January 10, 2022
A Message From The Supervisor:
We are currently experiencing a surge of the Omicron COVID variant that is resulting in a positivity rate of almost 30% throughout San Francisco. Today, we were informed that COLOR, the company contracted to handle testing with the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH), will be offline and closed for the remainder of the week. This includes the site at 20 Norton and the drive-through testing site at the Alemany Farmer’s Market. It is currently unclear whether the testing site in the OMI located at 446 Randolph will be open. We will send follow up information to confirm.
This unexpected twist is due to a computer glitch that has affected COLOR laboratories across the state. We understand this is an added inconvenience as families try to navigate the surge of COVID cases and we are doing our best to get these services back online. If you or a loved one believe you have been exposed to COVID-19, the best course of action at this time is to isolate for up to 5 days. If you are experiencing symptoms, please isolate and contact your health care provider.
Tomorrow, Tuesday, January 11, 2022, during our Board of Supervisor’s meeting, my office will honor the work done at the Casa De Apoyo Excelsior Hub. During the course of the pandemic the site has helped over 3000 families with rent relief. This work helped families remained housed during the most uncertain time of our generation. Our community appreciates the work that the members of the hub have been doing and I am happy to honor them. When community works together we can accomplish so much.
Thank you to all of the community partners, advocates, and community members who are stepping up to help their neighbors. While we are hearing of great need, we are also hearing of great stories where organizations are serving community members by going above and beyond. This community of sharing is what makes me proud to be District 11 Supervisor and allows me to fight for more resources for our neighborhoods each and every day.
Our office remains accessible to the public through telephone, email, virtual meeting or in person via appointment. We are available by email: safaistaff@sfgov.org or by phone 415-554-6976 (leave a message and we will call you back). You can also check for updates on my Twitter , Instagram, and Facebook. Stay safe and healthy.
Please note - if you miss my weekly newsletter, you may find it later on the Board of Supervisor’s website. Click HERE to read past newsletters.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to my staff at Safaistaff@sfgov.org.
Sincerely,
Supervisor Ahsha Safai
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Important Note on COVID Testing
Color Health, a COVID-19 testing vendor, is experiencing a nationwide computer issue that is impacting their ability to provide testing. Color Health is suspending operations because of this issue, given the short notice the following sites will be closed for today: Alemany, SOMA (7th/Brannan), Southeast Health Center, 20 Norton, Ella Hill Hutch, and Bayview Opera House.
Please do not go to these sites for testing at this time. Do not call 911 or go to the emergency room unless it’s a medical emergency.
SFDPH is working with Color Health to determine how to accommodate those who had appointments today and are planning for contingencies should this issue extend. We will provide updates as we learn more and have next steps. For a list of other testing sites in SF, visit sf.gov/gettested
COVID-19 Updates from San Francisco Department of Public Health
Happy New Year! As we welcome 2022, we are also ushering in a new wave of recommendations and guidance as we beat back this current COVID-19 surge driven by the Omicron variant. The next several weeks are critical in keeping San Francisco’s essential services open, including schools, hospitals, and homeless shelters. Additional City resources are being deployed, and health and safety measures are being implemented in response to the surge to minimize the impact.
Read the latest information about SF’s response to the current COVID-19 Omicron surge here.
Watch our Tuesday press conference on SFGovTV’s YouTube channel here.
How to stay safe:
- Have everyone ages 5+ get their COVID-19 vaccine and booster if eligible.
- Anyone who develops symptoms of COVID-19 should isolate themselves and get tested as soon as possible.
- Get tested before travel, upon return, and again 3-5 days later.
- Take advantage of quick and easy home test kits available in pharmacies and stores.
- Outside gatherings are safer than indoor gatherings. Limit the number and size of indoor gatherings.
- Take all precautions, including vaccinations, boosters, and testing when gathering with others without masks – especially with elderly or immunocompromised individuals, and anyone who is unvaccinated or not yet boosted.
- Wear a well-fitted mask indoors and in crowded settings. To best protect yourself, wear an N95 or double mask with a cloth mask over a surgical mask to improve the seal. If possible, avoid wearing only a cloth mask during this surge.
- Unvaccinated adults should avoid travel and gatherings outside their household.
- Wash hands or use hand sanitizer often.
- Layer your defenses, and reduce your household’s risk exposure during periods of high transmission, like the current omicron surge.
For additional information about drop-in sites for vaccines, boosters, and testing, click here.
The Current COVID-19 Omicron Surge
An average of 829 San Franciscans a day are contracting COVID-19 (as of December 27), which is more than double that of last winter’s peak at 373 cases per day. While 81% of San Franciscans are vaccinated, and 54% of vaccinated residents have been boosted, the highly contagious Omicron-variant is still able to spread as breakthrough infections, often asymptomatically or with mild illness. This raises the prospects that frontline workers could become infected and be temporarily unable to work, impacting SF’s delivery of essential services. While hospitalization rates as a fraction of cases are expected to be lower with Omicron, the sheer number of people getting infected means SF is experiencing increased demand for hospital beds at a time when staff is also contracting the virus because of high community spread.
Protecting Essential Services and Vulnerable Populations
SF’s priority right now is to protect essential services and the most vulnerable populations. In response to the surge, SF Department of Public Health (SFDPH)-affiliated sites have rapidly expanded to more than 25,000 tests a week across SF, nearly doubling capacity from three weeks ago. SFDPH is currently conducting about half of all COVID-19 tests in SF and is prioritizing disaster service workers and symptomatic individuals for testing. SFDPH has also ordered test kits from suppliers to support first responders and the most vulnerable, such as residents and staff of skilled nursing facilities. These will begin to arrive in weekly deliveries starting mid-January.
Some of SF’s other efforts include:
- Expanded hours and additional appointments and drop-ins for vaccinations and boosters at SFDPH-affiliated and health systems partner sites, including mobile pop-up events at schools and focused efforts on reaching all long-term care facilities and senior housing in SF.
- Coordinating with other healthcare systems across SF to support SFDPH hospital systems and to further expand testing and vaccine hours.
- Updates to SF’s Safer Return Together health order requiring boosters for health care workers and in other high-risk settings, and temporarily suspending the mask exemption for limited settings like offices and gyms to lower the chance of spread among groups of vaccinated people.
- Limiting the number of visitors and requiring on-site testing at skilled nursing facilities.
- New safety protocol at homeless shelters that enable the continuation of services by grouping residents based on COVID-19 status.
Updates to Safer Return Together Health Order
In response to the sharp increase of COVID-19 cases driven by the rapidly spreading Omicron variant, San Francisco has updated the Safer Return Together Health Order . Major changes include (1) SF’s alignment with the State to require boosters among workers in healthcare and high-risk settings – as well as some additional higher-risk settings not covered by the State requirements – by February 1, 2022, (2) a temporary suspension of the indoor universal mask exemption that allowed removal of masks for stable groups of 100% fully vaccinated individuals in certain settings, and (3) a requirement that attendees and staff of indoor mega-events are up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations, including boosters if eligible, starting February 1, 2022.
Read more about the updates to the Safer Return Together Health Order at sf.gov/news.
Support for Returning to School
As SF students return to school this week, the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) reaffirms its support for the resumption of in-person learning despite rising COVID-19 cases due to the Omicron variant. Multiple layers of health and safety protocols have kept school settings open this year despite COVID-19, and SFDPH urges families and schools to continue following these recommendations to allow for a safer return to school.
Getting vaccinated and boosted, testing after travel and gatherings, staying home when sick, and wearing well-fitted masks are key to keeping schools open for in-person learning.
Read more about Safer Return to School Recommendations at sf.gov/news
Ages 12+ Can Now Get Boosted
Booster eligibility has just expanded to include children ages 12 to 15! This provides even more protection for children as they resume in-person learning this second half of the school year.
As the Omicron variant rapidly spreads, SFDPH supports drop-in sites for boosters and tests, and recommends better masks. To increase access to boosters, SFDPH has identified a number of vaccination sites open for drop-ins for booster doses across the City (see below), while appointments are also available across our health system sites. Additionally, SFDPH is making drop-in testing available at over 20 sites, and our sites are expanding testing to administer 25,000 tests per week to support the City’s high demand for tests right now.
Where to get a vaccine or booster:
Here are the following locations in San Francisco where people can drop-in to receive a booster, Monday to Friday while supplies last each day. Please check sf.gov/getvaccinated or call 628-652-2700 should changes to operational hours occur.
- ZSFG (1001 Potrero Ave, Bldg 30)
- Southeast Health Center (2401 Keith Street)
- Chinese Hospital (845 Jackson Street)
- Kaiser Tent (2350 Geary Blvd)
- All DPH neighborhood sites
Information & Guidance Updates
Sign up to receive alerts from the Information & Guidance team for updates to San Francisco’s Health Order, guidance, and directives here.
Other COVID-19 Resources
SF COVID-19 vaccine call center
Call 628-652-2700 to book an appointment, find a drop-in site, or if you have questions about the vaccine. You can also email sf@sf.org.
Please check the following sites for regular COVID-19 updates:
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COMING SOON: COVID-19 Small Business Rent Relief Pilot Program to Provide Small Business Commercial Rent Relief
In December 2021, I announced grants for commercial rent relief to help stabilize San Francisco’s small businesses. The Office of Economic and Workforce Development will help administer $2 million in city investment by launching COVID-19 Small Business Rent Relief Pilot Program focusing on helping small businesses that have unpaid commercial back rent, by providing grants of up to $35,000 per qualifying business.
The Board of Supervisor’s Budget and Legislative Analyst estimates there is more than a half of billion dollars of unpaid commercial back rent caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to this alarming number, Supervisor Safai in collaboration with Mayor Breed, announced $2 million for a pilot program that provides financial assistance to small business owners who successfully renegotiate debt repayment terms with their current property owners. The commercial rent relief pilot fund is being developed to support San Francisco’s small businesses that were greatly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and as a result have unpaid commercial back rent.
“Small businesses in San Francisco have a long road to recovery.” said Supervisor Ahsha Safai, “While you may still see your favorite local business open, it doesn’t mean they aren’t struggling to make ends meet. The COVID-19 Small Business Rent Relief Pilot Program is designed to help small businesses that have unpaid commercial back rent sustain their business for the future.”
The COVID-19 Small Business Rent Relief Pilot Program will be administered by the Office of Economic Workforce Development. The goal of the pilot program is to help both small businesses and property owners/landlords recover lost income due to the pandemic. The grant program incentivizes property owners to negotiate payment of rent debt by providing small businesses with grants to pay off a portion of their owed rent. The eligibility requirements for the program are currently being developed with the goal of launching the application at the end of February 2022. The focus of the program will be to support small businesses with existing rent debt that have not received substantial government COVID-19 relief funding. Interested businesses can sign up to receive updates and alerts on the grant program as information become available by visiting visit the Office of Economic and Workforce Development at www.oewd.org/evictionhelp.
During the earlier part of the pandemic, the State of California issued a commercial eviction moratorium that prohibited commercial evictions due to back rent payment; however on September 30, 2021, the moratorium ended. Leaving countless small businesses with massive back rent debt. While businesses and landlords are encouraged to develop a repayment plan, the Small Business Rent Relief Pilot program will address a pressing need for small business presently facing back rent debt.
San Francisco continues to partner with community-based organizations to provide lease re-negotiation, mediation and referrals to legal services. The BAR Association of San Francisco (BASF) will host a webinar on December 20th at 12pm to help small business owners understand the resources available to them. For more information, visit the Office of Economic and Workforce Development at www.oewd.org/evictionhelp . Small businesses who have questions or would like to speak to a representative about resources and assistance can also call the Office of Small Business at (415) 554-6134 or email sfosb@sfgov.org |
Virtual Citywide Public Safety Meeting with Chief Scott
We are excited to announce that SFPD Chief Scott will be hosting a Virtual Citywide Public Safety Meeting for the community on Jan. 24, 2022 @ 5:30pm. This forum is an opportunity for community members to hear updates from the Chief regarding recent crime trends, new resident-driven public safety strategies, and the reform efforts that are currently underway within the department.
Most importantly, SFPD Chief Scott would like to hear directly from each of you about your concerns/ideas, and answer any community questions. Please register HERE to join us for this important update event and community dialogue as together we help solve issues and ultimately shape a more safe and vibrant San Francisco for everyone. |
| Geneva Avenue Traffic Signal Project
Project Description
San Francisco Public Works and SFMTA have partnered to complete infrastructure and safety improvements along Geneva Avenue. The work to be performed includes upgrading the existing signal infrastructure, including installation of new signals and interconnect conduit. The Geneva Avenue Traffic Signal Project also includes wiring, Pedestrian Countdown Signals (PCS), Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS) pushbuttons, vehicular signal heads, new poles and mast-arms, and signal controllers. This project will also include pedestrian bulb-out work, curb ramp work, sidewalk work, curb and gutter work, parking strip replacement, localized street base repairs and paving work near the newly completed upgrades.
The intersections included in this project are the following:
• Geneva Avenue & London Street
• Geneva Avenue & Paris Street
• Geneva Avenue & Naples Street
• Geneva Avenue & Athens Street
The Geneva Avenue Traffic Signal Project will also include removal and reconstruction of the center median along Geneva Avenue between Edinburgh Street and Vienna Street. The new center median will be realigned to create turning lanes and facilitate travel through the area.
Neighbors interested in receiving e-updates on the Geneva Avenue Traffic Signal Project should sign up HERE. Updates will be sent out as-needed during construction to inform residents of the upcoming phase of work, traffic impacts, milestone completions, and any weekend work. Although weekend work is allowed, none is anticipated at this time.
Construction on this project is anticipated to start in late January 2022 with completion expected in late October 2022. This traffic signal project is being completed in advance of a larger scale project coming to Mission Street and Geneva Avenue in summer 2022. The Mission Street and Geneva Avenue Infrastructure Improvement Project will Include Mission Street between the Hwy 280 overpass and Geneva Avenue as well as Geneva Avenue between Mission Street and Prague Street. That project will have an overall duration of 3 years but is being broken up into phases so that the entire limits aren’t under construction the whole time. For additional information on that project please visit www.sfpublicwork.org/Mission-Geneva.
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| IN PERSON RECEPTION RESCHEDULED DUE TO OMICRON SURGE: ArtSpan Artists Zoe Ani & Nick Maltagliati Exhibition at City Hall
The In-Person Reception has been rescheduled due to the COVID Omicron surge. We will send a follow up in next week's newsletter with a new date.
Featured Artwork:
"Wave Series 8" by Zoe Ani (detail)
“Ripe” by Zoe Ani & Nick Maltagliati
About the Art-in-Neighborhoods Program:
ArtSpan’s Art-in-Neighborhoods program serves the city of San Francisco by connecting communities with local artists while activating spaces with vibrant, locally-made artwork. ArtSpan partners with local businesses and building owners to bring art exhibitions and art events to businesses, dormant storefronts, and empty spaces for lease that seek artwork for their blank walls. Local artists who are ArtSpan members are given the opportunity to display, promote, and sell their artwork in these diverse venues. All aspects of the program allow otherwise unused walls, spaces, or properties to become creative arenas for celebrating local arts.
The Art-In-Neighborhoods program strives to create visibility and accessibility for local arts in San Francisco. ArtSpan provides the public with free, high-quality arts exposure. Simultaneously, local ArtSpan artists are given the opportunity to promote and sell their artwork. Each of the Art-In-Neighborhoods exhibitions and community events will provide clear, consistent information about ArtSpan programing to educate the public about ArtSpan’s goals and how to become a supporter – by attending our events and buying artwork from local artists!
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