Seven million people living in San Francisco and around the Bay Area will be forced to stay in their homes as these areas will be placed under lockdown.
Six Bay Area counties — San Francisco, Santa Clara, San Mateo, Marin, Contra Costa and Alameda — will be under a drastic shelter-in-place order to curb the spread of coronavirus disease, VOA reported.
San Francisco Mayor London Breed on Monday said the lockdown will begin at 12:01 a.m., March 17, and will last until April 7 or until it is extended.
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“We know these measures will significantly disrupt people’s day-to-day lives, but they are absolutely necessary,” Breed said Monday.
“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,” he added.
All establishments will be closed except for supermarkets, pharmacies, banks and other business that provides essential needs, while restaurants are limited to take-out and delivery only.
All travel, including but not limited to walking, biking, driving, or taking public transit, is prohibited, except to perform, operate or maintain essential activities and businesses.
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Individuals may still go outside, provided that a social distancing of at least six feet is maintained.
There are 500,000 Filipinos living in the Bay Area according to the 2017 census conducted by 2017 American Community Survey.
There are 4,734 COVID-19 cases and 71 fatalities in the US.