As Bay Area businesses begin to reopen under Phase 2, many are wondering when they can reopen their homes to friends and family.
While health officials say they understand the toll of quarantine fatigue as people miss out on celebrations like birthdays, graduations and anniversaries, the answer is it is not quite safe yet.
"The recommendations don't say yet that people who aren't from an immediate family can gather," says Dr. Joclyn Freeman Garrick with the Alameda County Health Department.
But she adds there are still some ways to have gatherings. "I've walked through my neighborhood in Oakland and San Leandro and seen people with masks on, outside, more than six feet apart gathering with their neighbors, and that is effective."
And creative solutions like drive-through birthday parties and graduation celebrations can provide a way to celebrate in person with minimal risk. What these alternatives have in common is they are outdoors, socially distant and brief but extended get togethers and backyard gatherings are still being discouraged.
So, when will restrictions on gatherings be lifted?
"Our health officer will be looking to see if our numbers remain flat and decreased as we roll out new restrictions that are being eased," says Dr. Garrick. While there is no timeline at this point, we are heading in the right direction. "If we can stay here then yes, they can move to more phase two and phase three."
