May 18, 2020 

UPDATE REGARDING THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS ("COVID-19"):

A Message From The Supervisor:

As our City is coping with the effects of the novel coronavirus ("COVID-19"), I wanted to let each of you know that my office is working hard to stay up-to-date on all fronts so that you all can be informed of what is happening locally, statewide, and nationally. Lastly, please don't hesitate to email us at SafaiStaff@sfgov.org or call us at 1-415-554-6976 and we will immediately respond. 

Thank you all for your time, cooperation, and perseverance -- we will all get through this! 

Sincerely,




Supervisor Ahsha Safai 

Mayor London N. Breed Extends San Francisco's Stay-At-Home Order Throughout May 

As long as COVID-19 indicators in San Francisco continue to demonstrate progress on slowing the spread of the virus, retail businesses will be able to operate for storefront pickup and delivery starting on Monday, May 18.

Mayor London N. Breed and Director of Health Dr. Grant Colfax announced the next step in the City’s measured plan to safely reopen San Francisco by releasing guidelines for businesses in the city that are eligible for curbside or storefront pickup. As long as San Francisco continues making progress on reducing the spread of COVID-19, the City will amend the Stay Home Order that was issued on April 29^th to allow most retail businesses to resume operations with storefront pickup as soon as 10:00 a.m. on Monday, May 18^th.


The City issued guidelines for retail businesses, as well as associated manufacturers and warehouses. The guidelines are available online at SF.gov/curbside. Before a business can open, they must prepare, post, implement, and distribute a social distancing protocol for each of their facilities, and a written health and safety plan that addresses all applicable best practices that are detailed in the relevant Health Officer directives.


The Department of Public Health is working closely with the Office of Economic and Workforce Development and the Economic Recovery Task Force to develop best practices for facilitating safe pickups at retail businesses. The City is also partnering with business stakeholders to distribute the guidelines to businesses in multiple languages. Businesses can call 311 or the Small Business hotline at (415) 554-6134 for more information.

Key requirements of the current Health Order remain in place, including requirements to stay home except for essential needs and certain permitted activities, including outdoor businesses and activities. Additionally, San Franciscans must continue to follow social distance requirements and wear face coverings when waiting in line for pickup or inside of businesses.

Under the amended Health Order, any retail store in San Francisco that faces the street will be able to operate under the following conditions:

• Storefront, curbside, or outside pickup only. Customers may not enter the store.
• No more than 10 personnel may be on site in the retail facility at any time. Smaller stores may need to limit personnel to fewer than 10, to allow for required social distancing.
• Stores must have access to an adjacent curbside adjacent sidewalk, street, alley, or parking lot for pickup by customers using any form of permitted travel. The pickup area must not block pedestrians, or cause pedestrian or vehicle congestion.
• Retail stores in an enclosed indoor shopping center may not reopen at this time, except to the extent that the store has a separate entrance to an exterior sidewalk.

In addition to retail stores, certain manufacturers, warehouses, and logistical businesses will be allowed to open. Businesses that manufacture the goods sold at retail stores covered above and have no more than 50 personnel on site in the facility at any time will be allowed to operate. Businesses that provide warehousing and logistical support to the retail stores covered above and have no more than 50 personnel on site in the facility at any time will also be allowed to operate. They will also need to abide by State guidelines for safety during this pandemic.

Businesses can request that the street parking outside the entrance to their store be converted to a temporary loading zone to help encourage physical distancing and reduce crowding. That application information is available online, along with the guidelines for retail businesses.


The coronavirus pandemic is still ongoing. San Francisco communities will be dealing with it for a long time to come. The City expects outbreaks to continue, especially among vulnerable populations. That is why the City is building strong systems to protect our communities into the future. DPH will monitor new cases, hospitalizations and the health care system’s capacity to handle a surge of patients. DPH will also continue to watch the indicators with regard to sufficient testing, contact tracing, and personal protective equipment. The City will continue to work with community and business leaders to accomplish careful, measured progress and move forward to further reopening.

Mayor London Breed Announces Three New COVID-19 Testing Sites In Undeserved Areas 

Three new testing opportunities—a mobile site initially stationed in the Tenderloin, a site at City College, and another in Hunters View—bring testing resources to neighborhoods that are underserved and bolster San Francisco’s capacity to test workers and people experiencing a symptom of the virus.


Today, Mayor London N. Breed announced the creation of three new COVID-19 testing opportunities in San Francisco, including the City's first mobile testing site. 


Specifically, the City is launching its first mobile site initially stationed in the Tenderloin (District 6); the second site will be at City College (not too far from District 11), and another in Hunters View (District 10). 


These expanded testing opportunities are part of the City's efforts to reach communities that are affected by disparities in the spread of the coronavirus and provide additional testing resources in areas of the City that do not have as may testing options, and, combined, these new sites will increase the city's capacity to conduct over 500 additional COVID-19 tests per day. 


Lastly, and as a reminder, any worker that serves San Francisco and who leaves their home to work can get tested for COVID-19, regardless of symptoms or exposure. And, any person living in San Francisco with at least one symptom of COVID-19 or who has been exposed to someone with a confirmed case of COVID-19 can get tested. For more information about COVID-19 testing, contact your primary health care provider, call 311, or visit here: 
https://sf.gov/find-out-how-get-tested-coronavirus  


 

Mayor London Breed Announces Launch of "Great Plates" Meal Delivery Program For At-Risk Seniors In Need Of Food Assistance

Who qualifies?

Older adults in the San Francisco community who need access to healthy and nutritious meals and meet all of the following criteria: 

• Aged 65 or older, as well as older adults who are aged 60-64 and in high-risk categories (i.e., people who have received a positive COVID-19 diagnosis, have been exposed to COVID-19, or who have underlying health conditions).
•  Unable to obtain or make their own meals.
• Living alone or with one other adult who also meets these criteria.
• Earning less than $74,940 for a single-person household or $101,460 for two-person households.

Older adults who currently receive state or federal food assistance such as CalFresh or home-delivered meals should contact the Department of Disability and Aging Services (DAS) helpline at (415) 355-6700 to understand their eligibility for this program or other assistance.