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.
Federal appeals court refuses to rehear Trump appeal of $83M E Jean Carroll defamation judgment
Hunter Biden’s ex-lawyer ordered to pay $50K to former Trump aide after harassment claims crumble
Graham urges Trump to ‘ignore’ war powers deadline as GOP grapples with Iran
Cultural groups ask federal judge to halt Trump’s renovations of Kennedy Center
Georgia man says he suffered severe medical neglect leading to amputations at scrutinized Atlanta jail
LAPD chief warns Los Angeles not prepared to secure 2028 Olympics due to staffing shortages
House Republicans unlock reconciliation process to fund ICE and Border Patrol without Democrats
Small-town Virginia mayor reportedly arrested for allegedly showing up drunk to train derailment
Romanian national learns fate for swatting US officials, including members of Congress, judges
Melania Trump embraces AI education initiative in White House tech push: ‘She’s been a champion’
‘The View’ Floats Dangerous Conspiracy Theory About Trump Days After Assassination Attempt, Draws Response from White House
Why The Supreme Court’s Landmark Elections Decision Is a ‘Game Changer’ for the Midterms and Beyond
Trump’s USA ‘Rededication to God’ Event in DC Will Occur Same Date as Continental Congress Took Similar Action in 1776
Trump weighs pulling US troops from Germany amid clash with chancellor over Iran war
GOP gubernatorial hopeful blasted by critics for ‘lying’ on stage about illegal immigrant hires
“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.
Federal appeals court refuses to rehear Trump appeal of $83M E Jean Carroll defamation judgment
Hunter Biden’s ex-lawyer ordered to pay $50K to former Trump aide after harassment claims crumble
Graham urges Trump to ‘ignore’ war powers deadline as GOP grapples with Iran
Cultural groups ask federal judge to halt Trump’s renovations of Kennedy Center
Georgia man says he suffered severe medical neglect leading to amputations at scrutinized Atlanta jail
LAPD chief warns Los Angeles not prepared to secure 2028 Olympics due to staffing shortages
House Republicans unlock reconciliation process to fund ICE and Border Patrol without Democrats
Small-town Virginia mayor reportedly arrested for allegedly showing up drunk to train derailment
Romanian national learns fate for swatting US officials, including members of Congress, judges
Melania Trump embraces AI education initiative in White House tech push: ‘She’s been a champion’
‘The View’ Floats Dangerous Conspiracy Theory About Trump Days After Assassination Attempt, Draws Response from White House
Why The Supreme Court’s Landmark Elections Decision Is a ‘Game Changer’ for the Midterms and Beyond
Trump’s USA ‘Rededication to God’ Event in DC Will Occur Same Date as Continental Congress Took Similar Action in 1776
Trump weighs pulling US troops from Germany amid clash with chancellor over Iran war
GOP gubernatorial hopeful blasted by critics for ‘lying’ on stage about illegal immigrant hires
“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.
