Bay Area Adjusts to the New Quarantine Norm
May 1, 2020
Many Bay Area counties including Contra Costa, Marin, Alameda, San Mateo and Sonoma have issued new requirements concerning COVID-19. Since April 22, masks are needed to enter essential businesses, stores are limiting the number of people inside, you are required to stand six feet apart, and it is recommended to wipe down groceries. These new safety regulations are all part of halting the spread of COVID-19.
“Law enforcement officers say they could start writing tickets today to people who aren’t wearing masks in public. You now must have your mouth and nose covered to go inside an essential business in most Bay Area counties. Masks are also required on mass transit. BART officers won’t let people on the trains without a mask,” ABC7 News said. Many people believe this new regulation will slow the spread of the virus.
Essential businesses are limiting the number of people inside and recommend shoppers to wipe down their groceries. “When I drive by grocery stores I also see a huge line out front because they only let a certain amount of people in the store at a time, and every time my parents go to the store they always wipe down the groceries to be extra cautious,” junior Emily Bakshi said. Many people are trying to avoid grocery stores entirely by turning to delivery services.
According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, they recommend a number of things to keep the community safe such as maintaining a 6 foot distance, self monitoring for symptoms, and avoiding direct contact with as many people as possible. “Most people with COVID-19 have mild illness and can recover at home without medical care” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.
