US state of Virginia orders residents to stay home amid COVID-19 spread

0 Comment(s)Print E-mail Xinhua, March 31, 2020
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Governor of the U.S. state of Virginia Ralph Northam issued a "stay-at-home" order Monday, asking residents in the state not to leave home except for essential reasons, in an effort to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

The order prohibits Virginians from leaving home unless they need to get food or other necessary supplies, seek medical care, or exercise. Gatherings of more than 10 people are also banned.

"I want to be clear: Do not go out unless you need to go out. This is very different than wanting to go out," Northam said at a news conference. "This has been a suggestion to Virginians. Today, it's an order."

In direct criticism of people still gathering during the past weekend, the governor said people who "literally packed" the state's beaches this past weekend "are being very, very selfish because you are putting all of us, especially our health care providers, at risk."

In addition to closing the beaches to everything but exercising and fishing, the order also requests all higher education institutions to cease in-person classes.

Northam has already signed an executive order to close nonessential businesses. People who violate either the "stay-at-home" order or the previous directive will face charges.

The governor said the goal of these restrictive measures is to reduce the expected surge in the number of people seeking medical attention at hospitals.

As of Monday afternoon, Virginia has documented 1,020 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, 136 hospitalizations due to the infection and 25 deaths caused by the disease, according to the state's department of health. It has tested 12,038 people.

Earlier in the day, the nearby state of Maryland issued a stay-at-home order as well.

Meanwhile, in Washington, D.C., which borders both Virginia and Maryland, Mayor Muriel Bowser warned Monday that hospitalizations and fatalities in the U.S. capital have yet to reach the peak. 

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