On December 31, 2019, the World Health Organization (“WHO”) China Country Office learned of cases of a
pneumonia of unknown cause. WHO, COVID-19 Situation Report (January 21, 2020). COVID-19 was later identified as the cause.
Id. Those initial infections were but squalls preceding a hurricane. To date, COVID-19 has infected over three and a half million and killed over 250,000 people worldwide. WHO, COVID-19 Situation Report (May 7, 2020). Responding to this ever-evolving public health crisis, Governor Newsom issued a statewide “stay at home order.”
See Ex. A to Compl., ECF No. 1–1. The order went into effect on March 19, 2020.
Id. It directs California residents “to stay home or at their place of residence except as needed to maintain continuity of operations of federal critical infrastructure services.”
Id. ¶ 1. The order's stated purpose is “to protect the public health of Californians” by “mitigat[ing] the impact of COVID-19.” Ex. A to Compl. ¶ 1.