SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (KPIX 5): Travelers visiting San Francisco and residents returning to the city on Friday face strict new guidelines for the mandatory quarantine order that has just come into force.
KPIX 5 spoke to some travelers who learned about the new rules right after landing.
The timing of the new ten-day quarantine order for travelers is no coincidence. Christmas is a week away and health officials know people will enter the city even though they have been told to stay home.
The only notifications about quarantine at San Francisco International Airport came in the form of PA announcements that were played every 30 minutes or so and that digital signs appeared on the baggage claim.
The ad is targeted to a specific audience.
“People living in the bay area who were thinking of traveling outside the bay area probably know the health restrictions, the requirements. This was really more aimed at people who could come from outside California to the bay area to inform and educate them, ”said SFO spokesman Doug Yakel.
The quarantine went into effect on Friday at midnight and will run until January 4th.
Irith and Aharon Danzinger arrived from Jerusalem on Friday morning and had not heard of the restrictions until they landed at the SFO.
When asked if she believed in her forties, Irith Danzinger replied, “Yes, yes. I’m not so fond of it, but I believe in it. I know it’s bad for the economy, it’s bad for a general attitude, but it’s good to be healthier. “
The San Francisco County Quarantine Order is close to the one imposed in Santa Clara County before Thanksgiving, but is more restrictive. It applies to anyone who has spent some time outside the 10 counties in the Bay Area, including nearby Santa Cruz County.
Residents must be quarantined for 10 days upon returning to San Francisco and may not leave home except for medical reasons.
Exceptions include medical workers, first aid, basic infrastructure work, or travel for medical care, government official business, or court-ordered travel.
“I know this is difficult. And I know this is a sacrifice of almost ten months against this pandemic, but we are at a stage that was unfathomable just a year ago, “Dr. Grant Colfax, San Francisco’s director of public health, said Thursday. he spoke of the fortieth order.
You will find additional information on the mandatory travel quarantine on the city’s COVID-19 website.
If caught in breach of order, individuals could be charged with a felony and fined or imprisoned. However, San Francisco City officials did not provide any details about the application, so right now it is focusing on education.
Nikki Adgani told KPIX 5 that she will be staying in a country house on her parents ’property until enough time has passed and the test can be done.
“We all bought before groceries, so we don’t have to go anywhere, so I hope it’s a safe situation,” Adgani said.
KT and Branch Johnson-Rotes are heading to Connecticut for Christmas and already have a safety net installed for their arrival in the Bay Area.
“Instacart, probably. I go to graduate school and most of my classmates are in the same building, so we’ve held a mutual aid chat for everyone who needs to stay home. We have been in quarantine very well, helping each other and leaving groceries at the door of the apartment, so all contact is as minimal as possible, ”KT said.
San Francisco resident Paymon Ghafouri told KPIX 5 he was flying out to Texas and would return home in a week.
“As soon as I get home I have to go to work. My other question would be: who will follow up on these ten days? ”. Ghafouri said.
When asked if he was going to put in quarantine when he returned, Ghafouri replied, “Honestly, I have to say no, I won’t.”
Andria Borba contributed to this story.