Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee at a press conference about the coronavirus outbreak, March 16. Photo: Erika Schultz-Pool/Getty Images
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announced via Twitter Monday evening that he's issued a stay-at-home order, effective immediately, to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Details: "This order is enforceable by law, but the legal penalties are not what should convince people to follow these orders," Inslee tweeted. "The real penalty may be the loss of a loved one to COVID-19. There are 110 Washington families who can tell you what the pain of that loss feels like."
- Exceptions to the order include grocery shopping, doctor appointments and essential work duty.
The big picture: Inslee announced the move as President Trump suggested physical distancing restrictions will be lifted "fairly soon."
Other states that issued stay-at-home orders:
- Ohio
- Louisiana
- Delaware
- California
- New York
- New Jersey
- Illinois
- Connecticut
- Michigan
- West Virginia
- Oregon
- Indiana
Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.