Tonight, one out of three Americans is under government orders to stay at home, and at least 17 states have ordered nonessential businesses to close.

In some states.

Large gatherings air altogether band.

But how far can the government go and taking away our civil liberties?

And could we see here in the United States, more extreme restrictions like those in China and parts of Europe, are Maggie Ruli has that story.

For a few days now, Americans have seen surreal scenes play out in their backyards.

Entire cities unlocked down.

Navy and National Guard deployed flights canceled, borders tightened with most people's lifetime.

Had there been anything.

Has there been anything similar to this Copan 19 trips around the world, America finds itself having to make a startling decisions public health, disaster, stay and maintain social distancing.

In times like these, even our civil liberties, the bedrock of our Constitution, could be restricted as we potentially enter uncharted legal waters.

Liberties are being tested.

What is really important, even time such as this, the government's not go overboard, and that's the real test.

When China was first hit with the new Corona virus back in December.

It's totalitarian government responded with regional crackdowns.

We watched as populated cities went dark and saw the consequences.

When people disobeyed orders.

At the time, it felt like their policies could never be implemented here.

China is a communist country.

America is a democracy.

But China's quarantine measures seem to have worked.

For now, they're reported number of domestic cases is down to nearly zero.

But now that the U.

S.

Is facing a daily surge of new cases, governments are imposing rules that are changing the day to day lives of Americans.

Be a good neighbor, be a good citizen, those young people.

They're still out there on the beaches thinking this is a party.

It's time to grow up.

You know, timeto wake up ordering non essential businesses to close their doors, shuttering schools, leaving many families to wonder how they're going to make ends meet.

What about the little guy?

It's a fine line.

Officials are treading as they jeopardize many people's livelihoods.

So what are the laws during a pandemic?

The states have broad powers to quarantine and ban large gatherings, and President Trump can completely close the U.

S border, but its power to quarantine has limits.

And when he declared a national emergency end of the Stafford Act, it just gives him the power to redirect federal funds.

And resource is, it was not a call for martial law, but it's easy to see how people could be alarmed.

We saw Europe close its borders.

Major cities are completely shutting down something that hasn't happened since World War Two.

In some countries, people have been fined just for being outside some and countries are increasingly using technology to keep close tabs on their citizens movements.

In South Korea, officials use surveillance and credit card data to track down those infected.

And in Italy and Israel, governments are following potential patients using their cell data.

There have been times across history where the government has quickly turned to health as being it's wedge issues in order to carry out what would otherwise be a political agenda.

But in the US, we might see pushback against too many restrictions on civil liberties, and it could be up to individuals and the courts to keep the government in check that it's not unpatriotic to hold our government.

You know there are times in which estate may overreach and its courts than that.

Return Thio.

Maggie Ruli, ABC News London Hi, everyone.

George Stephanopoulos Here.

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