7 million in 6 Bay Space counties in California ordered to shelter in place

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Officials in six boroughs in the San Francisco Bay Area issued a protection mandate Monday that affected nearly 7 million people, including the city of San Francisco.

The order says that residents will stay indoors for three weeks from Tuesday and only have to venture out for the bare minimum in order to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Affected are the counties of San Francisco, Marin, Santa Clara, San Mateo, Alameda and Contra Costa as well as the city of Berkeley.

“It is the new normal that temporarily protects public health,” said the Mayor of San Francisco, London Breed, at a press conference. “These measures will disrupt daily life, but there is no need to panic.”

People should work from home unless they are providing essential services such as public safety, sanitation, and medical services. Pharmacies and banks remain open. Restaurants will only be open for takeout, Breed said.

The dramatic move came as officials across California took increasingly stringent steps to segregate people and contain the spread of the coronavirus, causing millions of the state’s oldest and youngest residents to stay home on Monday.

Highways, usually crowded with rush hour drivers, flowed freely, and Starbucks’ take-away shift was only noticeable in places where tables were removed and drive-through lanes were occupied.

There were long lines in some grocery stores, although officials said there was no need to hoard supplies.

In response to panic buying that has stripped supermarkets, executives of large grocery chains said at the Los Angeles press conference that there is no shortage of food, supply chains are in good shape, and staff are working to replenish shelves in the middle of the night and to clean.

“There are many products,” said Bryan Kaltenbach, President of Krogers Food 4 Less.

Governor Gavin Newsom on Sunday urged the state’s 5.3 million people aged 65 and over and those with chronic illnesses to isolate themselves to protect themselves from the virus. He also called for all bars, wineries, nightclubs and brewpubs to be closed.

Last week, Newsom recommended that all non-essential gatherings be limited to 250 people, which resulted in the temporary closure of numerous businesses, performances and meetings, although many local communities took a more aggressive stance.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti ordered restaurants to only offer pickup, delivery, and drive-through services. It also closed gymnasiums, cinemas, bowling alleys and amusement arcades.

“We have to take these steps to protect our city now,” he said.

Newsom said an estimated 85% of California’s 6 million public students will be leaving their classrooms this week. The duration varies by district, with some courses being canceled for up to five weeks.

Newsom said it recognizes that increasing isolation “is fearful” for millions of Californians, but said the steps are necessary to protect the state’s most vulnerable residents.

The rapid pace of new restrictions took people and institutions by surprise.

At the Chimney Coffee House in Los Angeles, barista Rachel Cauilan fulfilled the first UberEats order of the day. “A man came in and he wanted to talk and stay, but we had to kick him out,” she laughed.

In San Diego, the Supreme Court hastily advised those called on to the jury but not yet on cases not to report on Monday.

Near San Diego State University, Will Remsbottom’s Scrimshaw Coffee only had three people and one was washing windows. “I’m just struggling with this moral conundrum of staying open and being a potential spreader instead of shutting down and not being able to pay my staff,” he said.

In Orange County, an elderly couple wearing face masks came out of a supermarket with a full cart. A moment later a woman walked up to the shop and asked if there was any toilet paper in it. There was none.

Robert Murillo’s younger daughter turned 4 on Sunday, but the family stayed home eating cupcakes. “We made the most of what we had,” he said. “You’re still at the age when blowing a balloon makes your day. Thank God for that.”

California has confirmed at least 335 cases of the virus and six deaths. The virus usually causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, but can be fatal to the elderly and people with underlying health conditions.

Many counties arrange meal pickups for children who depend on schools for breakfast and lunch. Many college students are also back home as their colleges and universities empty their dorms and move classes online.

In another attempt to keep people separate, state health officials on Saturday urged cinemas to keep attendance below 250 and ask strangers to sit 2 meters apart. Venues were told to limit 250 people per room and clean chips and slot machines more frequently, while theme parks and attractions should tone down the crowd by staggering the number of visitors.

Meanwhile, California is working with Verily, the life science arm of Google’s parent company Alphabet, on a tool that will help people find coronavirus tests and determine if they need to be tested.

The state has increased the number of available hospital beds and will reopen closed medical centers in the coming days. Newsom said he is pushing for many of the state’s 108,000 homeless people with motels and 450 state trailers that had been posted before the outbreak to be brought inside.

AP reporters Amy Taxin from Orange County, Julie Watson from San Diego, and John Antczak from Los Angeles contributed to this report. The Associated Press receives support for health and science coverage from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.