Officials don't want COVID-19 to sidetrack a key economic driver, but western megaproject sites are sending workers home. Confirmed cases rose on March 22 to 1,302 from 1,099 a day earlier.
Thousands of state construction sites will close for an indefinite time. California also ordered residents home, but it's unclear if construction is included; NY's expanded offsite rule exempts industry firms.
Projects continue for now even as COVID-19 drops ridership and the future is cloudy, but agencies prepare planned jobs to be ready for anticipated federal stimulus.
Residents in several counties are sent home except for those providing or obtaining essential services, which for now includes most construction projects.