Unfortunately as we expected, San Francisco has been placed on the State's most restrictive "purple" tier due the surge in COVID-19 cases.
Here's what this means for us and what we all need to do to reduce this alarming trend:
This is the most aggressive surge SF has seen to date. We're currently averaging 118 new cases per day compared to 73 per day in the first week of November.
For the week of November 16th, we had 768 diagnosed cases compared to 217 diagnosed cases the week of October 12th.
Beginning tomorrow, November 29th at noon, San Francisco will roll back or reduce capacity of certain activities to conform with the State's requirements.
All schools, TK-12, that are already open for in-person learning may continue. TK-6 schools that haven't opened may apply for a waiver from the Health Officer to open for in-person instruction. Middle & high schools that haven't opened may also apply to provide outdoor learning.
Beginning Monday, Nov. 30th at 10pm, SF will comply with the State's required Limited Stay at Home Order that requires non-essential businesses to close and prohibits members of different households from gathering indoors or outdoors between 10:00pm & 5:00am until December 21st.
Outdoor dining, indoor retail, indoor personal services, outdoor fitness & limited indoor 1-on-1 personal training at gyms or fitness centers may continue.
Outdoor playgrounds, skate parks w/ limited capacity, batting cages, mini golf, outdoor zoos, & museums may remain open.
We all need to do our part, now more than ever, to stop the spread of COVID-19.
That means doubling down on the things we've all been doing: wearing a mask, keeping your distance from others, not gathering with people outside your household, and washing your hands frequently.
If you feel sick or you've been exposed to COVID-19, get tested.
The City has issued a travel advisory urging residents not to travel outside of the county and recommending a 14-day quarantine for anyone who traveled outside the state or engaged in higher risk activity.
As cases continue to climb throughout California and the rest of the country, this advisory is even more important to follow.
I don't know how to be more clear--this is the most dangerous time we've faced during this pandemic. Do not travel or gather with others.
We have to get this under control now and we can't afford to let things continue at this rate. Please, please do your part and encourage those around you to do the same.
Anyone who is watching what is happening across the country right now with COVID-19 cases should be alarmed.
Here in San Francisco we're seeing increased cases as well, and today we have been moved to the State's Red Tier.
Here's what this means for us:
Effective tomorrow, non-essential offices will have to halt indoor operations until further notice. Offices will have to return to 100% remote and telework operations.
Fitness centers (including gyms, hotel fitness facilities, and climbing walls) may remain open at 10% capacity.
Here in San Francisco, we have to keep our focus on what we can do. Your actions have saved thousands of lives, and we cannot lose sight of that.
We still have time to slow the growth of cases if we all do our part.
We can’t give in to complacency, fatigue, and frustration.
In the middle of a climate emergency, with our city experiencing weeks of dangerous air quality, there is no reason to subject important transit improvements to unnecessary delays.
Slow Streets & Shared Spaces allow residents to safely go outside and our businesses to find new ways to operate.
They are innovative responses to unprecedented challenges--examples of government working for good.
One person shouldn't be able to delay an emergency response.
In San Francisco, we allow almost everything to be subject to long delays, constant appeals, and never-ending "reviews" that make projects more expensive, less effective, and undermine the public's trust in our ability to get things done.
Our reopening process is guided by data and science.
COVID-19 cases are rising throughout CA. We're now seeing a rise in cases in SF too. Our numbers are still low but rising rapidly.
As a result, we're temporarily delaying the re-openings that were scheduled for Monday.
Yesterday we saw 103 cases. On June 15, when we first reopened outdoor dining and in-store retail, we had 20.
At our current rate, the number could double rapidly. If that continues & we don't intervene, we'll be at such a high number that our only option would be to shut down.
This is why it is important to follow protective health measures and utilize the tools we already have.
Everyone needs to wear face coverings, maintain social distance, and practice good hygiene.
Decades of disinvestment and racially disparate policies have disproportionately hurt our African-American community in SF.
Supervisor @ShamannWalton and I will lead the effort to redirect funding from the @SFPD to support the African-American community in the upcoming budget.
This week has highlighted the devastating impacts of police violence against African-Americans in this country.
SF has made substantial progress on police reform and use of force in recent years, but we know there are structural inequities in our city that continue to this day.
In San Francisco, the average income for a black household is $31K, as compared with $110K for white households. Up to 19% of black children live in poverty.
35% of homeless San Franciscans are black, despite black people making up only 5% of the total population.
San Franciscans took our Stay Home order seriously, and as a result we flattened the curve and prevented a widespread COVID-19 outbreak.
Here's our timeline and plan for how we're going to gradually reopen, using data and additional safety precautions: sf.gov/reopening
As long as we continue our progress, restaurants can offer outdoor dining, retail businesses can allow customers to shop inside with modifications, and more outdoor activities can resume on June 15th. We plan to allow more activities and businesses to resume in July and August.
As we begin to go out into the community more, we need to take additional precautions.
Starting tomorrow, we will be requiring face coverings when you're out of your home and around people outside of your household, both indoors and outdoors.