Residents of New Jersey’s largest city are being asked to stay at home for at least 10 days after Thanksgiving to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

“We’re going to have to take stronger measures, unfortunately,” Mayor Ras Baraka said. “It’s getting bad.”

Baraka said that the stronger measures begin next week on the day before Thanksgiving. The stay at home advisory will be in effect for 10 days.

“All stores that are nonessential and also this includes corner stores too. We are advising that everybody close down. Not just stores, but workplaces, barbershops, beauty parlors, gyms – everything shut down from Nov. 25 to Dec. 4,” Baraka said.

The mayor says that now is the time to prepare. But he also asks that those who can start staying at home now to do so. He is also asking all Newark residents to get tested for the virus.

“You should only be outside if you are getting tested or if you need groceries for your house, Pampers, milk. Of if you need medicine,” Baraka said.

Nonessential businesses in Newark are already required to shut down at 8 p.m. under a previous executive order. There are also mandatory curfews in place for hot zones, like the Ironbound section of the city. No one is allowed out on the street overnight in those areas, except for emergencies or to go to and from work.

The 10-day lockdown is, for now, an advisory and not an order. It is yet to be determined if individuals and businesses will comply. But the mayor says that he believes that his pleas will be answered and that the city will make sacrifices to save lives.

“I think Newarkers are conscientious. They’ve done it before – slowed this thing down. And I think they will have the will and authority to do it again,” Baraka said.

The mayor is expected to release more details about the stay at home advisory later this week.