California’s quick action in shutting the state down to protect people from contracting coronavirus could be a reason why the state’s death toll is significantly less than New York, Vox reports.
As of Monday morning, New York logged 188,684 coronavirus cases and 9,385 deaths compared with California’s 23,323 cases and 676 deaths, according to a New York Times chart.
The most populous state was one of the first to report a case of community transmission of the disease on Feb. 26. Just days later it announced its first death on March 3.
It was also the first state to begin to take action to stop the spread of the virus by closing businesses and asking people to stay at home.
The San Francisco Bay area issued the first shelter-in-place order in the country on March 16. Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a statewide stay-at-home order three days later.
New York’s response lagged behind. Gov. Andrew Cuomo didn’t enact a stay-at-home order until March 22.
And while there is pressure to reopen the economy, Los Angeles County health officials extended stay-at-home restrictions to at least May 15.
Health officials also suggested residents do even more to stay at home like reducing excessive trips to grocery stores, the Los Angeles Times reports.
While experts say it is too early to know definitively why California is faring better than states like New York, they say proactive action may be an indicator.
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