San Francisco and Bay Area Extend Stay Home Order to the End of May
San Francisco, CA — Mayor London N. Breed and Director of Health Dr. Grant Colfax today announced that San Francisco and six other Bay Area jurisdictions will extend the Stay Home Orders through the end of May in order to maintain progress on slowing the spread of the coronavirus. The new Stay Home Order will go into effect at 11:59 pm on May 3, 2020.
In recognition of the gains made to date, the new orders will include minor modifications, while keeping social distancing, face covering, and other safety measures in place. While mass gatherings and crowded occasions are still months away from being permitted, the new regional Stay Home orders will allow some lower-risk outdoor activities and jobs to resume once the new Order goes into effect.
“The sacrifices of San Franciscans are making it possible to flatten the curve of coronavirus cases in our community. The extended health order recognizes our progress, while also keeping us on course,” said Mayor Breed. “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. 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 can take if we continue to see improvements.”
Under the extended Stay Home Order, all construction will be allowed to resume as long as specific safety measures are in place. Certain businesses that operate primarily outdoors, such as plant nurseries, car washes, and flea markets, may reopen under San Francisco’s Order. Any employee of a business allowed to operate under the order can also access childcare programs that are allowed to operate. Some outdoor recreational facilities, like skate parks and golf courses, may reopen. The full text of the new order and answers to frequently asked questions will be posted at SF.gov.
Consistent with the plan to reintroduce lower-risk outdoor activity, Mayor Breed on Monday announced the closure of JFK Drive through Golden Gate Park and John Shelley Drive in McLaren Park. These closures will last for the duration of the Stay Home Order, to allow San Franciscans who choose to leave their homes more room to exercise while staying 6 feet from others and following other precautions.
“For this next phase to be successful, it is essential that all San Franciscans and Bay Area residents continue to stay home as much as possible, practice social distancing, wear face coverings when around other people, wash hands frequently, and stay vigilant in fighting the spread of the coronavirus,” said Dr. Colfax. “We will be watching the data very carefully, and do not want to see an erosion of our progress that could reverse everyone’s hard work and sacrifice.”
The Bay Area regional approach aligns with Governor Newsom’s ongoing statewide Stay Home Order, and the framework he has laid out for the state’s recovery. As the Health Officers evaluate when and how to loosen restrictions in the coming weeks and months, the key indicators that San Francisco and its regional partners will be watching include:
- Whether the number of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 is flat or decreasing;
- Whether we have sufficient hospital capacity to meet the needs of our residents;
- 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; and
- 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 new order allows us to carefully monitor our progress while building the essential public health infrastructure that will support our gradual reopening and make recovery possible,” said Dr. Tomás Aragón, Health Officer for the City and County of San Francisco.
During the month of May, the Health Department and partner agencies will continue to build up the infrastructure required for further reopening. That will include testing, contact tracing, outbreak response, and support services, including multi-lingual outreach and information. Importantly, the consistent practice of social distancing and face-covering by members of the public will be essential to the success of the next phase.
As San Francisco embarks on this next phase, the coronavirus is still circulating in the community, and there is still no vaccine to protect against it. Therefore, everyone must continue to practice precautions, and the City will continue to prioritize vulnerable populations in its response. People who are over 60, or have underlying health conditions and those who live in congregate settings will remain at high risk for the coronavirus even as the city and region start to reopen.
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