The move closes many nonessential indoor businesses and requires the wearing of masks outside homes, with limited exceptions.
The tightening came as Moderna announced that its experimental coronavirus vaccine appears to be over 94 per cent effective, based on early results. A week ago Pfizer disclosed similar findings with its own formula.
The news raised hopes that at least two vaccines against the scourge could win emergency authorisation and become available in the US before the end of the year.
A record-breaking nearly 70,000 people were hospitalised with the coronavirus in the US as of yesterday, 13,000 more than a week earlier, according to the Covid Tracking Project. Deaths in the US are running at more than 1100 per day on average, an increase of over 50 per cent from early October.
The virus is blamed for more than 246,000 deaths and over 11 million confirmed infections in the the US.
New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham's stay-at-home order went into effect today. Only essential businesses, including grocery stores and pharmacies, will be open.
Washington's Democratic Governor Jay Inslee ordered gyms, bowling alleys, movie theaters, museums and zoos to shut down indoor operations. Stores must limit capacity to 25 per cent.
People from different households will be barred in Washington from gathering indoors unless they have quarantined. There is no enforcement mechanism. Inslee said he hopes people obey anyway.
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot called on residents in the nation's third-largest city to restrict social gatherings to 10 people starting today. In instructions that were advisory, not mandatory, she urged residents to stay home except for essential activities, like going to work or grocery shopping.
Philadelphia banned all indoor dining at restaurants and indoor gatherings of any size, public or private, of people from different households, starting this Saturday.
In Michigan, Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer warned she has the authority to issue a second stay-at-home order to curb the spiking coronavirus if necessary and said it was "incredibly reckless" for President Donald Trump's science adviser Scott Atlas to urge people to "rise up" against Michigan's latest restrictions.
Over the weekend, Whitmer announced that Michigan high schools and colleges must halt in-person classes, restaurants must stop indoor dining and entertainment businesses must close for three weeks. Gathering sizes also will be tightened.
Fourteen men were charged earlier this year in an alleged plot to kidnap the governor in anger over her Covid-19 restrictions.
Atlas later tweeted that he "NEVER" would endorse or incite violence.
Even North Dakota Republican Governor Doug Burgum, who has resisted a mask mandate for months, put one in place over the weekend, amid a severe outbreak in the state.
Still, several other GOP governors were taking incremental steps, or resisting even those — continuing to emphasise "personal responsibility" rather than government edicts. Oklahoma's Republican Governor Kevin Stitt announced bars and restaurants must space tables 2m apart and end in-person service at 11pm.
In hard-hit South Dakota, Governor Kristi Noem continued her hands-off approach and resisted a mask mandate or other restrictions.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott in recent days has been emphasising that new treatments and vaccines are expected to become available soon.
Vice-President Mike Pence sounded an upbeat tone today on a call with governors, saying that the Government is ready to help states where hospitals are nearing capacity and emphasising that vaccines are coming.
"America has never been more prepared to combat this virus," he said.
- AP
