Bay Area to Shelter in Place for 3 Weeks. Unprecendented Actions to Slow Virus Growth

Share with Friends

In an acknowledgement that dramatic action is needed to stem the spread of coronavirus, 6 Bay Area counties enacted the most sweeping and unprecendented social orders in the nation Monday, ordering residents to “shelter in place” for the next three weeks.

The directive applies to San Francisco, Santa Clara, San Mateo, Marin, Contra Costa and Alameda counties, and goes into effect at midnight Monday.

The order, delivered at a news conference attended by mayors and public health officials from throughout the region, puts the Bay Area at the forefront of the battle to contain the virus in the U.S.

The actions come as epidemiologists agree the Bay Area and much of the nation is at a tipping point, at which bold and decisive action taken quickly could help stem the spread of the coronavirus, and reduce deaths dramatically.

This chart shows where the U.S. is in relation to other countries. Those countries that have enacted strong and decisive isolation and social distancing policies have been able to slow the virus significantly.

The directives ask that the public only leave home for food, or outdoor activities, or work, but not engage in other group activities of any kind. Leaders from the entire Bay Area stressed that all essential services like grocery stores, banks, pharmacies, restaurants for delivery only, and hardware stores. Other non essential services would likely close under the order. Public safety and utility providers like electricians, plumbers and sanitation workers would be exempt.

On Sunday, Governor Gavin Newsom joined a few other states in ordering bars, nightclubs and wineries to close, and restricted the operation of restaurants to mainly take-out service.

The order affects around 7 million people, and stops just short of a complete lockdown in which the public would be required to obtain permission before leaving their homes. However law enforcement officials would have the power to enforce the order although it’s believed most enforcement, if it occurs, would take place only after a period of adjustment.