COVID-19 Archives - Page 5 of 6 - San Francisco Public Press

Coronavirus, Economy & Business, Technology

Bay Area Startups Accelerate California’s COVID-19 Testing Efforts

by Rebecca Bowe April 7, 2020July 10, 2020

At least two Bay Area startups are scrambling to address California’s testing shortage for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus that has unleashed a global pandemic and triggered economic freefall.

Oakland-based Renegade.bio, created just four weeks ago, has raced to obtain federal authorization and develop tests, while also formulating a plan to make it easier for people to access the tests. San Francisco-based Carbon Health, founded in 2015, started gearing up to offer COVID-19 testing in February, and created a free online symptom tracker to help more easily and quickly identify those infected with the virus.

Coronavirus, Government & Politics, Labor

Labor Groups Push to Expand Worker Protections Amid COVID-19 Crisis

by Carl T. Hall April 3, 2020July 7, 2020

One side effect of the coronavirus crisis appears to be labor unrest across the country. In California, political leaders and union advocates are pushing for new labor protections and expanded workplace rights in response to the pandemic’s impacts on workers and the economy.

Coronavirus, Economy & Business, Homelessness

Coronavirus Case in Homeless Shelter Adds Urgency to Hotel Room Debate

by Sam Lew and Brian Howey April 3, 2020July 7, 2020

The push to move San Francisco’s homeless residents into hotel rooms in response to the coronavirus gained urgency Thursday with the announcement of the first confirmed case of COVID-19 by a homeless shelter resident.

Coronavirus, Government & Politics, Health

Medical Exams Canceled for Federal Disability Claims

by Laura Impellizzeri April 2, 2020July 7, 2020

The federal agency that administers disability benefits instructed state officials nationwide on Tuesday to cancel all medical appointments they manage for people claiming disability benefits. The change may delay benefits for some but open an opportunity to improve processing.

Health, Homelessness

S.F. Policy May Hurt Efforts to Curb COVID-19 Among Drug Users

by Brian Howey April 2, 2020July 7, 2020

As coronavirus cases climb, San Francisco officials have left unchanged a directive against distributing clean pipes to people who smoke drugs, a stance that may hurt efforts to stem the spread of COVID-19 among the city’s drug users, outreach workers said.

Coronavirus, Housing

S.F. Landlords Seeking to Lower Rents During Crisis Can Restore Them Later, Agency Says

by Noah Arroyo April 1, 2020July 7, 2020

Landlords of rent-controlled properties can temporarily lower rents and increase them to previous levels later — such as when the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided and the tenants can once again afford their original rates, according to city officials.

Coronavirus, Education, Immigration

Teachers Pledge to Funnel Crisis Checks to Undocumented Neighbors

by Laura Wenus April 1, 2020July 7, 2020

Teachers in San Francisco have begun pledging their federal coronavirus relief checks to undocumented members of their communities.

“Civic” Podcast, City Hall, Coronavirus

City Officials Extend Coronavirus Lockdown to May 3

by Laura Wenus March 30, 2020January 4, 2021

In an effort to prevent a spike in COVID-19 that could overwhelm hospitals, San Francisco officials announced an extension of the shelter-in-place order until May 3, and promised more details in the coming days.

“Civic” Podcast, Coronavirus, Health, HIV & AIDS, Technology

AIDS Research Used to Battle COVID-19 at S.F. Lab

by Mel Baker March 27, 2020January 4, 2021

UPDATE: How antimalarial drugs could be used

Scientists at Gladstone Institutes are using techniques developed in AIDS research to understand the life cycle of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

Coronavirus, Education, Housing

Facing Criticism, SFSU Offers Partial Refund for Students to Leave Housing During Pandemic

by Leslie Santibanez-Molina March 23, 2020July 7, 2020

San Francisco State University students say they still don’t have clear guidance from the administration about whether they must leave university housing and take all of their belongings with them because of the coronavirus pandemic and statewide shelter-in-place order. With continued uncertainty, more students who had planned to keep their campus housing say they have changed course again and are heading home or to other locations for the rest of the spring semester. Over email, the university housing department confirmed that, “on a prorated basis, refunds for room and board and meal plans will be provided for residential students who have left housing.”

Tag: COVID-19