Chicago and Cook County health officials have issued advisories urging residents to stay home as much as possible to help stop the spread of COVID-19, effective Nov. 16.

In announcing the advisories, Mayor Lori Lightfoot and County Board President Toni Preckwinkle emphasized the exponential growth in coronavirus cases in recent weeks, with a record numbers of cases and increased deaths, coming close to matching the spring’s daily death toll.

The advisories aren’t mandatory stay-at-home orders like the one Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued in the spring, and the 30-day advisories come on top of a statewide stay-home advisory Illinois health officials issued for the three weeks ending Dec. 2. Chicago’s advisory is an update on prior executive orders, while Cook County’s was less formal. Evanston, which has its own public health department, has issued a similar 30-day advisory.

Here’s what health authorities are saying people should do to help stop the spread of the virus, which by Monday had infected more than 11 million people in the United States and killed close to 250,000 in the country, according to Johns Hopkins University:

Stay home as much as possible

The Chicago advisory says residents should “only leave home to go to work or school, or for essential needs such as seeking medical care, going to the grocery store or pharmacy, picking up food, or receiving deliveries.” Cook County notes leaving home for a COVID-19 test also is OK.

Leaving home? Wear a mask.

Anyone leaving home is advised to “always wear a face covering and practice social distancing by staying 6 feet away from others,” following city health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady’s spring health order on coronavirus, which orders people to wear masks in public places or face fines of $100 to $500. A statewide mask mandate also is in effect, requiring people to wear face coverings in public when they can’t maintain 6 feet of distance and in any building open to the public.