From Bay Area Regional Health Inequities Initiative, March 23, 2020

COVID-19 – A Public Health Emergency

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness caused by a novel virus that is spreading rapidly across the globe. Currently, there are over 33,000 cases in the United Statesi . Globally, over 12,000 deaths have been attributed to the illness since it emerged three months ago.

In the Bay Area, efforts to respond to the virus are increasing rapidly. On March 17, six Bay Area counties announced “shelter in place” orders for all residents, directing approximately 6.7 million people to stay in their homes to curb the spread of the virus. Governor Newsom subsequently expanded “shelter-in-place” rules statewide and has issued executive orders calling for, among other things, maintaining “social distancing” of six feet per person during essential travel outside the home.

Housing Instability and Health under COVID-19

Ensuring housing stability is essential to protect the health of Bay Area residents as the region responds to and recovers from the COVID-19 crisis. Loss of stable housing—through eviction, foreclosure, natural disaster, or other causes—poses numerous significant health risks, both for the individuals directly affected and for the larger population.

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