Major U.S. cities on Friday moved closer to lockdowns to stem the spreading coronavirus, restricting residents to all but essential outings.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on Friday ordered all nonessential workers in his state to stay home.
Cuomo called it a "pause'' not a lockdown, which he has resisted doing despite frequent calls by New York City Mayor Bill di Blasio.
The policy will take effect Sunday evening and will be backed by the force of law, Cuomo said at a news conference.
Cuomo emphasized that this policy is not an order to "shelter in place" — a term that is usually used in mass shooting situations.
He said the guidance to residents to mostly stay inside may continue for months and that people should feel free to take walks for the sake of their mental health.
The move came after California Governor Gavin Newsom on Thursday ordered 40 million residents to remain at home.
llinois Governor J.B. Pritzker on Friday ordered residents to stay at home except for certain essential activities, starting Saturday evening for 13 million people in the state, until the end of April 7.
"To avoid the loss of potentially tens of thousands of lives, we must enact an immediate stay at home order for the state of Illinois," Pritzker said.
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot emphasized that the order was "not a lockdown or martial law", noting many services will remain open.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued an executive order Friday afternoon that all on-premises restaurant sales must cease, and all gyms and fitness centers must close. Restaurants can keep their kitchens open for takeout and delivery services only.
The number of confirmed cases in the United States doubled in just 48 hours this week, jumping from about 5,700 on Tuesday evening to more than 13,100 late on Thursday. More than 170 people have died.
The sharp rise in cases nationwide stems in part from expanded testing, officials say, and the total will continue to increase as more results become available.
President Donald Trump said at a news conference on Friday that he spoke by phone with Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer about the next phase of a coronavirus relief package, which would total $1 trillion.
Trump said the two sides were "not very far away" on a compromise.
The United States and Mexico said on Friday that they have reached an agreement for a partial closure of the border.
The British government announced Friday that it would pay 80 percent of the wages – up to $2,885 per month – of employees who are not working.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson also announced on Friday that cafes, pubs and restaurants across Britain will close from Friday evening in an effort to curb the spread of covid-19.
Italy announced another record-breaking death toll on Friday, with 627 people dying from covid-19 within the last day, according to the Italian Civil Protection Agency
At least 4,023 people have now died from the coronavirus in Italy. On Thursday, when 427 new deaths were announced, the country's death toll officially surpassed China's, where the outbreak originated.
Confirmed coronavirus cases in Italy also rose from 41,035 to 47,021 over the last day, the agency reported.
After Italy, Spain has been the hardest-hit country in Europe, with many cases centered in the capital, Madrid. On Thursday, Spain also ordered all of its hotels to shut down within seven days.
Hong Kong reported a record jump in new coronavirus cases Friday –48 -- as the region braces for an uptick in illness involving people who rushed back home to beat widening travel restrictions.
China recorded no new local coronavirus cases for the second day in a row, officials announced on Friday, as outbreak hotspots elsewhere remain inundated with patients.
The country recorded 39 cases of coronavirus on Thursday, all of which were imported from abroad, officials said. Three deaths were also recorded Thursday.
