Now that all of the Bay Area is under the stay-at-home order, how long will it last?

The intensive care unit capacity in the Bay Area region on Wednesday dipped below 15% for the first time ever, triggering state rules that require every county in the region to impose the new stay-at-home order.

The order starts Friday and remains in effect for a minimum of three weeks, with a tentative end date of Thursday, Jan. 7, at 11:59 pm. For the state order to be lifted after three weeks will depend on the region’s projected ICU capacity and whether it meets or exceeds 15%.

The Bay Area region comprises 11 counties: Alameda (including the city of Berkeley as a separate health jurisdiction), Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano and Sonoma.

Seven of these counties had already voluntarily issued similar local orders with a tentative end date of Jan. 4. These counties are now aligning with the state and the new end date is Jan. 7.

The San Francisco Department of Public Health said in a statement that it will not lift its local order until local ICU capacity is at or above 25% capacity and cases and hospitalizations have been declining for 3 weeks.

The regional order instructs Californians to stay at home as much as possible and stop mixing with people outside their household. It requires most business sectors including outdoor dining to close, except for essential services and retail.

Critical infrastructure, schools, non-urgent and dental care, and child care can remain open. Retail can operate at 20% capacity. Hotels can allow essential workers, and restaurants can only be open for takeout.

Outdoor recreation is allowed with members of your household, but camping is not permitted.

Hair salons, personal care services, museums, zoos, movie theaters, wineries and bars, family entertainment centers, amusement parks, live audience sports and cardrooms are among the sectors that must close.

Find all the rules under the order here.

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