ILLINOIS joined New York and California in lockdowns to curb coronavirus spread, as the Governor announced a "shelter in place" order on Friday.

The order, limiting all residents to stay in their homes unless absolutely essential, goes into effect at 5pm on Saturday and will last until April 7, Governor J.B. Pritzker said.

As COVID-19 cases continue to climb, Illinois is the latest U.S. state to take strict steps to help tackle the deadly virus.

Between New York, California and Illinois, more than 70 million residents are now being ordered to stay home amid the pandemic.

This accounts for more than 20 percent of the U.S. that is now under lockdown.

"We have to mitigate the spread of COVID-19," Pritzker said in a tweet hours before the official announcement.

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