Gov. Gavin Newsom at a news conference in Sacramento, Calif., Monday, Sept. 16, 2019. (Photo: AP)

Los Angeles (People’s Daily) - California Governor Gavin Newsom ordered on Thursday all Californians to stay at home to fight the novel coronavirus.

The mandatory order allows Californians to continue to visit gas stations, drugstores, grocery stores, farmers markets, food banks, convenience stores, take-outs and delivery restaurants, banks and laundromats. People can leave their homes to care for a relative or a friend or seek health care services. No timeframe was set for when the order would end.

Newsom asked Californians to practice social distancing of six feet when performing such “necessary activities.” He said, “We’re going to keep the grocery stores open. We’re going to make sure that you’re getting critical medical supplies. You can still take your kids outside, practicing common sense and social distancing. You can still walk your dog.”

Newsom said the statewide restriction is necessary to control the spread of the virus that threatens to overwhelm California’s medical system. He earlier in the day issued the dire prediction that 56% of California’s population of nearly 40 million could contract the virus over the next eight weeks.

California is one of states in the US seriously shattered by the novel coronavirus, where 19 people have died and an additional 958 have tested positive for the disease.