The U.S. state of New York announced a mandate on Friday that all non-essential workers should stay at home in the face of COVID-19 pandemic.
Governor Andrew Cuomo made the announcement at a press conference Friday morning, calling it "the most drastic measures we can take."
Essential service industries such as grocery stores, pharmacies, banks, health care providers, and gas stations would be exempted from the mandate, he said.
The governor asked the public to "remain indoors to the greatest extent" to protect their health. Non-essential gatherings of individuals of any size for any reason should be cancelled and the use of public transit should be limited.
Any businesses violating the order would be fined and forced to close, while the state has no plan to fine individuals who violate the regulations, he said.
The governor said more than 7,000 people in the state have tested positive for novel coronavirus, over 4,000 of whom are in New York City. About 1,250 people are hospitalized.
More than 10,000 people in the state received testing overnight, bringing the total tested number to over 32,000, he noted.
Cuomo also pointed out that more hospital beds, ventilators, medical staff and medical supplies including gloves, masks and gowns, would in need.
The state would give funding and provide professional personnel to businesses which are able to manufacture medical products and choose to do so, he noted.
The state is working with the Army Corps of Engineers to explore possible locations for turning them into large temporary facilities. Venues such as the Javits Center in Manhattan, and university facilities including the City University of New York sites are under consideration, he said.
New York state could need 110,000 hospital beds when the peak infection comes in around 40 days, which would be more than double its current capacity. Some 37,000 ICU beds could be in need while the state currently has 3,000.
Several northeastern U.S. states have taken unified action in combating COVID-19. Earlier on Friday, Cuomo joined governors of New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania to announce that all hair salons, tattoo or piercing parlors, nail salons and related personal care services would be closed to members of the public effective 8 p.m. Saturday (0000 GMT on Sunday).
The four states closed indoor portions of retail shopping malls, amusement parks and bowling alleys at 8 p.m. Thursday (0000 GMT on Friday).
