COVID-19

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We are shutting down.  My office is now scrambling to set everything up so we can do things via telecommuting, however without income, we won't be able to afford printing the next issue.  Our TN office will be taking over order fulfillment.  

Stay safe DOOM

Bay Area to ‘shelter in place:’ What you need to know about how life will change with new coronavirus order

Dominic Fracassa March 16, 2020 Updated: March 16, 2020 1 p.m.
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1of2Six Bay Area counties are expected to demand residents shelter in place for the next three weeks as health officials scramble to keep coronavirus from spreading across the region. The Tempest in San Francisco is empty after California Governor Gavin Newsom called for all bars closed due to coronavirus.Photo: Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle

2of2Yao Xu, 29, a tech product manager poses for a portrait in her room where she'll be spending most days after being instructed to work from his home in the Presidio in San Francisco. Xu and all five of her housemates have been instructed to work from home and are also social distancing in the wake of the Coronavirus global outbreak.Photo: Jessica Christian / The Chronicle

Six Bay Area counties are expected to demand residents shelter in place for the next three weeks as health officials scramble to keep coronavirus from spreading across the region.

Here’s a quick look at what you need to know about the shelter-in-place order:

Why is this happening?

To safeguard public health and safety. Coronavirus is easily transmitted between people, especially in group settings. The shelter-in-place orders are being enacted to slow the spread of the virus by mandating that people stay indoors and isolate themselves — except to attend to certain essential activities, according to the health orders. As the number of cases in the region continues to swell, health officials are also deeply concerned about being able to handle a huge influx of new patients at clinics and hospitals.

Which counties are affected?

San Francisco, Santa Clara, San Mateo, Marin, Contra Costa and Alameda counties. The City of Berkeley, which has its own health department, is also participating. Three other Bay Area counties — Sonoma, Solano and Napa — were not immediately included.

How many people are affected?

Those counties have a combined population of 6.7 million.

How long is the order in place for?

The shelter-in-place order becomes effective at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday and will be in place until at least April 7. People, particularly vulnerable populations, are advised to leave their homes only to take care of essential errands.

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What will be closed, and what will stay open?

Counties are shutting down all but the most critical operations, according to the health orders. Places that attract clusters of people, like gyms, nightclubs or bars, will have to close down. Restaurants must serve only take-out or delivery orders. Hospitals, grocery stores, banks and pharmacies will remain open.

The order calls for all “routine medical appointments” and elective procedures to be canceled or rescheduled.

Daycare centers and veterinarians will remain open with some restrictions, as will laundry services. Emergency services, like police and fire operations, will also continue.

All non-essential gatherings of any size are now banned.

Can I still go outside for essentials, exercise and fresh air?

Yes. People will still be able to leave their homes to handle essential business in limited circumstances — like buying groceries or picking up medicine — and to get fresh air. But when people do need to leave their homes, health officials are requiring they maintain at least six feet from other individuals and that they wash their hands for at least 20 seconds as often as possible.They’re also calling on people to cover their coughs and sneezes and to avoid shaking hands.

How are the counties enforcing the shelter-in-place-order?

That’s not yet clear. The shelter-in-place order is not a mandatory lockdown for residents, which would forbid people from leaving their homes without explicit permission. But the health orders issued by the counties calls for the sheriff or chief of police to “ensure compliance” in order to safeguard public health.

What’s the impact on public transportation?

Airports, taxis, and public transit — including BART — will remain operational, but only for essential travel and people are expected to keep six feet apart when possible.

Non-essential travel “on foot, bicycle, scooter, automobile or public transit” is prohibited.

People may travel for shopping for necessary supplies, accessing health care, and providing aid to family and friends who need assistance, and for non-residents, returning to their home outside the Bay Area, according to the health orders.

Dominic Fracassa is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dfracassa@sfchronicle.com