Six counties in the San Francisco Bay Area will be placed under a shelter-in-place directive by public health officials in a bid to slow the spread of the coronavirus, a move that will close virtually all businesses and direct residents to remain at home for the next three weeks. Los Angeles Times reports: San Mateo Mayor Joe Goethals said he believed that the order, announced in a pair of news conferences Monday afternoon, put the six counties -- San Francisco, Santa Clara, San Mateo, Marin, Contra Costa and Alameda -- on perhaps the most restrictive public health footing anywhere in the U.S. since the outbreak of the potentially deadly coronavirus. San Francisco Mayor London Breed said that, effective at midnight, city residents would be required to stay at home "except for essential needs" and that all but essential businesses and public services would be asked to closed, starting at midnight Monday. The order will remain in place through April 7.

Only police and fire departments, hospitals, grocery stores, gas stations, banks and pharmacies and restaurants serving take-out and delivery customers will be allowed to remain open under the shelter-in-place order, officials said. Residents will be able to go to grocery stores and other essential services, but Goethals urged residents not to rush, adding that stores will remain fully stocked. The San Francisco Bay Area is the region hit hardest by coronavirus in the state. More than 250 cases have been reported in the six Bay Area counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara, with more than 100 in Santa Clara County. San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott says violation of the health order could be enforceable as a misdemeanor, however "that is an absolute last resort," Scott said. "This is not about a criminal justice approach to a public health issue. We are asking for voluntarily compliance."

UPDATE: Oregon Gov. Kate Brown has ordered statewide cancelations of events with 25+ people. All Oregon restaurants and bars are restricted to carry-out only. Anyone who doesn't comply will be subject to a Class C misdemeanor.