San Francisco turned down a research startup’s offer to test all of the city’s homeless shelter residents for COVID-19, urging the firm to divert its resources to other populations, according to emails. Shelter leaders and organizers had lined up doctors and volunteers to perform the testing, and the startup had drafted a letter of understanding, when the city pulled the plug on the plan.
Tag: coronavirus
Posted inCity Hall, Coronavirus, Homelessness
S.F. Supervisors Support Tent Camps – Some, Even Post-Pandemic
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors is throwing its full support behind the idea of approved tent camps for homeless people to try to prevent the spread of COVID-19. And some say they want the encampments to stick around even after the pandemic passes.
Posted inArts & Culture, Coronavirus
With Film Festivals Canceled, Bay Area Filmmakers Contemplate How to Reach Audiences
With some film festivals canceled or postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, independent filmmakers are being forced to rethink how to launch and promote their work.
Posted inArts & Culture, Economy & Business, Opinion
Independent Filmmakers, Coronavirus and the Lost Spring of 2020
The coronavirus pandemic has dealt a severe blow to the independent film industry, with production on hold, festivals canceled or postponed, and distribution and revenue opportunities damaged. Industry organizations have rallied to support those feeling financial pain, but recovery may not be quick.
Posted in“Civic” Podcast, Coronavirus
Shelter-in-Place Order Will Last Through May
The shelter-in-place order keeping Bay Area residents in their homes except for essential activities will be extended through the month of May, San Francisco Mayor London Breed announced Monday.
Posted inCoronavirus, Neighborhoods, Transportation
S.F. Expands Street Closures After Initial Plan Drew Criticism
San Francisco is closing several streets as part of an extension of the stay-home order in a move that addresses some criticism of a street-closure plan announced last week. The action applies to streets in Golden Gate and McLaren Parks. Last week, a Tenderloin street was also closed to through traffic.
Posted in“Civic” Podcast, Coronavirus, Economy & Business, Food Systems
Farmers Markets, as Essential Food Sources, Adapt to Pandemic
Farmers markets are able to reconfigure stalls and have the advantage of often being open-air, but they are also adapting to social distancing health orders by increasing access to fresh produce for low-income customers. Markets across the nation are reshaping their layouts and changing shopping procedures, while farmers, vendors and advocacy groups grapple with decreased foot traffic and at times inconsistent government guidance.
Posted in“Civic” Podcast, City Hall, Coronavirus, Health
San Francisco Shelter-in-Place Order Could Be Extended Next Week
San Franciscans could be required to shelter-in-place well beyond May 3, the expiration date of the city’s current public health order.
Posted inCoronavirus, Homelessness
City Outlines Plan to Move Homeless Into RVs
Vulnerable homeless people will finally start moving into recreational vehicles and live-in trailers in mid- to late May as part of a plan to curb the spread of the coronavirus that San Francisco officials announced Friday. The vehicles, including RVs that have been sitting empty for more than a month, would be stationed near the Bayview.
Posted in“Civic” Podcast, Economy & Business, Labor
Stanford Volunteers Developing Financial Support Hub
A group of Stanford-affiliated volunteers has set out to develop a tool to make accessing financial support, whether public or private, easier. The project, called Healthier Finance, is part of Stanford’s COVID-19 Response Innovation Lab, in which volunteers from a broad range of disciplines including medicine, business and media hope to collaborate to create technology and systems that are needed during the pandemic.