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Breaking News

Fiona KelliherRobet Salonga, breaking news reporter, San Jose Mercury News. For his Wordpress profile. (Michael Malone/Bay Area News Group)
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The Bay Area will continue living under shelter-in-place rules through the end of April, officials confirmed Monday morning.

Discussions surrounding an extension of the first regional order had been expected for several days, this news organization first reported Sunday, as public health departments race to contain the spread of COVID-19.

“The Public Health Order for people to shelter-in-place safely in their homes will soon be extended until at least May 1,” read a joint statement from seven jurisdictions, provided to this news organization Monday. “We have said an extension might be expected as we work together to slow the spread of the COVID-19 disease.”

Six counties that signed onto the first order — Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, San Francisco and Marin — will co-sign the extension, alongside the city of Berkeley, which has its own public health department.

Cindy Chavez, president of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, had said Sunday that an extension would come out early this week.

Even though California is already under a blanket shelter-in-place order under the direction of Gov. Gavin Newsom, local jurisdictions are allowed to have more restrictive rules than the state. Revisions include proposed modifications to allowable outdoor activities and classifications of non-essential businesses.

More details about those possible changes will come out in the next day or two, the joint statement noted.

Check back for updates.