Portland officials are considering a shelter-in-place order to help stem the spread of coronavirus, the mayor’s office said. The order would prohibit people from leaving their homes for non-essential reasons.

It remained unclear Wednesday if or when such an order would be issued. Sonia Schmanski, a deputy chief of staff for the mayor, said the city was “planning for multiple contingencies.”

“We are seeking the guidance of public health officials and will follow their lead,” she said.

The order would be similar to recent actions enforced by government agencies in the San Francisco metro area. Compared to the current emergency orders by Gov. Kate Brown, a shelter-in-place policy would restrict people to only going outside if necessary for the health and safety of themselves or their families.

People who work in jobs that have an essential government function or otherwise necessary business, such as a grocery store, hospital or gas station, would be allowed to continue going to work.

The city’s consideration of such an order was first reported by Willamette Week, which cited a 10-page draft of the policy that has been sent to Multnomah County officials.

When asked during a news conference Tuesday about a Portland shelter-in-place policy, Mayor Ted Wheeler said he was following the advice of public health officials and medical experts he’d been in contact with and they hadn’t made that recommendation.

“This is a crisis that is changing by the day,” he said. “Strategies will change by the day.”

Gov. Kate Brown was asked Wednesday whether she had plans to issue a shelter-in-place order for the entire Portland metro area.

She indicated she was not actively making such a plan. But, she said, “All options are on the table to preserve the health and safety of Oregonians.”

During a Wednesday call with reporters, state epidemiologist Dean Sidelinger said the state was not recommending a shelter-in-place order.

But later, Renee Edwards, chief medical officer for Oregon Health and Science University, said she thought it was a good idea – even though it would have a profound impact on families and the entire state.

“Facing the type of surge in need for hospital capacity, including hospital beds and ventilators, we want to be sure that we can deliver,” Edwards said. “We would absolutely be supportive.”

Rob Davis of The Oregonian/OregonLive staff contributed to this report.

-- Everton Bailey Jr; ebailey@oregonian.com | 503-221-8343 | @EvertonBailey

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