San Francisco Bay Area Extends Shelter-In-Place Through End Of May, Construction And Some Outdoor Activities Allowed

TOPLINE

The San Francisco Bay Area will continue to shelter in place through the end of May and allow some low-risk businesses to reopen under safety guidelines, including construction, flea markets and golf courses.

KEY FACTS

Crucial quote

“At this stage of the pandemic, however, it is critical that our collective efforts continue so that we do not lose the progress we have achieved together. Hospitalizations have leveled, but more work is needed to safely reopen our communities. Prematurely lifting restrictions could easily lead to a large surge in cases,” seven Bay Area health officers said in a joint statement.

Key background

San Francisco has avoided becoming a hot spot, earning recognition by national media outlets for its first-in-nation shelter-in-place order that likely prevented a more severe outbreak. But Mayor London Breed has also been criticized for not doing enough to protect the city’s homeless population from the disease. Breed has also been subject to scrutiny for taking credit away from other Bay Area counties and public servants who were more active in the region’s decision to shut down early.

News peg

An alliance of states on the West Coast are taking a more cautious approach to reopening. Colorado and Nevada joined the regional effort on Monday, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced. 

However, Newsom admonished Orange and Ventura counties for reopening beaches over the weekend, resulting in what he said are disappointing images of crowded shores.

“We can’t see the images like we saw, particularly on Saturday in Newport Beach and elsewhere in the state of California,” Newsom said.

Tangent

New York’s shelter-in-place order expires on May 15, 2020, but Governor Andrew Cuomo indicated he will likely extend it for hard-hit areas such as New York City, Westchester and Long Island.