Bay Area residents directed to 'shelter in place' in toughest U.S. coronavirus response so far

The San Francisco Bay Area isn't quite going on total lockdown, but they'll be close to it as the region looks to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

A directive went out Monday to 6.7 million people in six counties — San Francisco, Santa Clara, San Mateo, Marin, Contra Costa, and Alameda — to "shelter in place" until at least April 7. That means people can only step outside their homes for essential purposes such as shopping for necessary supplies and groceries, accessing health care, providing aid to family members, or working in an essential service. People will be able to go outside for walks or exercise as long as they keep six feet of distance between themselves and others.

It's not yet clear how the policy will be enforced, the San Francisco Chronicle reports, although the order calls for sheriffs and chiefs of police to "ensure compliance." Read more at the San Francisco Chronicle.

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