Six Bay Area counties -- San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa and Marin, plus the city of Berkeley -- are extending their shelter-in-place orders until the end of May.

Hospitalizations in the Bay Area have flattened, local health officials said Monday, but they warned against relaxing social distancing measures too early.

California state's stay-at-home order does not have an end date, leaving the decision up to local officials to lift restrictions on certain activities, such as reopening beaches and golf courses.

From the Bay Area health officers' joint statement: "At this stage of the pandemic, however, it is critical that our collective efforts continue so that we do not lose the progress we have achieved together. Hospitalizations have leveled, but more work is needed to safely reopen our communities. Prematurely lifting restrictions could easily lead to a large surge in cases."

Read the statement here.

The new order will be effective starting May 4th, and does contain some changes, including adding businesses to the Essential Businesses list and adding some "outdoor" businesses.

Note that construction will be permitted, with strict social distancing protocols required.

The new order, which can be read in its entirety here, contains appendices specific to small and large construction activities, and a social distancing protocol template for facilities that remain open. If you recall, those businesses deemed essential "must complete, post, and implement a social distancing protocol for each facility that remains open, using the template attached to the Order." That is Appendix A in the new order.

Preferred Partner of