In the Monday COVID-19  briefing in Gov. David Ige’s office, the Governor, Lieutenant Governor Dr. Josh Green, and Department of Health Chair Dr. Bruce Anderson all reinforced the importance of the state’s “stay at home, work at home” order.  They say evidence from elsewhere shows the only way to stem the tide and slow the spread of COVID-19 is to avoid contact with others.

L.G. Dr. Green noted that COVID-19 is an equal opportunity killer as he said a dear friend, a 51-year-old healthy marathon runner who had been a classmate of his, had died a few days ago from the deadly disease.

Exercising outside is fine, but state officials warn people to stay at least 6 feet away from others.  If people must go to stores, or be around others, they urge wearing of a cloth face covering, as recommended by the CDC.

The CDC has posted detailed instructions on how to wear and how to make cloth face coverings, both sewn and not sewn (i.e. anybody can make one).     But mask wearing does not diminish the need for social distancing, staying at least 6 feet away from others.

So far, the State has 387 confirmed cases of COVID-19 (and possibly more undiscovered, untested cases), and has suffered 5 deaths.

In Los Angeles, which has 6,360 confirmed cases and 147 deaths, Mayor Eric Garcetti said there is concern that the next week could see a continued rise in both.  Over last weekend, the county recorded its biggest one-day increase of fatalities related to the virus, reporting a total of 28 deaths in just 24 hours.  Garcetti is now asking all residents to literally not go to stores for one week, to completely avoid others, in an effort to flatten the  rise in cases.   In interviews he’s said he’s concerned the numbers could skyrocket.