City Hall Archives - Page 14 of 46 - San Francisco Public Press

Major COVID-19 Surge in S.F.

by Mel Baker July 30, 2020September 10, 2020

The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 in San Francisco is rising rapidly and the city is facing “a major surge.” Department of Public Health Director Dr. Grant Colfax said. “In April, we experienced a surge of COVID-19 cases, which at its peak, saw 94 San Franciscans in the hospital. That number dropped to just […]

Mayor London Breed and a sign language interpreter at a July 22 press conference. Screen capture from SFGovTV via Zoom.

City Hall, Coronavirus, Health

S.F. to Expand Coronavirus Testing as Cases Surge

by Laura Wenus July 22, 2020September 10, 2020

San Francisco is conducting more than 3,000 coronavirus tests per day on average, but backlogs are developing at labs and a rising demand is making it more difficult to schedule a test. Mayor London Breed announced Wednesday that testing capacity will be expanded by about 1,400 tests per day in the coming weeks through the […]

Supervisor Aaron Peskin at a press conference in Nob Hill. Laura Wenus / Public Press

“Civic” Podcast, City Hall, Housing

Supervisor Proposes Limit on Disruptive Construction

by Laura Wenus July 17, 2020January 12, 2021

Supervisor Aaron Peskin has introduced legislation that aims to keep landlords from engaging in construction work in ways that disrupt the lives of their tenants who are sheltering in place. For example, it would require that landlords provide alternative electrical and water supplies if the construction they’re doing results in either being shut off. “While […]

City Hall, Coronavirus, Economy & Business, Health

S.F. Mayor Says Indoor Malls, Non-Essential Offices to Close

by Ciara Long July 17, 2020September 10, 2020

UPDATE: July 17, 2020. Adds embedded audio and timestamps to summary of key points from press conference. Mayor London Breed announced this morning at a press conference that San Francisco would roll back some of its reopenings, closing indoor malls and non-essential offices on Monday. S.F. has joined a list of 30 counties on the […]

Dr. Grant Colfax, Director of the San Francisco Department of Public Health

City Hall, Coronavirus, Health

COVID-19 Hospitalizations in S.F. Could Be Ten Times Higher by October

by Mel Baker July 15, 2020September 10, 2020

San Francisco’s Department of Public Health says further reopening plans remain on hold as the city sees a surge in new coronavirus infections that could lead to dire consequences in coming weeks. “The virus is not only still out there, it is out there more than ever before,” said Dr. Grant Colfax, director of the […]

The Department of Public Health has identified the Palace of Fine Arts as a possible location for a pop-up ward wards to be used in the event of a coronavirus surge.

City Hall, Coronavirus, Health, Homelessness

S.F. Identifies Sites for Pop-Up COVID-19 Wards in Case of Surge

by Brian Howey July 13, 2020September 10, 2020

San Francisco has identified a handful of potential pop-up wards to be used in the event of a coronavirus surge to house nearly 500 COVID-positive patients who do not require hospitalization but who cannot recuperate on their own because of their housing status or medical conditions, the Department of Emergency Management confirmed in a series of emails last week.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed. Screen capture from SFGovTV

City Hall, Coronavirus, Health

S.F. Reopening on Pause With No New Timeline Set

by Laura Wenus July 7, 2020September 10, 2020

San Francisco officials on Tuesday announced that because coronavirus case numbers continue to climb, indoor restaurants and outdoor bars will not be permitted to reopen on July 13, a previous target date, and no new timeline has been established. For some other businesses, reopening guidance is expected by the end of the week. “We know […]

Director of Public Health, Dr. Grant Colfax. Screen capture via Zoom.

City Hall, Coronavirus, Health

San Franciscans Urged to Stay Home During Holiday Weekend as COVID Cases Rise

by Mel Baker July 2, 2020September 10, 2020

San Francisco’s Emergency Operations Center Thursday urged residents to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday weekend at home to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Over the last two weeks, the seven-day average number of new cases in the city has more than doubled and hospitalization rose by more than 50% in the last week. As of June 29, there were 67 COVID-19 patients in city hospitals, including 18 transferred in from hot spots in Imperial and Fresno counties and San Quentin Prison in Marin County. Department of Public Health Executive Director Dr. Grant Colfax said, “The best thing to do is to stay home, celebrate with members of your household and celebrate virtually with others.”

San Francisco Health Officer Dr. Tomás Aragón. Screen shot from press conference

City Hall, Coronavirus

Amid Increased Hospitalizations, Government Officials Urge Caution Over July 4 Weekend

by Ciara Long June 30, 2020September 10, 2020

San Francisco public officials warned that people should avoid gatherings to celebrate July 4, as infection rates and hospitalizations linked to the COVID-19 pandemic have surged over the past week.

Dr. Tomás Aragón, San Francisco Health Officer, and Joaquín Torres, the director of the Office of Economic and Workforce Development, urged San Franciscans to get outside to some of the area’s surrounding nature over the holiday weekend in lieu of attending indoor gatherings.