Coronavirus (COVID-19)

This order means that vulnerable populations in San Francisco – people 60 or over or with certain underlying health conditions – must remain at home. Everyone else must stay home except to fulfill essential functions such as getting food, caring for a relative or friend, getting necessary health care or going to work if their job is an essential service. It is OK to go outside for walks as long as you are not in a group and keep at least six feet apart. This order is in effect until April 7.

This Order requires that most people stay home starting as soon as possible, but no later than 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, unless they are engaged in certain “essential activities” that are discussed more below. For most people, this means you and those you live with should remain at home to slow the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19. You are allowed to leave your home for specified reasons to make sure you have the necessities of life such as getting food and medical supplies (discussed more below). You are also allowed to go outside to take care of pets, go on a walk, and just get outside, so long as you do not congregate in a group and maintain at least six feet of distance between you and other people. If you are sick you should self-isolate, including, to the extent you can, from others you live with.

The term “shelter in place” means to stay in your home and not leave unless necessary for one of the designated exceptions listed in the Order. In other words, everyone should stay home to slow the spread of the virus. You should limit your movements to essential outings. Those are discussed more below. Some reasons you would leave your home are to get food, to get a prescription, to see a doctor, to go to work if your work is essential as defined in this Order, to take your child(ren) to and from childcare that is authorized under this order, and to help people you care for get the things they need to live and be healthy and safe.

Sheltering in place is a more rigorous form of social distancing. There are some differences.

Sheltering at home means:

• stay home (stay unexposed)
• only go out for essential services
• stay six feet or more away from others
• don’t gather

The other concepts from social distancing will continue to apply when you are out shopping or walking or going to the doctor. These include washing hands, using hand sanitizer, disinfecting surfaces, not going out if sick, and staying at least six feet away from others

The Order goes into effect immediately after midnight, starting at 12:01 am, Tuesday, March 17, 2020. The Order allows for all essential activities such as shopping, taking care of children, and getting medications to continue.

The Order is currently set to last for three (3) weeks – through the end of Tuesday, April 7, 2020. The duration can be either shortened or extended by the County Health Officer.

Yes. It was important to get this Order in place quickly given the spread of the virus in the Bay Area. However, it can and will likely be updated as conditions warrant. Please be sure to check the City/County website at sfgov.org regularly to learn about updates and sign up for the text alert service: text COVID19SF to 888-777.

This Order (or a similar order) is in effect across the Bay Area, including in Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Contra Costa, and Alameda Counties and the City of Berkeley.

Yes, it is mandatory. This Order is a legal Order issued under the authority of California law. You are required to comply, and it is a crime (a misdemeanor) not to follow the Order (although the intent is not for anyone to get into trouble, and the expectation is that everyone will comply. . Also, it is critical for everyone to follow the Order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and protect themselves, their loved ones, friends, neighbors and the whole community. All persons, businesses, and other entities are required to comply if they do not fall within the exemptions that are specified in the Order.

The intent of this Order is to ensure that people remain in their residences and minimize social interactions outside of their immediate family unit. However, you may leave your residence for reasons specified in the Order. These reasons include ensuring the health and safety of yourself and your family, engaging in outdoor activity that does not involve close contact with other people, obtaining services and supplies for yourself and your family, and to perform employment functions that are permissible under the Order.

The Order requires you to stay at home with those who live in your home (unless you are permitted to leave for certain reasons designated in the Order and described further below). You can and should practice social distancing to avoid others who either might have the virus or who you might give the virus if you are carrying it and don’t know. You can go on walks or otherwise be out in nature—just keep at least six feet between you and others in the community. You can hang out in your yard. You can go to the store for groceries or food supplies. You can take your pets to the vet. You can go to the pharmacy or go to medical appointments (check with your doctor or provider first). You can help someone else get these necessary supplies. If you work in health care or essential government functions (see below for more info), you can and should go to work unless you are required not to, or unless you are sick. For everyone who does not need to go out of the home to perform essential services, you should work from home.

Group activities are a major concern. That is why performance venues, bars and nightclubs are closing. Being in close proximity to someone, like at a nail salon or getting your hair cut, is similarly problematic. Please do not take unnecessary trips.

These are essential services that are remaining open:

- City/County government services:
- Police stations
- Fire stations
- Hospitals/clinics and healthcare operations
- Jails
- Courts
- Garbage/sanitation
- Transportation, including Muni
- Utilities: Water, Power, Gas
- (Office uses like payroll, security, and administration)
- Public works construction, including construction of housing
- Airport operations
- Gas stations
- Pharmacies
- Food
- Grocery stores
- Farmers markets
- Food banks
- Convenience stores
- Take-out restaurants
- Hardware stores/plumbers/electricians
- Banks
- Community benefit organizations on a case-by-case basis
- Laundromats/laundry service
- Newspapers, television, radio and other media services
-Veterinary Hospitals and Clinics

Yes. The mail and other delivery services to your home can continue to function, as can food delivery services.

The Order identifies businesses that deliver goods or services directly to residences as “essential businesses” that may continue to operate.

Yes, but only for essential travel. These services can only be used to perform “essential activities,” to get to and from work to operate “essential businesses,” or to maintain “essential governmental functions,” as those terms are defined in the Order. Being in close quarters in a vehicle that has been shared with many others should be avoided if possible. However, there may be circumstances when this mode of transportation is needed. In that instance do you beset to take social distancing precautions, being sure to cover your mouth and nose if you cough or sneeze, use hand sanitizer or wash your hands before and after rides, etc. Airlines, taxis, and other private transportation providers, like Uber and Lyft, providing transportation services necessary for Essential Activities and other purposes are expressly authorized in this Order.

Yes, but only for essential travel. Public transit will continue to operate on a limited basis. Public transit can only be used to perform “essential activities,” to get to and from work to operate “essential businesses,” or to maintain “essential governmental functions,” as those terms are defined in the Order.
When using public transport, you should maintain at least six feet, which is appropriately two to three steps away, including if you are the bus or on trains. This is why it’s important to only take public transportation for essential activities – you want to help everyone be able to practice social distancing.

Yes. The Order specifically allows people to leave their home to buy food, purchase medicine, and purchase other necessary items. It also directs businesses selling those items to remain open, and allows employees of those businesses to keep working and to ensure those businesses are operating.

No. You will continue to be able to purchase these items whenever you need them, as stores selling necessary items like grocery stores, pharmacies, and hardware stores will remain open. Please continue to buy normal quantities of these items on the same schedule you normally do. This will ensure that there is enough for everyone.

If you are feeling sick, please first call your doctor, a nurse hotline, or an urgent care center before going to the hospital. Do not go to the emergency room of a hospital unless you are having an actual emergency. You can and should seed medical advice if you or a family member is sick. If it is not an emergency, please contact your primary care provider to determine next
steps.

You can check online resources to help you assess symptoms if you are worried about whether you or a loved one has the COVID-19 virus.

You should check https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html for more information. Call 911 or go to an emergency room if you are experiencing a medical emergency.

If possible, walk or drive yourself to the hospital or medical provider. If someone else in your home is sick and can drop you off, that is another good option. You want to try to avoid exposing others to any germs you have, especially if you are seriously ill. If you have Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) like a surgical mask or N-95 mask, you can wear that to prevent exposing others. If you don’t have that, you could use a temporary method such as wrapping a clean scarf around your mouth and nose to try to reduce droplets when you cough and sneeze. Although this is not an approved method, it is something you can do to avoid exposing others. Just do the best you can.

If you have been diagnosed with the COVID-19 virus, you will need to be isolated to protect those around you. If you were exposed to someone who was diagnosed with the COVID-19 virus, you should quarantine for the recommended time in order to not expose others if you happen to have the virus yourself. Contact your healthcare provider if you have additional questions, or go to the DPH website at www.sfdph.org