Long Beach, Los Angeles and the rest of Southern California could soon be required to implement an even tighter stay-at-home order, Gov. Gavin Newsom said today as he announced a new plan that locks communities into new rules if local hospitals appear to be at risk of being overwhelmed.

During a news conference today, Newsom said regions of the state will be required to shut down most nonessential activity for three weeks if their ICU capacity drops below 15%—something the state projects could happen in Southern California within a matter of days.

“The bottom line is if we don’t act now, our hospital system will be overwhelmed,” Newsom said.

On top of restrictions already in place in LA County, the new order would close personal care businesses like hair and nail salons, shut down playgrounds, shutter museums, and limit retail locations to 20% capacity. Most outdoor recreation—like hiking, biking and fishing—would still be allowed but without any mixing among people from different households. Schools already operating under waivers and child care would be allowed to stay open.

What you need to know about the state’s new ‘regional stay-at-home order’

Once triggered, regions would have 24 hours to implement the rules, which must stay in effect at least three weeks.

The order would also limit restaurants to takeout only, a rule that is already in place across LA County and Long Beach.

But, because the new order sets regulations by five geographic regions—instead of county by county—nearby counties like Orange, Riverside, Ventura and San Diego would also fall under the Southern California region’s rules. Counties can set more restrictive rules than the state, but they cannot have looser restrictions.

Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia called Newsom’s announcement about regional restrictions “absolutely the right approach.”

“This virus does not stop at city or county borders,” he said in a tweet.

Newsom said the regions were chosen based on pre-existing aid agreements among hospitals in each area, which are well-practiced at helping each other out if any individual hospital gets overwhelmed.

“It’s all part of a regional strategy well defined within the hospital and healthcare delivery system,” he said.

State and local officials didn’t immediately provide numbers on the Southern California region’s current ICU capacity. That number can be fluid, cautioned Christina Ghaly, the Director for the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. Hospitals can increase their capacity by adding staffing and beds, for instance, but their ability to do so only extends to a point.

Newsom said he anticipates Southern California dropping below 15% available capacity “as early as the next day or two, as late as the next week or so.”

Newsom’s announcement came as the state is in the middle of its worst outbreak of coronavirus cases yet.

California reported more than 20,000 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, shattering the state’s previous one-day record. A record 8,500 people are in the hospital, including more than 2,000 in the intensive care unit, leaving the state with fewer than 2,000 available ICU beds.

Long Beach has not been spared the surge.

“In Long Beach, since November 1, the number of new cases has increased by more than 320%,” The city said in a statement. “Area hospitalizations for COVID-19 are now at 154 patients, an increase of 400%. These data do not yet include the expected impacts from the Thanksgiving holiday.”

Even before those dire numbers, Newsom already had imposed restrictions—including a nighttime curfew—on 51 of the state’s 58 counties comprising nearly the entire state population.

LA County, Long Beach and the city of Los Angeles had gone even further. All three previously suspended in-person dining, restricted occupancy at other businesses and banned almost all gatherings.

All three jurisdictions issued the same general guidelines, but Long Beach’s are slightly looser, for instance allowing playgrounds to stay open with adult supervision to ensure children are wearing masks and at least 6 feet apart while using play equipment.

On Wednesday night, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti issued a city order that spoke in apocalyptic tones as it ordered people to remain in their homes, although it offered a host of exceptions for when they’re allowed to leave.

LA “is now close to a devastating tipping point” that could overwhelm the hospital system, “in turn risking needless suffering and death,” the mayor’s order said.

Just like in Long Beach and the rest of LA County, the city of LA’s new order bans gatherings of people outside of immediate households with the exception of protests and worship services. However, all three jurisdictions still allow retail businesses to remain open for in-person shopping subject to a county curfew already in place.

Garcetti also urged the Police Department and city attorney to enforce the order, which carries misdemeanor penalties.

Violating Long Beach’s order also carries misdemeanor penalties, as it has since it was issued, but city officials say they’ve been mostly successful in gaining compliance by relying on an education-first approach with criminal sanctions as only a last resort.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Editor’s note: This story was updated with additional information and corrected to show regions have 24 hours to implement new rules once they’re triggered.