September 7, 2022
A Message From The Supervisor:

Sincerely,

Transit Month

Today marks the start of Transit Month! Every year we look forward to celebrating Transit Month by looking back at all the successes of the previous year—and also by thinking of our upcoming opportunities to continue to improve Muni.

Over the past year, we have made a series of improvements through our Muni Forward program that reduced travel times, wait times and crowding:  

• Reduced travel time by up to 31% on key bus routes as part of  the Temporary Emergency Transit Lanes program, giving more riders the benefit of the transit lanes faster.  
  • 10 miles of transit lanes were made permanent benefitting the T Third, 1 California, 14 Mission, 19 Polk, 27 Bryant, 38 Geary, 43 Masonic and the 44 O’Shaughnessy. This cool animation shows how transit priority is improving Muni travel times citywide!
  • As part of the TETL program, last October, the San Francisco Transit Riders gave us an award to honor the “Fastest Expansion of Transit Lanes in San Francisco History.”
• Started bus rapid transit service on Van Ness Avenue, with initial weekday travel time savings of up to 35% on northbound trips, equating to 9 minutes a trip. And southbound, up to 22% travel time savings, or 5 minutes on a trip.   
• Completed the Geary Rapid Project, which improved one of the city’s busiest corridors with much-needed safety improvements and more reliable bus service for the 38 Geary and 38R Geary Rapid’s over 56,000 daily customers.
• Installed the one of a kind urban high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes along Park Presidio Boulevard and Lombard Street that expands the capacity of those streets to carry more people with the same number of lanes.  
• Reduced collisions on California Street by 64% for all modes and 89% for transit as measured in the evaluation of the California Street Safety Project.
• Began implementing spot improvements to the top ten corridors where Muni experiences delay as part of the Transit Delay Hot Spots Program. The improvements feel small but benefit the full route.
• Continued construction of transit reliability improvements on 19th Avenue, Taraval Street, 16th Street, Mission Street in SoMa, and along the 27 Bryant in the Tenderloin.

To see locations where Muni Forward improvements have been made across the city, check out this interactive Photo Map. Whether targeted spot locations, or along major corridors, improvements to the Muni network benefits everyone.

And looking ahead, we have started planning for Muni Forward improvements to the J Church, K Ingleside, M Ocean View, N Judah, 29 Sunset and 38 Geary. For some Muni lines, we hope to implement quick-build improvements as soon as next year! To support this work, and other work across the SFMTA, they were recently awarded $116 million from the California State Transportation Agency of the Transit  and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP). Be on the lookout for more improvements coming soon!

Of course, that’s not all we’re doing to improve transit: we’ve been restoring service across the system, rehabilitating our subway system, and we’re putting the final touches on the Central Subway.  Read more  about our progress on enhancing transit service and safety in San Francisco.

• People with monkeypox should stay home and away from others until the rash has fully resolved, the scabs have fallen off, and a fresh layer of new skin has formed.
• Stay in a room or area away from other household members and pets when possible.
• Wear a well-fitted mask when close to others at home.
• If you share a bathroom, wipe down surfaces such as counters, toilet seats, and faucets. Popular cleaners like Lysol and bleach work against monkeypox, but do not put them on your skin because it can hurt you and slow your healing. See the SFDPH cleaning guidance for non-healthcare settings.
• Avoid sharing a bed and bed sheets with other people if you have monkeypox.
• Limit sharing things in your home.
• Do not share dishes or forks, knives or spoons without washing them before another person uses them. Wash used dishes and eating utensils in a dishwasher or by hand with warm water and soap.

Wash hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially immediately after you touch an infected spot or the rash.

Click here t o see more recommendations from the CDC on preventing monkeypox in the home. 

How can we support BIPOC communities to get the monkeypox vaccine? 

Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) are often greatly impacted during times of crisis and emergencies. SFDPH has been working with community partners to ensure equitable access to the monkeypox vaccine, Jynneos.

We still need your help to learn more on how we can improve vaccine access. Click the button below to take a brief survey about accessing the monkeypox vaccine. Share the link with your friends, and loved ones who are interested in the vaccine: take the survey by CLICKING HERE.

Symptoms

Monkeypox often begins as flu-like symptoms. It also appears as a distinctive rash or sores or spots that can look like pimples or blisters on the skin anywhere on the body, especially in the genital area. Spots can also be inside the rectum or butt, on fingers, or in the mouth or eyes.
 
Generally, the spots start as red, flat spots, and then become bumps. Those bumps then become filled with fluid which turns to pus. The pus bump then breaks and crusts over into a scab. The scabs may be itchy.
 
Some people never get a rash. They may have a fever, or swollen glands or muscle aches. Some people get a rash and other symptoms together. Or one after the other.  And for some people, symptoms start with a fever and only two or three spots.   
 
Some people have also reported pain or discomfort inside their rectum.    

How it Spreads

Monkeypox spreads through prolonged skin to skin contact. Contact includes:

• sex
• kissing
• breathing at very close range
• sharing bedding and clothing

If you have sex or close physical contact with many people you have a higher chance of getting monkeypox.

Monkeypox can be serious, though most cases resolve on their own. You should see a doctor right away if you think you have been exposed. 

Staying Safe

If you think you might be at risk you can:

• Cover exposed skin in crowds
• Don’t share bedding or clothing
• Talk to anyone you've had sex or close contact with about their health
• Stay aware if traveling

If you have symptoms:

• Cover the area of the rash with clean, dry, loose-fitting clothing
• Wear a well-fitted mask
• Avoid skin-to-skin, or close contact with others
• Talk to a healthcare provider as soon as possible
• Stay away from other people
• Let sex partners know about any symptoms you have

Monkeypox Vaccine

Vaccine supplies are limited. Get more information on the monkeypox vaccine. 

Notice of Exposure

If you got a notice that you might have been exposed, think about your contact with other people at the event.

If you had close, physical contact with others at an event (like kissing or sex) you are at high risk of direct exposure. You should get a monkeypox vaccine within 14 days to prevent an infection (the sooner the better!).   

If you were at the event and did not have close, physical contact with others, you may not need a vaccine. Look for symptoms of monkeypox and talk to your healthcare provider.

Testing

If you have a rash, or spots, your heathcare provider or a clinic an test you for monkeypox. They will rub a swab on the spots and send the swab to a lab for testing.

Your healthcare provider may also do blood tests at the same time.  We run a blood test to look for infections that can look like monkeypox, like syphilis. 

While you are waiting for your test results you should:

• Stay away from other people
• Don't use public transportation
• Get in touch with people you've had sex or close contact with and ask them to get tested

Treatment

Most people get well from monkeypox without needing any medicines or other treatment.

There is no medicine that the FDA has approved for monkeypox infection treatment.  

However, there is one medicine that is used for severe monkeypox, called tecovirimat, or TPOXX. It is allowed as an “investigation” drug for special circumstances for people who have severe monkeypox. 

Right now, we only have a few TPOXX pills available. Talk to your doctor if you think you might need TPOXX because of a special condition or severe disease.

If you need TPOXX, your doctor will work with the health department, or other providers to get you TPOXX.

Healthcare

If you do not have a healthcare provider, or can't get an appointment, go to either:

• SF City Clinic at 7th Street San Francisco (628-217-6600)
• Strut located 470 Castro Street (415-581-1600)

• Friday, August 19th at 5-6:30pm
• Join Dr. Vincent Fuqua from the San Francisco Department of Public Health, and local community leaders in discussion to learn more about mpx and share ideas and concerns from the community
• Contact Dr. Vincent Fuqua for an invitation by emailing: vincent.fuqua@sfdph.org.

• Every Friday at 12pm-1pm
• SFDPH invites local CBOs and community groups to join a weekly huddle to improve awareness of DPH efforts on monkeypox, establish new partnerships, share current trends (as data is available), as well as create a forum that builds on community ideas, best practices, and needs.
• Use this link to join every Friday at 12pm: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82854764143

• Click HERE for San Francisco guidance, updates and outreach materials
• Click HERE for Q&A from CDPH
• Click HERE for information on monkeypox from the CDC
• Click HERE for guidance on social gatherings and safer sex from the CDC