While the majority of counties in the Bay Area have already implemented the state’s Regional Stay At Home Order, San Mateo, Solano, Napa and Santa Cruz Counties must start complying with the tougher restrictions beginning Friday morning at midnight.
Businesses like bars, hair salons, and movie theaters must close entirely. Restaurants will only be available for takeout and delivery. Grocery stores and other retail can only operate at 35 percent capacity.
Recently, San Mateo County health officer Scott Morrow made headlines when he refused to join many bay area counties that enacted Stay At Home restrictions ahead of the state mandate, at the time, he said:
“the power and authority to control this pandemic lies primarily in your hands, not mine”
But now, his county must comply.
The Northern California region, which stretches from Mendocino to the Oregon border, is now the only part of the state not to be under a stay at home order. The Bay Area order will remain in effect for a minimum of three weeks, and will stay in place until ICU capacity rises above 15 percent.