TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly issued a statewide order Saturday requiring people to stay in their homes to slow the spread of the coronavirus, waiting until nearly three-quarters of the state's residents were already facing such directives.

Kansas joins nearly two dozen states in ordering residents to stay at home. The Kansas order is effective at 12:01 a.m. Monday through April 19.

"As governor I left the decision to local health departments for as long as possible," Kelly said. She called the current "patchwork" of local orders problematic and said she believes the statewide or...