In the early months of the pandemic, a San Francisco contractor in charge of supplying and servicing hygiene stations for homeless residents consistently failed to maintain the sites, despite repeated requests from staff at two city agencies that the company clean, fill or service them, according to dozens of emails between city staff and the contractor acquired by the San Francisco Public Press via public records request.
Category: Health
Posted inCity Hall, Coronavirus, Health
San Franciscans Urged to Stay Home During Holiday Weekend as COVID Cases Rise
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.”
Posted inCity Hall, Government & Politics, Health, News
San Francisco Pauses Reopening as Coronavirus Infections Rise
Mayor London Breed has ordered a halt to plans to further reopen the city on Monday, June 29, amid a spike in coronavirus cases.
Posted inBay Area, Coronavirus, Driving Home: Surviving the Housing Crisis, Health, Homelessness
Coronavirus Resource Guide for Vehicle Dwellers in San Francisco and Berkeley
Photojournalist Yesica Prado assembled this resource guide as part of her ongoing project examining the culture of vehicle living in San Francisco and Berkeley. CatchLight, Dysturb, The Everyday Projects and the San Francisco Public Press collaborated to produce this guide for printed posters, which are posted where vehicle dwellers would likely see them. The aim is to improve access to locally relevant public health information as part of the Artists Against an #Infodemic Initiative.
Posted in“Civic” Podcast, Coronavirus, Health, Homelessness
Safe Sleeping Site Opens at School for Just Six Weeks
A few days after a new city-approved tent encampment, known as a “safe sleeping village,” had opened at Everett Middle School, District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman visited the site and then took a walk around the block to see how the number of encampments had changed. The Everett site is one of three city-approved camps […]
Posted inCity Hall, Coronavirus, Health, Homelessness
Nonprofits Want Added Homeless Protections in UC Hastings Lawsuit Against S.F.
Three nonprofit groups have asked to be included in a lawsuit against San Francisco by the University of California Hastings law school and a Tenderloin business group over the worsening conditions in the neighborhood since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Their aim: ensuring homeless people’s needs are considered during negotiations on how to address the issue. […]
Posted in“Civic” Podcast, Health, Transportation
Transit Riders: Pandemic Shows How Essential Muni Is
Muni is running only a core system of buses with no rail lines in service. But around 100,000 people still ride every day. Cat Carter, interim executive director of the San Francisco Transit Riders, hasn’t been on Muni in months, but she and others in the organization have kept busy.
Posted inCity Hall, Coronavirus, Government & Politics, Health
As Businesses Re-open, Mask Requirements Expand
The shelter-in-place order that has directed San Francisco residents to stay home except to conduct essential business will be in effect indefinitely, though certain previously restricted businesses will soon be allowed to re-open. Meanwhile, the city’s mask order will be expanded, now requiring everyone to cover their noses and mouths within 30 feet of another person.
Posted in“Civic” Podcast, Bay Area, Health
Bay Area’s Unified Coronavirus Response Starts to Fragment, Reporting Shows
Bay Area health officers have been working hard to coordinate the region’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. But as Mission Local managing editor and columnist Joe Eskenazi reported last week, that cohesion seems to have started crumbling
Posted in“Civic” Podcast, Health, Land use, News
Toxins Measured in Bodies Raise Stakes for Hunters Point Shipyard Cleanup
Researchers are hoping to learn whether and how the health of people who live and work near the old Hunters Point Shipyard, which was used as a toxic and radioactive waste dump, may have been affected by toxic materials. Journalist Chris Roberts reported for the Public Press that nearly all participants in a recent community health biomonitoring survey had elevated levels of toxic heavy metals that are “contaminants of concern” at the shipyard.