Port of Oakland Stays Open During Shelter-in-Place Order

The Port of Oakland, one of the largest hubs for imports from Asia, including apparel, textiles, hard goods, and electronics, will reportedly stay open despite a shelter-in-place order in effect in the Bay Area of California. Local outlet KPIX5 says the city’s airport will also remain open.

According to the report, terminals at the port will continue loading and unloading cargo containers at the hub. The port also says it is taking measures to minimize worker exposure to coronavirus. As of Monday March 16, no employees, customers, or business partners had tested positive for the virus, according to a press release on Port of Oakland’s website.

Port of Oakland executive director Danny Wan says in the release that the port will continue to “function as a vital gateway” for global trade and that the group is striving to protect all employees and customers. Additionally, port officials say they plan to meet with union officials to determine staffing and confer with marine officials on how to sanitize the area best.

“Our operations are critical to the health, safety, infrastructure, and economy of our region,” Wan adds.

The West Coast hub is one of the 10 busiest seaports in the U.S. and handles more than 2.5 million containers annually, with an estimated $100 billion in global trade.