You're now allowed to see 1 other person outside your household, San Francisco's updated stay-at-home order says

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- In San Francisco, you're now allowed to see one other person outside your household during the new stay-at-home order that started on Dec. 6

The city updated the COVID-19 restrictions saying, "As of December 10, the health order was updated. You can meet with 1 other person who doesn't live with you. You both can:

• Take a walk

Wear a mask and stay 6 feet away from others when you leave your home."

RELATED: New day, new rules: Everything to know about California's confusing new stay-at-home order

San Francisco Supervisor Matt Haney tweeted, "This is a change."

The tighter COVID-19 restrictions that started on Dec. 6 first advised all residents to not gather with anyone outside their household.

Haney tweeted in a thread saying, "The original order was obviously ridiculous, unrealistic, extreme, so much so people wouldn't understand or follow it. The new version is still overly restrictive imo. The public health orders have to be connected to reality or they will increasingly be ignored completely."

The other five Bay Area counties that joined the early stay-at-home order have not adopted the same update.

RELATED: CA stay-at-home order: San Mateo health officials defend decision to not shut down just yet

In San Mateo County, officials made the decision to not follow the stricter rules yet. One of the reasons was because they thought not having any social support system outside the household is "detrimental," San Mateo Deputy Health Officer Dr. Curtis Chan told ABC7 News last week.

"We were concerned that also messaging towards saying that you shouldn't have any contact with any social support system, you know, anybody outside of the household, having those types of messages we thought for our community, will be actually detrimental," Chan said.

MORE: San Francisco health director projects as many as 1,500 more deaths if COVID-19 surge continues

San Francisco's current stay-at-home order is being enforced through Jan. 4, 2021 amid a dangerous surge of new cases and decreasing ICU capacity. San Francisco's Health Director Dr. Grant Colfax on Wednesday warned that San Francisco will run out of ICU beds by Dec. 27, if things don't get better.

"To be blunt, we have one chance to turn this serious surge around and that chance is right now. But our window is narrowing and closing fast," said Colfax. "San Francisco, let's seize this moment, let's seize the day and turn this virus back. As you know, we are in the middle of a massive surge in San Francisco of COVID-19 cases. By far the worst surge to date. And I want to stress the significant impact that this surge will have on you, your neighbors and friends and family and future generations if we do not bend the trajectory of this surge right now."

ABC7 News reached out to the city's COVID Command Center for a reason on the update. They said in part:

"The December 10, 2020 changes were made primarily to address and clarify the best practices in San Francisco. The update allows, among other things, up to two individuals from different households to spend time together outdoors, masked, and physically distanced and in certain outdoor recreation activities with safety protocols in place. This change was made to balance the risk of negative impacts on mental health for those in complete isolation of others and the risk of transmission between two masked, distanced individuals who are outdoors. Although it is safer not to have any interactions outside the household, people living alone especially need an outlet to maintain their well-being during the current surge. If infection rates start going down, then we may be able to further loosen restrictions on outdoor gatherings."

VIDEO: Here's how shelter in place, stay at home orders can slow spread of COVID-19

Governments around the country are looking at ways to curb the spread of the deadly novel coronavirus. One way is to institute a shelter-in-place-order. But what does that mean and how does it work? We broke it down for you.

If you have a question or comment about the coronavirus pandemic, submit yours via the form below or here.

Get the latest news, information and videos about the novel coronavirus pandemic here

RELATED STORIES & VIDEOS:

• Map: CA counties that can, can't reopen under new rules


• COVID-19 risk calculator: The safest and most dangerous things to do this holiday season


• Want to get a COVID-19 test in time for the holidays? Here's what you need to know


• Updated number of COVID-19 deaths, cases in Bay Area


• Map shows everywhere you can get a COVID-19 test in the Bay Area


• COVID-19 Diaries: Personal stories of Bay Area residents during pandemic



• California EDD: The most commonly asked questions we get about unemployment and PUA


• Health experts urge flu shots in effort to avoid 'twindemic'


• How to tell the difference between seasonal allergies and coronavirus symptoms


• Here's which mask is better to protect from COVID-19


• First COVID-19 vaccine volunteers in US describe experience as Bay Area launches vaccine trials


• Coronavirus origin: Where did COVID-19 come from?


• What is a COVID-19 genetic, antigen and antibody test?


• What will it take to get a COVID-19 vaccine and how will it be made?


• What does COVID-19 do to your body and why does it spread so easily?


• Here's how shelter in place, stay at home orders can slow spread of COVID-19


• Coronavirus Timeline: Tracking major moments of COVID-19 pandemic in San Francisco Bay Area


• Coronavirus Doctor's Note: Dr. Alok Patel gives his insight into COVID-19 pandemic