Connecticut and New Jersey
are joining Illinois and California in ordering residents to stay at home in
order to combat the spread of coronavirus.
New York State has ordered
non-essential businesses to close.
The virus has claimed
nearly 230 lives in the US and infected more than 18,500 people.
Globally more than 270,000
patients have tested positive for the respiratory illness and more than 11,000
have died.
What measures
are the states taking?
On Friday, Connecticut,
Illinois and New York state announced measures directing tens of millions of
people to stay at home. The restrictions order most workplaces to close and
require residents to remain inside except for trips to grocery stores,
pharmacies and gas stations.
In New York, Governor
Andrew Cuomo restricted public gatherings and ordered all "non-essential
workers" to stay at home. The measures come as confirmed coronavirus cases
in New York reached 7,000 - the highest of any US state.
"These provisions
will be enforced," Mr Cuomo told reporters. "These are not helpful
hints."
Late on Friday, President
Trump declared a major disaster in New York state, a move which will release
federal funding.
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New York and the
neighbouring states of New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania also issued a
joint order on Friday for the closure of all "personal care"
businesses, such as hair and nail salons and piercing and tattoo parlours.
All outdoor team sports such
as basketball games are also banned under the measures, which take effect on
Sunday night.
The announcement comes
after California Governor Gavin Newsom issued a similar order, telling all
residents to stay at home. He estimated more than half of the 40 million people
in his state would contract Covid-19 in just the next two months.
Images from Los Angeles
show some of the city's most famous landmarks completely deserted while the
freeways are almost empty.
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Illinois has also ordered all residents indoors with exceptions
to shop for food and medicine or take exercise.
Nevada announced its own
ban on non-essential businesses on Tuesday. In Hawaii, bars and clubs have been
ordered to close and social gatherings have been limited to groups of 10,
according to the New York Times.
President Trump has so far
ruled out any nationwide lockdown.
He said during a press
conference on Friday: "I don't think we'll ever find (a US shutdown)
necessary". He added that the US was "winning" the war against
the virus.
As both the number of
cases and the global death toll continued to soar, many countries and regions
took new measures on Friday, including:
§ Spain:
The government warned that army patrols would catch people outside without good
reason
§ Bavaria: Germany's
second most populous state became the first state in impose a lockdown
§ France:
Police said patrols at Paris railway stations had been reinforced to stop
people going on trips for the weekend
§ Indonesia: A
state of emergency will be in force in the capital Jakarta from Monday - bars,
cinemas and many other businesses will be shut down.
Life goes on
These may be the most
restrictive measures to be put in place in modern Californian history, but in
Los Angeles life goes on and the streets are far from empty.
In a city famous for its
gridlocked rush-hour traffic, cars are moving more freely past the palm trees
on Sunset Boulevard. In Hollywood cyclists still overtake joggers and families
still go out for a stroll. But these could all be seen as essential excursions.
People have been told that
those who work in critical sectors should still go to work. Busses are still
running and grocery stores, pharmacies and banks are all still open.
But many people are
staying at home and friends and neighbours are keeping their distance.
Restaurants and bars closed their doors days ago, but now all gatherings
outside the home have been banned and there is no indication when the
restrictions will be lifted.
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Why has the US restricted border traffic
with Mexico and Canada?
Also on Friday, the US
suspended all non-essential traffic across its borders with both Mexico and
Canada.
During
Friday's news conference, Mr Pompeo said the restrictions would take effect on
Saturday and also apply to Mexico. They are due be in place for at least 30
days.
US
citizens "should arrange immediate return" unless they intend to
remain abroad for some time, Mr Pompeo said.
Acting
Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf said the US was "working with both
our Canadian partners as well as our Mexican partners".
He
added: "We want to make sure cargo continues, trade continues, healthcare
workers continue to be able to traverse that border. But tourism, some
recreational activities and other things need to stop during this crisis."
The
announcement comes as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said asylum
seekers crossing into the country on foot from the US would be turned back as
part of the border shutdown.
How have the president's businesses been affected?
According to US media, Mr Trump's Mar-a-Lago
golf club in Palm Beach, Florida, has closed following an order by the state's
governor to shut all bars and restaurants.
A spokesperson for the Trump
Organization would not confirm the mothballing of the resort, but told CNN:
"Various facilities are temporarily closed given local, state and federal
mandates.
"We anxiously await the day when
this pandemic is over and our world-class facilities can reopen."
Mr Trump's hotel in Las Vegas has
already closed after coronavirus restrictions were introduced by the governor
of Nevada.
The president's hotels in New York and
Washington DC remain open, though more than 200 staff have reportedly been laid
off as their occupancy rate plunges amid the pandemic.
The bar and restaurant of the Trump
International Hotel in the nation's capital have shut in response to a
virus-containment directive from the city authorities.