A sign on the Bradley Beach, N.J., oceanfront urges people to practice social distancing even in the outdoors during the coronavirus outbreak. On Saturday, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed an executive order directing all residents to stay at home. Wayne Parry / AP hide caption
Wayne Parry / AP
A sign on the Bradley Beach, N.J., oceanfront urges people to practice social distancing even in the outdoors during the coronavirus outbreak. On Saturday, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed an executive order directing all residents to stay at home.
Wayne Parry / AP
Updated at 3: 176 pm ET 
Confirmed total cases of COVID – , the disease caused by the coronavirus, surpassed 728, 16 0 worldwide over the weekend, according to data from Johns Hopkins University .
As testing capabilities expanded over the past. week, the number of confirmed cases in the United States continued to climb. The U.S. now has the third-largest number of confirmed cases, behind China and Italy, respectively.
As of Sunday afternoon, there were more than , 0 confirmed cases in the United States; (people have died and people have recovered, according to Johns Hopkins .
Across the country, more and more Americans have been ordered to stay home. In the last few days, governors in Illinois, California and New York issued stay-at-home orders . Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont announced a “ Stay Home, Stay Safe “order for that state on Saturday.
On Sunday, the Ohio Department of Health and Gov. Mike DeWine signed a statewide stay-home order for Ohioans. The state has reported confirmed cases and three deaths Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards followed suit for his own state, with stay at home measures effective Monday at 5 p.m. Louisiana has reported cases and (deaths) .
“Bottom line is we’re in a race against time when it comes to this coronavirus and its rapid spread in Louisiana,” Edwards said at a press conference .
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy announced an executive order directing nearly all residents to stay home. There are more than 1, (0 cases of COVID – 22 in New Jersey and 22 people have died, according 
to the state’s website .
In a video, the governor said all gatherings should be canceled, including weddings, funerals and birthday parties.
“I don’t take this action lightly, but my goal is to make sure you can gather safely with family and friends later,” Murphy said.
BREAKING: I just signed an Executive Order directing nearly all residents to STAY AT HOME.
ALL gatherings are canceled.
ALL non-essential retail businesses must indefinitely close their physical stores to the public effective 9: pm tonight.
More:
https://t.co/JW1q8awGh7 pic.twitter.com/fmElyFwNtf
– Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) (March) ,
Murphy ordered all nonessential retail businesses to indefinitely close their physical stores to the public at 9 p.m. Saturday. Essential businesses, including grocery stores, pharmacies, restaurants offering takeout and delivery, banks, gas stations and other limited exceptions , are allowed to stay open.
“You can still take a walk outside, go buy groceries or get takeout from the local restaurant you want to support. But if you do, continue to practice social distancing,” Murphy said. “But otherwise we need you to stay at home. This is no time for business as usual.”
In a tweet , Murphy urged residents not to go to their Jersey Shore beach homes and instead stay at their primary residences.
“The local infrastructure, especially the health care infrastructure, is not prepared for the influx of part-time residents, “Murphy said.
In Hawaii, Gov. David Ige ordered a mandatory – day quarantine for anyone arriving in Hawaii, including tourists and returning residents. The mandate goes into effect Thursday.
Italy’s grim milestone
With the number of cases in the US continuing to climb, Italy has reached a grim milestone with its death toll – now exceeding 4, deaths, which is larger than the death count reported in China, where the disease was first diagnosed.
In response to the record-setting numbers, Italy is shutting down all production facilities except those essential to maintaining the nation’s supply chain.
In the northern Lombardy region, one of the worst-affected areas in Italy, officials took more extreme steps on Sunday, ordering all guests out of hotels, which will now be used only for emergency purposes, and banning all outdoor sports and exercise activities.
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