San Francisco (AFP) – Millions of San Francisco area residents on Monday were ordered to stay home to slow the spread of the deadly coronavirus as part of a lockdown effort covering a section of California including Silicon Valley.
Six counties in the region and the city of Berkeley joined the effort after data showed 258 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with four deaths in the jurisdictions with some seven million people.
A “remain-in-place” order announced by San Francisco Mayor London Breed will go into effect at the end of Tuesday here and remain in force until April 7, with the possibility it will be extended.
Trump motorcade drives across Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool to inspect renovation efforts
Trump praises Susie Wiles’ cancer fight in surprise gala video: ‘Winning it decisively’
Trump takes motorcade into Reflecting Pool, blasts past ‘$38M disaster’ fix under Obama
Man indicted for allegedly posting gruesome death threats against Kristi Noem, Pam Bondi on social media
Paralyzed subway victim confronts attacker, calls his actions ‘evil’ at sentencing
EMT Students Snap Into Action When They Realize Instructor Isn’t Acting During Training Exercise: ‘OK, This Is Real’
State Department set to revoke passports of thousands of parents with unpaid child support debt
Prominent Democratic Mayor Announces Unexpected Resignation 6 Months After Re-Election
Child sex predators among 3 fugitives nabbed at Texas border in 24-hour CBP sweep
Watch: Dem State Rep Freaks Out So Badly During Redistricting Debate That He Makes Physical Contact with Cops
Southern Poverty Law Center pleads not guilty as CEO vows to fight fraud case
Video: Democratic Lawmakers Melt Down as Tennessee Passes New Congressional Map
Trump surprises famously low-profile power player with tribute as she steps out for rare public appearance
Conservatives Worried Justice Gorsuch Just Set the Stage for an ‘Absurd Birthright Citizenship Ruling’
Bipartisan lawmakers want to strip Big Tech’s legal immunity that can shield social media companies
“We know these measures will significantly disrupt people’s day to day lives, but they are absolutely necessary,” Breed said.
“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.”
The order directs all residents to remain in their homes unless they need to tend to “essential” activities.
Covered by the shutdown were the counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara along with the city of Berkeley.
When people do go out, they are to remain at least six feet (two meters) away from anyone else.
Businesses not deemed essential are to suspend operations, and gatherings of any kind outside of those sharing homes will be prohibited, the order mandates.
The list of businesses considered essential included hospitals, banks, fueling stations, transit, police, fire, and grocery shops.
San Francisco residents were told they can go outside for walks as long as they keep their distance from anyone else who is out and about.
Homeless people were urged to seek shelter.
Trump motorcade drives across Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool to inspect renovation efforts
Trump praises Susie Wiles’ cancer fight in surprise gala video: ‘Winning it decisively’
Trump takes motorcade into Reflecting Pool, blasts past ‘$38M disaster’ fix under Obama
Man indicted for allegedly posting gruesome death threats against Kristi Noem, Pam Bondi on social media
Paralyzed subway victim confronts attacker, calls his actions ‘evil’ at sentencing
EMT Students Snap Into Action When They Realize Instructor Isn’t Acting During Training Exercise: ‘OK, This Is Real’
State Department set to revoke passports of thousands of parents with unpaid child support debt
Prominent Democratic Mayor Announces Unexpected Resignation 6 Months After Re-Election
Child sex predators among 3 fugitives nabbed at Texas border in 24-hour CBP sweep
Watch: Dem State Rep Freaks Out So Badly During Redistricting Debate That He Makes Physical Contact with Cops
Southern Poverty Law Center pleads not guilty as CEO vows to fight fraud case
Video: Democratic Lawmakers Melt Down as Tennessee Passes New Congressional Map
Trump surprises famously low-profile power player with tribute as she steps out for rare public appearance
Conservatives Worried Justice Gorsuch Just Set the Stage for an ‘Absurd Birthright Citizenship Ruling’
Bipartisan lawmakers want to strip Big Tech’s legal immunity that can shield social media companies
“Our response has been grounded in data, science, and facts,” San Francisco director of health Grant Colfax said in a release.
“Based on what we can predict, now is the time to do everything we can to prevent the situation from getting much worse in a matter of days or weeks. Every hour counts.”
The affected region includes the cities of Oakland, Palo Alto and San Jose and headquarters of tech firms include Apple, Google, Facebook and Netflix.
Story cited here.
