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As Coronavirus Cases Hit Record Highs, Here Are The Places That Are Locking Down Again

A face mask is seen in front of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on May 26, 2020 at Wall Street in New York City. - Global stock markets climbed Monday, buoyed by the prospect of further easing of coronavirus lockdowns despite sharp increases in case rates in some countries such as Brazil. Over the weekend, US President Donald Trump imposed travel limits on Brazil, now the second worst affected country after the United States, reminding markets that while the coronavirus outlook is better, the crisis is far from over. (Photo by Johannes Eisele/AFP via Getty Images)

Johannes Eisele/AFP via Getty Images

Jordan Lancaster Reporter
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The United States surpassed 11 million coronavirus cases Sunday, and recorded 1 million new confirmed cases in just one week, the New York Times reported. 69,987 people are in the hospital due to coronavirus as of Monday, a new record.

Maryland and New Jersey set a record number of new cases recorded in a single day Sunday, and last week, 28 states recorded a record number of new cases in a 7-day period, the Times reported. New coronavirus infections are rising in 48 states, according to the New York Times. No state is seeing a decline in cases.

Some cities and states have chosen to re-impose lockdown measures to try and control the surge of coronavirus cases. Here is a list of the places that have recently tightened their coronavirus restrictions. (RELATED: Biden Task Force Co-Chair: National Lockdown Would ‘Exacerbate The Pandemic Fatigue’)

California 

Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Monday that gyms would close and indoor dining would be prohibited in several counties in California. The state uses a tier system, with “purple” being the most restrictive. Last week, 13 counties were in the purple tier; now, 41 counties are in the purple tier.

Chicago

A new stay-at-home advisory went into effect Monday in Chicago. Residents are “strongly advised” to cancel Thanksgiving plans, not have guests in their homes, avoid travel, and only leave home for essential purposes.

Maryland

Restaurants were reduced from 75% to 50% capacity and the state government is required to work from home after Republican Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan imposed new restrictions last week. Hogan told the Baltimore Sun that Maryland has “now crossed over into the danger zone” as the state reached a positive test rate of 5.24% as of November 10.

Residents are “strongly” discouraged from attending indoor gatherings with more than 25 people, and traveling to states with a positivity rate above 10% or a new case rate greater than 20 cases per 100,000 people is also discouraged. If residents do travel to “high-risk” states, they will be required to get a coronavirus test upon their return and must quarantine until receiving their results.

Michigan

Starting Wednesday, new restrictions will go into place which suspend in-person learning at colleges and high schools, force movie theaters and casinos to close, and prohibit in-person dining at restaurants, according to NPR.

Democratic Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who faced criticism from President Donald Trump and several weeks of anti-lockdown protests over her coronavirus restrictions in the spring, said that “in the spring, we listened to public health experts, stomped the curve, and saved thousands of lives together.”

“Now, we must channel that same energy and join forces again to protect our families, frontline workers and small businesses,” Whitmer added, according to NPR.

New Jersey

New Jersey joined the group of states issuing new restrictions Monday when Democratic New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed an executive order limiting indoor gatherings to 10 people, a rule that is expected to impact Thanksgiving. The restrictions on indoor gatherings will go into effect Tuesday, Murphy said on Twitter, while a limit of 150 people at outdoor gatherings will go into effect November 23.

The state’s current rules limiting capacity to 25% with a maximum of 150 people still apply to weddings, funerals, religious services, political events, and performances, the governor said.

New Mexico 

Democratic New Mexico Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Friday that the state would begin a two-week lockdown Monday. The new restrictions, which are set to last through at least November 30, limit essential businesses to 25% capacity or 75 customers (whichever comes first), force businesses to close at 10:00 PM each night and order residents to stay home except for “essential” needs such as medical care.

Businesses who violate the coronavirus restrictions could face a fine of up to $5,000 per day.

North Dakota

Republican North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum had previously resisted the idea of government-mandated coronavirus restrictions, opting to leave it up to individuals to take precautions. But as hospitals in the state began to fill up and threaten to become overwhelmed, Burgum said that “our situation has changed,” the Associated Press reported.

The order requires individuals to wear a mask inside all public indoor settings and businesses, and in outdoor settings where social distancing is not possible, according to the Associated Press. Those who don’t comply could face a fine of up to $1,000, although Grand Forks Police Sgt. Barb McLeod told the Associated Press that the police department is “going to focus on education and will try very hard not to file charges.”

Bars and restaurants are limited to 50% capacity, and large-scale venues are limited to 25% capacity, the Associated Press reported. Businesses who offer in-person services must close by 10:00 PM.

Ohio

Republican Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced Tuesday that a 3-week long 10:00 PM curfew would go into effect Thursday, WLWT5 News reported. Ohio residents are asked to stay home and businesses are ordered to close between 10:00 PM and 5:00 AM under the new guidance, although restaurants may remain open later for takeout and delivery.

Exceptions to the curfew are allowed for work, medical care, or picking up groceries or meals.

DeWine said person-to-person contact could be cut by 20% – 25% if the curfew is combined with mask-wearing, which he said is necessary to prevent the state’s hospitals from reaching capacity.

Oregon

Starting Wednesday, all businesses in Oregon are required to close their doors and work from home “to the greatest extent possible” under Democratic Gov. Kate Brown’s two-week “freeze.” Gyms, museums, pools, movie theaters and zoos will be forced to close, while most other businesses will be able to remain open in a limited capacity, the Associated Press reported.

Restaurants and bars are prohibited from opening for in-person dining but are allowed to offer takeout, according to the report. Residents are prohibited from gathering in groups of more than 6 people.

Brown said that although “we have not chosen to engage law enforcement” to enforce coronavirus lockdowns in the past, “at this point in time, unfortunately, we have no other option.”

Pennsylvania

Philadelphia has struggled to contain a surge in new coronavirus cases, with 400 new cases recorded November 4 rising to over 1,100 new cases recorded November 13, NBC10 News reported. As a result, the city on Monday announced a return to some of the coronavirus restrictions that were in place at the beginning of the pandemic. (RELATED: REPORT: Young Kids Losing Basic Skills Under Coronavirus Lockdowns)

Under the new restrictions, which will go into effect Friday, indoor gatherings of any size – public or private – are prohibited, according to NBC10. Outdoor gatherings are limited to 10% capacity or 10 people per 1,000 sq. ft., and no food or drink is allowed to be served to ensure that people keep their masks on at all times. Indoor dining is prohibited, and outdoor dining is limited to 4 people from the same household per table. Gyms, museums, and libraries must close, and all sports must stop playing. Schools may only offer virtual learning.

Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine expanded the regulations Tuesday, requiring anyone entering the state to have a negative coronavirus test within 72 hours of entering or quarantine for 14 days, PhillyVoice reported. Masks are also required, including in private homes when a guest from a different household is visiting – regardless of whether social distancing is maintained.

Colleges and universities are required to test all students, maintain regular testing throughout the semester, and expand quarantine capacity.

Virginia

Tighter coronavirus restrictions will begin in Virginia Monday, Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam announced. Social gatherings, including public, private, indoor, and outdoor gatherings, will now be limited to 25 people. The previous limit was 250, according to WUSA9 News. Mask mandates, which previously applied to children ages 10 and up, now apply to children ages 5 and up. Bars and restaurants must close by midnight, and alcohol cannot be sold after 10:00 PM.

“COVID-19 is surging across the country, and while cases are not rising in Virginia as rapidly as in some other states, I do not intend to wait until they are,” Northam said according to the outlet. “We are acting now to prevent this health crisis from getting worse.”

Washington 

Democratic Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announced some of the most severe new restrictions Sunday to combat rising coronavirus cases in the state. The measures prohibit indoor gatherings with people outside of one’s household unless all parties quarantine for 14 days before the gathering, or quarantine for 7 days and receive a negative coronavirus test 2 days before the gathering, according to the Seattle Times. Outdoor gatherings are limited to 5 people.

Restaurants are prohibited from offering indoor dining but can offer takeout or outdoor dining that is limited to 5 people. A maximum of 30 people are allowed at weddings and funerals, and receptions are not allowed. Retail stores and salons are limited to 25% capacity, and religious services are limited to 25% capacity or 200 people, whichever comes first, according to the Seattle Times. At religious services, singing is prohibited, choirs and bands cannot perform, and all attendees must wear masks.

This list will be updated as more restrictions are announced.