HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. (AP) — Many Californians are preparing for a new stay-at-home-order that bars restaurant dining, shutters salons and limits retail in an effort to curb spiraling coronavirus infections and hospitalizations.
The new rules that take effect late Sunday in the vast region of Southern California, much of the San Francisco Bay Area and a large swath of the Central Valley also prohibit residents from gathering with people not in their households.
Public health officials say the measures are critical as space dwindles in intensive care units. Law enforcement officials say they don’t plan to enforce the rules and are counting on residents to wear masks and practice physical distancing. Many business owners say they can’t afford to comply.
