Louisiana, Ohio, Delaware issue orders for citizens to stay at home

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R), Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) and Delaware Gov. John Carney (D) on Sunday announced their states will be the latest to order most citizens to remain in their homes to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

“In Louisiana we have taken aggressive measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and flatten the curve; however, this is not enough. As our number of cases continue to grow, I am directing all Louisianans to stay at home unless it is absolutely necessary for you to leave,” Edwards said in a statement.

“People can leave their homes to do essential things like buying groceries or food, pick up medicine or go to work only if their job is essential. If you have to go out, make sure you practice social distancing measures and keep 6 feet between you and the people around you. People are encouraged to go outside and to stay active during this time, as long as they practice social distancing when they are around their neighbors,” Edwards added.

Louisiana’s order begins on Monday at 5 p.m. and lasts through Sunday, April 12, at which point his office said it will assess the necessity for a possible extension.

The Ohio order, issued by state Health Director Amy Acton, is effective through April 6 and begins at 11:59 p.m. Monday. It also allows citizens to leave home for essential activities involving health and safety and to obtain necessary supplies and orders all nonessential businesses to close.

“We are at war,” DeWine said. “And in a time of war we have to make sacrifices.”

Carney tweeted Sunday that he issued a stay-at-home order for Delaware residents and ordered nonessential businesses to close at 8 a.m. Tuesday. 

I’ve issued a stay-at-home order for Delawareans, and ordered non-essential businesses to close at 8 a.m. Tuesday, March 24.

List of essential and non-essential businesses: https://t.co/ZpSLTvLNM6

— Governor John Carney (@JohnCarneyDE) March 22, 2020

The order follows similar measures by the governors of California, Illinois and New York in recent days.