As coronavirus spreads, 6 Bay Area counties will be ordered to shelter in place

[musette_sf]

Source: Los Angeles Times

MENLO PARK, Calif. — Six counties in the San Francisco Bay Area will be placed under a shelter-in-place directive by public health officials in a bid to slow the spread of the coronavirus, a move that will close virtually all businesses and direct residents to remain at home.

San Mateo Mayor Joe Goethals said he believed that the order, to be issued Monday afternoon, will put the six counties on perhaps the most restrictive public health footing anywhere in America since the outbreak of the potentially deadly coronavirus. Earlier the mayor had said nine counties would be affected, but then he corrected that number.

The order will come from public health officials in six counties around the Bay — San Francisco, Santa Clara, San Mateo, Marin, Contra Costa and Alameda. It will last for at least two weeks and could be extended for a third week, Goethals said.

Read more: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-03-16/nine-san-francisco-bay-area-counties-ordered-to-shelter-in-place

[rocktivity]

1. Pelosi territory? She'd better file some new impeachment articles

But I guess that would be a moot issue because we get to have an election at all.


rocktivity

[alwaysinasnit]

2. Maybe a short, severe "jolt" will be more effective than a relatively mild slow-down in flattening

the curve. I sure hope so. Stay well.

[wryter2000]

3. Alameda County here

I just got back from Safeway with the supplies I need for at least two weeks.

There was a lot of stuff on the shelves. No TP, potatoes, onions, flour, pasta. There was still some pet food.

My meds came in the mail.

[deurbano]

6. Target in SF had toilet paper today.

[Juneboarder]

4. Sorry...

I don't subscribe to LA Times and so I cannot read the article. Does it give specifics to this shelter-in-place? Can folks still leave their shelter to go buy groceries and see the doctor if needed?

[musette_sf]

5. I thought they opened their firewall, here are the deets

Only police and fire departments, hospitals, grocery stores, pharmacies and a few other businesses will be allowed to remain open under the shelter-in-place order, said Goethals, who holds a master’s degree in public health. Residents will be able to go to grocery stores and other essential services, but Goethals urged residents not to rush, adding that stores will remain fully stocked.

The order will come from public health officials in six counties around the Bay — San Francisco, Santa Clara, San Mateo, Marin, Contra Costa and Alameda. It will last for at least two weeks and could be extended for a third week, Goethals said.

[Juneboarder]

7. Thank you for the snippet!

Stupid firewalls, lol!

[wryter2000]

13. Thanks

I imagine Safeway will have plenty of time to stock up.

[Grokenstein]

8. Here's the majority of the article (minus "reactions") copypasted

The paywall is down, though.

Six counties in the San Francisco Bay Area will be placed under a shelter-in-place directive by public health officials in a bid to slow the spread of the coronavirus, a move that will close virtually all businesses and direct residents to remain at home for the next three weeks.

San Mateo Mayor Joe Goethals said he believed that the order, announced in a pair of news conferences Monday afternoon, put the six counties — San Francisco, Santa Clara, San Mateo, Marin, Contra Costa and Alameda — on perhaps the most restrictive public health footing anywhere in the U.S. since the outbreak of the potentially deadly coronavirus.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed said that, effective at midnight, city residents would be required to stay at home “except for essential needs” and that all but essential businesses and public services would be asked to close, starting at midnight Monday. The order will remain in place through April 7.

Only police and fire departments, hospitals, grocery stores, gas stations, banks and pharmacies and restaurants serving take-out and delivery customers will be allowed to remain open under the shelter-in-place order, officials said. Residents will be able to go to grocery stores and other essential services, but Goethals urged residents not to rush, adding that stores will remain fully stocked.

The order further escalates the economic damage caused by COVID-19, this time hitting the nation’s tech capital and a region that is home to nearly 7 million people. But many health expects say extreme measures are needed to prevent the virus from spreading further and overwhelming hospitals and the healthcare system.

The San Francisco Bay Area is the region hit hardest by coronavirus in the state. More than 250 cases have been reported in the six Bay Area counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara, with more than 100 in Santa Clara County.

Monday’s order came from public health officials in the six counties and from the city of Berkeley.

“Staying home is the best thing that we can do right now,” said Goethals. He said the communities are trying to “flatten the curve” — reduce the speed of the contagion so that there is not a sudden jump in cases that overwhelms hospitals.

Dr. Grant Colfax, San Francisco’s health officer, emphasized that there would be some give in the stay-at-home directive.

“You will still be able to walk your dog, or go on a hike alone or someone you live with” or with another person, as long as you keep six feet away from one another, Colfax said. He also said that restaurants will remain open for takeout and delivery. And residents will be allowed out to get food and to care for relatives, he said.

“Together we will get through this,” Colfax said.

San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott said police are asking the public to voluntarily comply. While violation of the health order could be enforceable as a misdemeanor, “that is an absolute last resort,” Scott said. “This is not about a criminal justice approach to a public health issue.”

“We are asking for voluntarily compliance.”

Dr. Sara Cody, Santa Clara County’s public health officer, said that customers will be expected to maintain “social distancing” — even in lines at markets.

[Grokenstein]

10. There's also a nice graphic series on Marin County's Facebook that breaks it down

https://www.facebook.com/CountyOfMarin/?tn-str=k*F

[luxmatic]

9. The actual order...

Here's the full order for Alameda County, and it seems exactly the same as the order for the other counties: http://acphd.org/media/559658/health-officer-order-shelter-in-place-20200316.pdf

[musette_sf]

11. thanks for posting this!

[NutmegYankee]

12. I'm heartened to read they exempted exercise.

While I live in a quiet (semi-rural) part of Connecticut, I'd go nuts if I couldn't get my nightly walks or weekend hikes in. I've lost 20 pounds this year doing that activity.

To engage in outdoor activity,provided the individuals comply with Social Distancing Requirements as defined in this Section, such as, by way of example and without limitation, walking, hiking, or running.

[cagefreesoylentgreen]

14. How do the homeless shelter in place?