California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s household is running out of toilet paper, first partner says
The Newsom household is dangerously low on toilet paper, California’s First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom says.
The coronavirus pandemic’s vast impacts on society include approximately a quarter of the state’s population being put under “shelter-in-place” orders as of Wednesday morning, requiring them to stay home except for essential reasons such as trips to the grocery store. As Californians prepare for self-isolation and shift to a stay-at-home society, supplies like toilet paper, hand sanitizer and soap have flown off the shelves — sometimes, many of them into the same cart.
Newsom criticized hoarding in a social media post Wednesday, saying the household has one day’s worth of paper towels, toilet paper and tissues left. She and husband Gov. Gavin Newsom have four children.
“One rose amidst all of this- family dinners and no late night homework stress,” Jennifer Newsom tweeted shortly before 8 a.m. “And nice to not have kids shuffling home late from sports and activities. And yes, unfortunately the thorn- we run out of toilet paper, paper towels, and Kleenex tomorrow. I wish people had not hoarded.”
The governor this week expanded his sweeping directive for nonessential businesses, including gyms, bars, card rooms and restaurants excluding delivery or takeout service, to close temporarily, and for gatherings of any size to be canceled. The order comes as California public health officials have confirmed close to 500 cases of COVID-19 and at least 11 deaths.
So far, 10 Bay Area counties have followed up Newsom’s strong recommendations with legal mandates, affecting millions of people, while Sacramento County, the city of Davis and several other local governments in the state have issued their own, not-yet-legally-binding directives.
This story was originally published March 18, 2020 at 8:46 AM.
