Washington state extends stay home order to May 4

Washington Governor Jay Inslee has extended his order to keep non-essential businesses closed and most of the state's residents home through May 4, saying that social distancing measures must remain in place an additional month in order to minimize the spread of COVID-19.

In recent days, Inslee had been signaling that his initial stay-at-home orders from March 23 _ which were set to expire next week _ would be extended.

The new proclamation extends the original order from two weeks to six weeks. People can still go for walks, runs and bike rides outside if they maintain a six-foot distance from others.