At long last, Bay Area counties are starting to relax the shelter-in-place order, in place for nearly three months. In Alameda County, which now leads the Bay Area in the number of coronavirus cases, part of lifting restrictions means allowing residents to socialize with people outside of their households.
The Alameda County Health Department has released new guidelines allowing residents to do what many have already been doing: gather in "social bubbles” of up to 12 people. The county says groups need to stay consistent for at least three weeks, people can only belong to one bubble at a time and still recommends that people only gather outdoors, stay six feet apart and wear masks.
“I think it’s a great idea,” says Miyo Saiki who lives in San Leandro and plans to invite some friends into her social bubble. “They live nearby. I’ve talked to them on the phone but it would be nice to see them… I think when you see somebody it’s easier to talk to them. I don’t like the phone.”
The county’s recommendation puts specific parameters around something that many people have already been doing: socializing outdoors in small numbers.
Alameda is the first Bay Area county to formalize the concept of “social bubbles.”
Santa Clara County is allowing two family groups to meet outside for play dates but says six foot distance must still be maintained, although how one enforces that with young children is anybody’s guess.
San Francisco has not made any changes to its public health order but has added a page to its website acknowledging that seeing friends can be good for your mental health and advising residents to take precautions to do it safely.
Shared living situations can also complicate matters for younger adults who will see their social bubble fill up quickly with roommates and roommates’ friends and partners as well as their own.
Public health officials say that only seeing a few people outside your household and quickly notifying them if anyone gets sick can help with contact tracing and reduce exposure.