San Francisco Mayor Issues New Curfew Order That Affects Local Businesses
San Francisco officials announced new COVID-19 orders that will take effect on Monday after the number of infections continues to increase.
Travelers seen in an airport despite warnings from experts.
Different states and local officials across the country are now implementing restrictions to reduce the swelling number of COVID-19 infections. The measures were implemented ahead of the upcoming holiday where people are expected to gather in groups.
San Francisco City officials announced that they will begin to implement curfew beginning Monday. This new order will also trigger other related COVID-19 restrictions.
These orders aim to reduce the swelling cases of infections in the city, according to MSN.
Local businesses to be hit by the new restrictions
Mayor London Breed said on Saturday that the curfew in the city requires non-essential businesses to close and prohibits also members of different households to gather from 10 p.m. to 9 p.m. These new orders will take effect until Dec. 21.
Meanwhile, San Mateo County- which is outside San Francisco- will also be subjected to the same restrictions.
This is after the state of California classified both under its most restrictive tier of locations based on the spread and transmission of the virus.
Mayor Breed also added that aside from curfew, certain indoor businesses will be required to either close or reduce their capacity beginning Sunday noon. The city Mayor's office is expected to release guidelines anytime for non-essential businesses.
Read also: Experts Warn Thanksgiving Could be Start of Dark Holiday Season Amid COVID-19 Surge
Breed posted on his official Twitter account: "I don't know how to be more clear -- this is the most dangerous time we've faced during this pandemic. Do not travel or gather with others. We have to get this under control now and we can't afford to let things continue at this rate."
Additionally, the country's leading disease and infectious expert Dr. Anthony Fauci, and other health experts have long been giving warnings to avoid social gatherings and traveling to other places. Dr.
Fauci even said that if people continue to have large gatherings, it will be the cause of a darker season, according to a previous report.
LA announces COVID-19 orders
On the other hand, California's largest and most populous city, Los Angeles, has already announced on Friday a temporary ban on large gatherings and stay at home order that will take effect on Monday and will last until December 20.
California imposed a night-time curfew but San Francisco was not yet included in the order. However, due to the surge of COVID-19 infections in the city and since it is now classified among the state's most restrictive tier of locations.
The United States remains to have the world's highest number of infections and deaths. According to the official tally of Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Center, the country has recorded 13 million COVID-19 cases and more than 266 thousand deaths.
Experts believed that these numbers are expected to increase after Thanksgiving since millions of people gather in large groups. This is why they are urging people to avoid traveling and gathering in large crowds.