcement that it's appropriate just to home isolate, to protect themselves, go about the essential patterns of life, but do so by socially distancing themselves from others and do so using your common sense.”According to a letter Newsom sent to President Trump March 18, his office expects the COVID-19 virus to infect more than half of California’s nearly 40 million people within two months.The shelter in place order will remain until further notice. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('ad-1515727'); });