Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam issued a “stay at home” order on Monday afternoon, hours after Maryland ordered millions of residents to stay at home.

The order puts stricter controls on people’s movements as a means to further curb the spread of the coronavirus in the region. Many of the directives remain the same as earlier recommendations for residents to stay home, but the governor’s Monday order imposes penalties in certain instances.

The temporary stay-at-home order begins March 30 and is effective through June 10, unless otherwise amended or rescinded by the governor.

Virginians, like those in Maryland, will still be able to leave their homes for groceries, medical needs, banking, exercise and to access other essential businesses, as long as they adhere to the state’s ban on gatherings larger than 10 people and as long as they maintain social distancing orders. Virginia parks will remain open, but the order limits access to the state’s beaches and prohibits swimming and sunbathing.

Northam said violators will be subject to a class one misdemeanor. “We are not looking to put people in jail,” he said. “But it will be enforced.”

“We are at the beginning of a period of sacrifice. This s a difficult and unprecedented time… I have faith in you as Virginians,” Northam said. “We need to take this seriously and act responsibly.

“We will get through this together.”

Monday’s order comes days after Northam said there was no difference between issuing a formal order versus his ongoing requests for people to stay at home. “We’re talking semantics here. We’re talking about how to enforce this. However you want to describe it, all of the states giving the same direction, which is to stay at home,” Northam said at the time.

But Northam said Monday that his thoughts changed over the weekend, pointing out that medical workers are sacrificing their safety.

“…I see people congregating on the beach,” Northam said. “You are being very selfish. You are putting all of us, especially our health care providers, at risk.”

The statewide orders come as the coronavirus has continued to spread across the Washington region. The area saw a sharp rise in cases and coronavirus-related deaths over the weekend, bringing the regional case count to near 3,000. Virginia has reported 1,020 cases and 25 coronavirus-related deaths as of Monday afternoon. Maryland reported 1,413 known coronavirus cases and 15 related deaths.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has yet to implement an official stay-at-home order.

This story originally appeared on WAMU.