SAN FRANCISCO – City and county officials in the San Francisco Bay Area, on Monday, ordered citizens in six counties to remain on 24-hour lockdown in their homes to stop the spread of coronavirus.
That means 7 million people in Alameda, San Mateo, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco and Santa Clara counties must be at home for three weeks beginning Tuesday, March 17.
The lockdown is the first in the United States since President Donald Trump announced Monday that the coronavirus battle could take the country into August.
San Mateo Mayor Joe Goethals told NBC News that people must stay home unless they are first responders, health-care workers or key government officials.
“Everyone needs to go home and stay home,” Goethals said.
Insiders say similar lockdowns will occur across the country by the end of the week.
The majority of people who come down with the virus will recover within several days. However, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems could become extremely ill. About 6% of all cases are critical. Symptoms include cough, sore throat, runny nose, fever and breathing difficulties, which can be severe in some cases.