California | March 20, 2020

Californians Ordered to Remain Home to Help Thwart COVID-19 Outbreak

California Governor Gavin Newsom, on Thursday evening, ordered all 40 million California residents to stay at home immediately in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. That broader statewide mandate followed Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s order earlier in the evening directing residents to stay at home. Those orders to fight the spread of the coronavirus added to a previous stay-at-home order issued by San Francisco Mayor London Breed on March 16.

Gov. Newsom said, “If we meet this moment, we can truly bend the curve to reduce the need.” By manipulating the numbers downward through the order, the state hopes to reduce the spread and thus lessen the amount of resources required to be assembled to meet a projected surge without the order.

The governor said he’s confident people will “home isolate” and do the “right thing.” He encouraged Californians to go about the “essential patterns of life,” while practicing social distancing and using common sense.

The Los Angeles “Safer At Home” order limits people’s movement outside their homes to only what is required to take care of needs deemed essential. The L.A. order went into effect at midnight on Thursday, March 19 and will remain in place until March 31. The Mayor can shorten or extend the duration.

Mayor Garcetti said, “Los Angeles, this our moment to lead with love and protect those lives that mean everything to us. This is not a request, this is an order.”

Los Angeles’ “Safer At Home” order is described as a “more rigorous form of social distancing.” People are not allowed to go to work unless providing essential services as defined by the order. People are restricted from visiting friends or family unless there’s an urgent need, nor can they travel to or from a job outside the city, travel to or from a vacation home outside the city or visit loved ones in the hospital, nursing home, skilled nursing facility, or other residential-care facility.

Guidelines for the L.A. order indicate people are allowed to do such activities as going to the grocery store or pharmacy, taking pets to the veterinarian, attending medical appointments, walking, riding a bike or exercising outside – all while staying at least six feet away from others.

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About Dennis Kaiser

Dennis Kaiser is Vice President of Content and Public Relations for Connect Commercial Real Estate. Dennis is a communications leader with more than 30 years of experience including as a journalist and in corporate and agency marketing communications roles. He is responsible for Connect’s client content operations and is involved in a range of initiatives ranging from content strategy, message development, copywriting, media relations, social media and content marketing services. In his most recent corporate communications roles, he led a regional public relations effort across Southern California for CBRE, played a key marketing role on JLL’s national retail team, and was responsible for directing the global public relations effort at ValleyCrest, the nation’s largest commercial landscape services company. In addition to his vast commercial real estate experience, Dennis has worked on communications and launch strategies for a number of residential projects such as Disney’s Celebration in Florida, Ritter Ranch in Palmdale California (7,200 homes, 22,000 acres), WaterColor in Florida and PremierGarage in Phoenix. Dennis’s agency background included firms such as Idea Hall and Macy + Associates. He has earned an outstanding reputation with organization leaders as a trusted advisor, strategic program implementer, consensus builder and exceptional collaborator. Dennis has developed and managed national communications programs for Fortune 500 companies to start-ups, both public and private. He’s successfully worked with journalists across the globe representing clients involved in major-breaking news stories, product launches, media tours, and company news announcements. Dennis has been involved in a host of charitable and community organizations including the American Cancer Society, Easter Seals, BoyScouts, Chrysalis Foundation, Freedom For Life, HOLA, L.A.’s BEST, Reach Out and Read, Super Bowl Host Committee, and Thunderbirds Charities.

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