The seven Bay Area Public Health officers who ordered a shelter-in-place in mid-March will extend the orders through May 31. Some restrictions will be eased on May 4 for low-risk activities while additional tools to strengthen containment of COVID-19 are put into place. This order includes the counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara as well as the City of Berkeley.
The social distancing intervention now in place has slowed the increase of new cases COVID-19 and prevented the anticipated medical surge. As restrictions are eased, it is critical to ensure that growth of cases can be sufficiently contained to protect the health and safety of our communities.
While the various jurisdictions will have minor variations such as park access, the goal is to continue to ensure that the maximum number of people self-isolate in their places of residence to the maximum extent feasible. Certain businesses that operate primarily outdoors such as construction, skate parks, nurseries, and golf courses will be allowed to open under very specific conditions. This does not include outdoor restaurants.
No changes have been made to the policy of hiking or walking your dogs in your local area. Check out DogTrekker.com’s up-to-date list of park and open space district rules and regulations across the state. Be advised, though, that Gavin Newsom plans to order the closure of all state beaches beginning May 1 after photos of crowded beaches surfaced last weekend.
Here are the orders from your local health departments:
•Alameda County
•Berkeley
•Contra Costa County
•Marin County
•San Francisco County
•San Mateo County
•Santa Clara County
Meanwhile, a ray of hope for locals in Sonoma County, where the county health officer has issued a modified park closure order to allow residents to walk or bike to parks from their homes beginning April 29, 2020, and until further notice. The order replaces a total park closure. Note – this is for County Parks only. State Parks are still under order to remain closed. Therefore Armstrong Woods, for example, is still closed. Here are the specifics.
Stay safe and healthy, and hug your dog!
Posted on: June 30, 2022