With 301 confirmed Coronavirus cases in the Bay Area, and 540 total throughout California, Mayor London Breed announced today that all San Francisco residents will be ordered to stay in their homes beginning as of midnight until April 7.
The new Public Health Order, created by the Health Officer of the City and County of San Francisco, will only allow people to leave for “essential needs” and only “essential government services” will remain open—transit, police, fire, and healthcare services along with grocery markets, pharmacies, banks, and gas stations.
“We know these measures will significantly disrupt people’s day to day lives, but they are absolutely necessary,” said Mayor Breed. “This is going to be a defining moment for our City and we all have a responsibility to do our part to protect our neighbors and slow the spread of this virus by staying at home unless it is absolutely essential to go outside. I want to encourage everyone to remain calm and emphasize that all essential needs will continue to be met. San Francisco has overcome big challenges before and we will do it again, together.”
The announcement goes on to state that while people are “conducting an allowed activity,” they must keep at least 6-feet between others that are not members of their household. Activities such as walking, biking, driving, or taking public transportation will also be prohibited unless they qualify as an Essential Activity (in which case you will, again, have to keep 6 feet of social distancing between you and anyone else outside of your household members). Essential Activities, Essential Businesses, and Essential Government Functions are being defined as:
Essential Activities (exemptions to the shelter in place order) include:
- Tasks essential to maintain health and safety, such as obtaining medicine or seeing a doctor;
- Getting necessary services or supplies for themselves or their family or household members, such as getting food and supplies, pet food, and getting supplies necessary for staying at home;
- Engaging in outdoor activity, such as walking, hiking, or running provided that you maintain at least six feet of social distancing;
- Performing work providing essential services at an Essential Business or Essential Government function (defined below);
- Caring for a family member in another household;
- Caring for elderly, minors, dependents, persons with disabilities, or other vulnerable persons.
Exemptions. Individuals may leave their place of residence to:
- Operate an Essential Business, which includes:
- Healthcare operations, including home health workers;
- Essential Infrastructure, including construction of housing and operation of public transportation and utilities;
- Grocery stores, farmers’ markets, food banks, convenience stores;
- Businesses that provide necessities of life for economically disadvantaged individuals and shelter facilities;
- Pharmacies, health care supply stores, and health care facilities;
- Gas stations and auto repair facilities;
- Banks;
- Garbage collection;
- Hardware stores, plumbers, electricians, and other service providers necessary to maintain the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences and other essential businesses;
- Educational institutions, for the purposes of facilitating distance learning;
- Laundromats, dry cleaners, and laundry service providers;
- Businesses that ship or deliver groceries, food, and goods directly to residences;
- Childcare facilities providing services that enable essential employees to go to work;
- Roles required for any Essential Business to “maintain basic operations,” which include security, payroll, and similar activities.
- Perform an Essential Government Function:
- This includes all services needed to ensure the continuing operation of the government agencies and provide for the health, safety and welfare of the public.
The newly issued order will go into effect at midnight on Tuesday, March 17, and will remain effective until. April 7 (or until it’s extended).