California has announced a curfew order that will apply to all counties experiencing high rates of coronavirus transmission. Right now, that makes up about 95% of the state.
Here’s what you need to know:
Q: When will the curfew go into effect?
A: The order takes effect Saturday at 10 p.m. and will continue for one month in all counties that are currently in the state’s most restrictive purple tier of economic reopening. In those counties, the stay-at-home order will last from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. every day of the week.
Q: Who will be affected by this order?
A: California’s coronavirus curfew will immediately apply to residents of these Bay Area counties: Sonoma, Napa, Solano, Contra Costa, Alameda and Santa Clara. The remaining three — San Mateo, Marin and San Francisco counties — are in the state’s red tier and do not have to impose a curfew. San Francisco and Marin said they will not institute the curfews. You can track your county’s status by going to the state coronavirus website, where there is a map of California with each county’s tier status: widespread (purple), substantial (red), moderate (orange) or minimal (yellow).
Q: What is allowed and what is not allowed?
A: According to the state website, “All individuals living in the State of California are currently ordered to stay home or at their place of residence, except for permitted work, local shopping or other permitted errands, or as otherwise authorized.” (Click on the link to see what is open in your county and what is deemed essential.)
Q: Will I be arrested or issued a citation if I go to the grocery store at 10:30 p.m.?
A: The state and counties have enforcement authority, but the state has not clarified how the curfew will be enforced or whether citations and fines would be issued to people or businesses that violate it. It’s unlikely anyone will be arrested. According to state officials Thursday, essential activities include going to the grocery store, picking up a takeout order or walking one’s dog. Those are allowed during the overnight curfew. People can travel to and from essential jobs, including in health care and critical infrastructure. Outdoor dining and bars will have to be closed after 10 p.m.
According to the statement released Thursday, “Nothing in this order prevents any number of persons from the same household from leaving their residence, lodging, or temporary accommodation, as long as they do not engage in any interaction with (or otherwise gather with) any number of persons from any other household, except as specifically permitted herein.” It should be noted that homeless people are expressly excused from the curfew, according to the state’s order.
Q: How are businesses affected by the curfew?
A: Only businesses deemed essential will be allowed to operate between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. in counties under the stay-at-home order. To see if your business is considered essential, click here.
Q: How does this differ from the stay-at-home orders from earlier this year?
A: None of the earlier stay-at-home orders went this far in mandating that people stay home during certain hours of the day.
Q: How does a curfew help curb spread of the coronavirus?
A: Here’s how the state explains it: The new order “will reduce opportunities for disease transmission with the goal of decreasing the number of hours individuals are in the community and mixing with individuals outside of their household. Every intervention to decrease mixing of households is critical during this unparalleled increase in case rate rise of about 50 percent during the first week in November.” Activities during the curfew hours of 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., it says, “are often nonessential and more likely related to social activities and gatherings that have a higher likelihood of leading to reduced inhibition and reduced likelihood to adhere to COVID-19 preventive measures (e.g., wearing face coverings and maintaining physical distance).”
Read more: Is there real science behind COVID curfews?
Q: Could the state make the curfew even more restrictive?
A: The new order stays in place until 5 a.m. on Dec. 21. However, the state reserves the right to “extend or revise” the curfew as needed, according to the statement released Thursday.
Q: Does the curfew go into effect as soon as a county moves into the purple tier?
A: Not right away. According to state officials, counties that subsequently move into the purple tier, the curfew will become effective at 10 p.m. two days later. (Day one is the first full day after after the tier assignment.)
Q: Why is California doing this now?
A: California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said at a news conference Thursday that the measure signals that Californians should “keep our protective behaviors up.”
“Further restrictions is what we hope to avoid,” he said.
Al Saracevic is a staff writer at The San Francisco Chronicle. E-mail: asaracevic@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @alsaracevic
Source Article from https://www.sfchronicle.com/health/article/California-curfew-What-s-allowed-and-which-Bay-15741054.php
Comments