By now, you know what Bay Area jurisdictions have opted into California’s new stay-at-home order, a stricter set of health guidelines crafted as the coronavirus continues its unrelenting surge locally, statewide and around the country.
But what about the Bay Area counties that did not join the preemptive action?
Count San Mateo, Napa, Sonoma, Solano, Santa Cruz and Monterey counties in that group. In a press release Friday, San Mateo County officials said their effort "remains focused on following the state’s existing metrics and process, while reinforcing the public's responsibility to comply with existing safety measures - especially avoiding gatherings - to slow the spread of COVID-19 during the holiday season."
"The measures we are taking emphasize individual and collective responsibility," San Mateo County Health Officer Dr. Scott Morrow said. "With the vaccine coming soon, now more than ever, this is a critical time to stay focused on the key behaviors that protect our communities."
San Mateo officials declined to comment further.
Santa Cruz County said Friday it is aware of the other counties' decisions to implement the order early and officials are considering their options, but haven't made any decisions yet.
Napa County officials confirmed to KCBS Radio's Mike DeWald the county would not be joining the preemptive group, remaining optimistic about their hospital capacity and rate of community spread in comparison to the greater Bay Area.
Calls to other county health departments were not immediately returned.
If these counties decide to wait until the "Bay Area region" meets the state’s criteria, it may not be long until they join the others in lockdown. Gov. Gavin Newsom projected Thursday it could happen by mid-to-late December.
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