A State-by-State Guide to Coronavirus Lockdowns

A State-by-State Guide to Coronavirus Lockdowns

By Jacob Gershman

WALL STREET JOURNAL

Governors in New York, California, and other large states have ordered most businesses to shut and people to stay inside, with limited exceptions

State lockdown measures imposed across the U.S. vary in the scope and severity of the limits on where people can travel, work and shop away from their homes.

No state is completely preventing people from going outside or to work, but some measures were more drastic. California Gov. Gavin Newsom effectively banned residents from socializing outside their homes, while New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo went further in cordoning off the elderly and sick populations.

All of the measures—with loopholes of varying size—sought at least to keep millions of more people home more of the time without cutting off lifelines. State leaders have vowed to enforce the lockdowns, but it’s unclear whether any of them can be effectively enforced.

Here are highlights of the orders in major states.

NEW YORK

• Effective 8 p.m. on Sunday, all businesses that aren’t deemed essential must shut down their in-office personnel functions. Gov. Cuomo’s order exempts financial institutions, retailers, pharmacies, hospitals, news media, manufacturing plants and transportation companies, among others.

• “Non-essential gatherings” of any size and for any reason are temporarily banned.

• In public, people must keep at least six feet away from each other.

• Residents 70 and older and people with compromised immune systems or underlying illnesses must remain indoors (unless exercising outside), wear a mask in the company of others and prescreen visitors by taking their temperature.

• Casinos, gyms, theaters, shopping malls, amusement parks, and bowling alleys are closed.

• Barbershops, hair salons, tattoo or piercing salons, nail salons, hair-removal services will be closed starting Saturday at 8 p.m.

• Bars and restaurants are limited to delivery and takeout.

CALIFORNIA

Gov. Newsom has ordered everyone in California to stay home except to get food, care for a relative or friend, obtain health care, or go to an “essential job.” People working in critical infrastructure sectors may continue to go to their jobs.

• People outside must keep at least 6 feet of distance from each other.

• Dine-in restaurants, bars, and nightclubs, entertainment venues, gyms and fitness studios are closed.

• Gas stations, pharmacies, grocery stores, convenience stores, banks, and laundry services remain open.

PENNSYLVANIA

Gov. Tom Wolf ordered “non-life-sustaining businesses” in Pennsylvania to close their physical locations as of Thursday evening. The restriction exempts sectors, like gas stations, food retailers and transportation companies. It also doesn’t apply to “virtual or telework operations.” Businesses that don’t comply could face enforcement actions starting Saturday.

• Pennsylvanian residents are strongly encouraged to refrain from nonessential travel, but it isn’t a requirement.

• Restaurants and bars must stop all dine-in services.

ILLINOIS

Gov. J.B. Pritzker commanded residents to stay at home, leaving only for essential travel and activities such as health and safety reasons, getting supplies and caring for others.

• The Illinois directive says, “non-essential business and operations must cease,” a requirement with many exceptions. Nonessential businesses can still allow employees to work remotely and process payroll and employee benefits, among other limited activities.

• Gatherings of more than 10 people are prohibited with limited exceptions.

• All places of public amusement are closed to the public, such as carnivals, amusement parks and concert halls.

TEXAS

Texas. Gov. Greg Abbott’s directive instructs all Texans to avoid social gatherings in groups of more than 10 people starting Saturday morning.

• Texas residents “shall avoid eating or drinking at bars, restaurants, and food courts, or visiting gyms or massage parlors.”

• People may not visit nursing homes or long-term care facilities unless to provide critical assistance.

FLORIDA

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has ordered the closure of all restaurant dining rooms and bars in the state, as well as concert houses and other entertainment venues in Broward and Palm Beach counties.

• The city of Miami Beach directed all hotels to close down by Monday night.

• Miami-Dade County has shut down beaches, parks, bars, and restaurants.

NEVADA

• Days after closing Las Vegas casinos, Gov. Steve Sisolak ordered a shutdown of “non-essential businesses,” including movie theaters, massage parlors, brothels, nightclubs, hair and nail salons, and gyms.

• Retail cannabis dispensaries may operate by delivery.

• No on-site dining at restaurants.

Write to Jacob Gershman at jacob.gershman@wsj.com