Bay Area shelter-in-place order extended through May 31, some rules relaxed
OAKLAND, Calif. - Shelter-in-place orders for most of the Bay Area have been extended through the end of May, but health officers in several counties are easing some parts of the order.
The new order takes effect on May 4 and covers the counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara as well as the City of Berkeley, which has its own public health jurisdiction. Officials said the stay-at-home order expires on May 31, but that date could change.
The extended health order is designed to maintain progress on mitigating the spread of COVID-19 while also loosening some restrictions for lower-risk activities.
"The new order allows us to carefully monitor our progress while building the essential public health infrastructure – such as contact tracing and testing capacity – that will support our gradual reopening and make recovery possible,” said Dr. Tomás Aragon, Health Officer for the City and County of San Francisco
All construction projects, certain businesses that operate primarily outdoors, and some outdoor activities will be allowed to resume, but with specific conditions, according to a joint press release that outlined the new guidelines.
Construction activities can begin again, so long as the project complies with safety protocols. All real estate transactions can also resume, but with continued restrictions on open houses and limitations on in-person viewings.
Certain outdoor businesses such as retail nurseries, landscaping, and gardening can proceed with operations, but they are subject to strict social distancing.
Outdoor recreational spaces that were previously closed, like skate parks, can now reopen. But facilities activities that involve shared equipment or physical contact must remain closed.
Public health leaders emphasized that in no way are restaurants, cafes or bars, allowed to reopen under the order.
"The small changes to loosen restrictions on some lower-risk activities are the result of the outstanding job by our residents of abiding by the rules and precautions that have helped keep our community safe," said San Francisco Mayor London Breed. Adding, "I know this is hard for everyone, but we have to keep our focus on protecting public health every step of the way. Our focus now must be on continuing to strengthen our system and track progress as we plan for the future steps we can take if we continue to see improvements.”
In the coming weeks and months, health officers are watching five key indicators to determine how and when to loosen restrictions. Those indicators are:
- Whether the total number of cases in the community is flat or decreasing
- Whether the number of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 is flat or decreasing
- Whether there is an adequate supply of personal protective equipment for all health care workers
- Whether we are meeting the need for testing, especially for persons in vulnerable populations or those in high-risk settings or occupations
- Whether we have the capacity to investigate all COVID-19 cases and trace all of their contacts, isolating those who test positive and quarantining the people who may have been exposed
The Bay Area's approach to combating COVID-19 and easing of restrictions aligns with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s ongoing statewide stay-at-home order and the framework he has laid out for California's recovery.
“A pandemic of this scale is unprecedented,” said Dr. Sara Cody, Santa Clara County Health Officer. “We are progressing steadily as a region, but we must reduce restrictions on activity gradually or we will put the lives of many community members at risk.”