Supervisor Ahsha Safai - COVID19 Update 07172020 Newsletter

 
   

July 17, 2020 

A Message From The Supervisor:

A lot is happening in our nation and our City as we grapple with the effects of injustice at the same time of dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. We will get through this together and create an even stronger City where all people can feel safe and supported.

Please don't hesitate to email us at SafaiStaff@sfgov.org or call us at 1-415-554-6976 if we can assist you in any way and we will immediately respond. 

Thank you all for your time, cooperation, and perseverance -- we will all get through this together! 

Sincerely,





Supervisor Ahsha Safai 

Governor Gavin Newsom Lays Out Pandemic Plan for Learning and Safe Schools 

Plan centers on rigorous instruction for students even when schools are physically closed; Decisions to open in-person will be determined by local data that the public can track on a daily basis; Schools open for in-person instruction will implement precautions, including a requirement that students in 3rd grade and above wear masks

 

Newsom: “In California, health data will determine when a school can be physically open – and when it must close – but learning should never stop”

Governor Gavin Newsom today announced his plan for learning and safe schools ahead of the 2020–2021 school year, as the California Department of Public Health issued a framework for when and how schools should reopen for in-person instruction.

“Learning is non-negotiable,” said Governor Newsom. “The virus will be with us for a year or more, and school districts must provide meaningful instruction in the midst of this pandemic. In California, health data will determine when a school can be physically open – and when it must close – but learning should never stop. Students, staff, and parents all prefer in-classroom instruction, but only if it can be done safely.”

The Governor’s plan centers on five key areas:

1) Safe in-person school based on local health data

The California Department of Public Health today issued updated schools guidance that includes using existing epidemiological metrics to determine if school districts can start in-person instruction. CDPH currently uses six indicators to track the level of COVID-19 infection in each California county as well as the preparedness of the county health care system – data that includes the number of new infections per 100,000 residents, the test positivity rate, and the change in hospitalization rate, among others. Any county that does not meet the state’s benchmarks is put on the County Monitoring List.

Schools located in counties that are on the Monitoring List must not physically open for in-person instruction until their county has come off the Monitoring List for 14 consecutive days. Schools in counties that have not been on the Monitoring List for the prior 14 days may begin in-person instruction, following public health guidelines. School community members – including parents, teachers, staff and students – can track daily data on whether and why their county is on the Monitoring List at https://covid19.ca.gov/roadmap-counties/#track-data.

There is a single exception. Local health officers may grant a waiver to allow elementary schools to reopen in-person instruction if the waiver is requested by the district superintendent, in consultation with labor, parents and community-based organizations. When considering a waiver request, the local health officer must consider local data and consult with the California Department of Public Health.

The Department also issued updated guidance for when schools must physically close and revert to distance learning because of COVID-19 infections. Following a confirmed case of a student who was at school during his or her infectious period, other exposed students and staff should be quarantined for 14 days. The school should revert to distance learning when multiple cohorts have cases or 5 percent of students and staff test positive within a 14-day period. The district should revert to distance learning when 25 percent or more of its schools have been physically closed due to COVID-19 within 14 days. Closure decisions should be made in consultation with local health officers. After 14 days, school districts may return to in-person instruction with the approval of the local public health officer.

2) Strong mask requirements for anyone in the school

In the updated guidance, all staff and students in 3rd grade and above will be required to wear a mask or face covering. Students in 2nd grade and below are strongly encouraged to wear a face covering. Students should be provided a face covering if they do not have one. The state has delivered over 18 million face coverings to schools to support them to reopen and ensure all students can participate in learning.

3) Physical distancing requirements & other adaptations

In the updated guidance, CDPH requires that all adults stay 6 feet from one another and 6 feet away from children, while students should maintain 6 feet of distance from one another as practicable. Anyone entering the school must do a health screen, and any student or staff exhibiting a fever or other symptoms will be immediately sent home. The guidance also provides that if anyone in a student or staff member’s household is sick, they too should stay home.

4) Regular testing and dedicated contact tracing for outbreaks at schools

The public health guidance recommends staff in every California school be tested for COVID-19 periodically based on local disease trends and as testing capacity allows. The Governor also announced today that the state will provide resources and technical assistance for COVID-19 investigations in school settings.

5) Rigorous distance learning

Over the course of the pandemic, most schools will likely face physical closure at some point due to COVID-19. The Legislature and Governor Newsom enacted a budget that provided $5.3 billion in additional funding to support learning, and set requirements to ensure schools provide rigorous and grade-appropriate instruction. Under newly enacted state law, school districts are required to provide:

- Devices and connectivity so that every child can participate in distance learning. 

- Daily live interaction for every child with teachers and other students. 

- Class assignments that are challenging and equivalent to in-person instruction. 

- Targeted supports and interventions for English learners and special education students.

The full guidance from the California Department of Public Health can be found here: https://files.covid19.ca.gov/pdf/guidance-schools.pdf
 

SFUSD Recommendation to Begin School Year with Distant Learning 

On July 14th, SFUSD leadership recommended the fall semester to begin with distance learning. We know this affects our entire community and families will need to make plans, even as SFUSD is still finalizing more details.  

SFUSD continues to listen to the input and feedback many families are sharing. Some of the thoughts shared were included in the presentation to the Board of Education on July 14 meeting. You can view the slides online (translations included). SFUSD will continuing to explore feedback from the surveys and town halls as well as other sources and will share even more details at the July 28 Board of Education meeting.

 

SAN FRANCISCO ANNOUNCES NEXT STEPS ON CONTROLLING SPREAD OF COVID-19 AND CONTINUED PAUSE ON REOPENING

City will focus on changing behavior, serving communities most impacted by virus, and increasing testing capacity

New Public Health Order to be issued Monday will require private healthcare providers to expand testing to ensure access to testing for symptomatic people, close contacts of known cases, and frontline workers

Mayor London N. Breed and Dr. Grant Colfax announced next steps for flattening the curve in San Francisco as cases and hospitalizations have continued to rise. The City’s schedule for reopening will remain on pause indefinitely in order to slow the spread of COVID-19 in San Francisco and protect community health. The decision by the San Francisco Department of Public Health to pause reopening comes as San Francisco has been placed on the State of California’s county monitoring list, or “watch list.”

The City will follow the State’s restrictions for counties on the watch list, while continuing its work to slow the spread of the virus. Key strategies include increasing public outreach to change San Franciscans’ behavior, focusing on communities most impacted by the virus, and expanding access to testing. The Department of Public Health will be issuing a new Health Order requiring private health care providers to expand testing, including to require that symptomatic people those with close contacts of confirmed cases access to same day testing. The Department of Public Health has expanded testing recently in the Bayview, Tenderloin, Mission and other impacted communities in the last week, and will continue that work to provide more testing access in areas of need.

Next Steps for Flattening the Curve in San Francisco

Pausing Reopening

San Francisco is experiencing a surge of cases and hospitalizations, and reopening cannot continue until the spread of the virus has slowed once again. The pause in reopening businesses and activities will continue until San Francisco Key Public Health Indicators improve, and none of them are in red, or “high-alert.” In addition to the health indicators, other data will inform the decision on how to proceed, including the Reproductive Rate of the virus, the State’s actions, and the impact of the virus in the Bay Area region.

Following the State’s Requirements

As of today, San Francisco is on the State’s watch list due to rising hospitalizations. This means that San Francisco must abide by the State’s restrictions, which includes closing indoor malls and non-essential offices, and continue the paused reopening, at least until the State lifts its restrictions. Indoor malls and non-essential offices must close, except for minimum basic operations, effective Monday, July 20. If the State adds more restrictions for counties on the watch list, San Francisco will abide by those restrictions as well. If local conditions do not improve, San Francisco maintains the ability to close additional businesses and activities that go beyond the State’s requirements.

Changing Behaviors – Face Coverings and Reduced Gatherings

In order to slow the spread of COVID-19 in the short-term and adapt to living with the virus until there is a vaccine, San Franciscans need to redouble their efforts to consistently wear face coverings and limit gatherings with people not in their household. Research shows that if the vast majority of people wear masks that cover their nose and mouth, San Franciscans can effectively slow the spread of the virus and save lives. Many of the new cases of COVID-19 that are part of the current surge are the result of social gatherings among family members and friends, so it is important that San Franciscans limit such gatherings as much as possible. In addition to these behavioral changes, everyone must continue practicing social distancing, hand washing, and staying home as much as possible.

Focus on Equity and Impacted Communities

San Francisco has focused on equity and addressing the disparate impacts of COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic. As part of the City’s five-point plan, San Francisco will continue to focus on the communities most impacted by the virus, especially members of the Latino community, people who must leave home to work, Black and African American residents, and the eastern and southeastern neighborhoods. This focus includes expanding access to COVID-19 testing and conducting targeted community outreach in impacted communities. For example, this week, San Francisco opened a new testing site at the Potrero Hill Health Center, adding to a recent expansion of testing options in the Tenderloin, Mission, Sunnydale and Bayview.

Expanding Access to Testing

The City continues to meet its testing goals, however in the current surge it has taken longer for people to access testing appointments and receive their results. In an effort to address this challenge, the City will issue a Health Order on Monday requiring private health care providers to increase their testing services by providing same-day testing for patients with symptoms and close contacts of confirmed COVID cases. Additionally, private hospitals and clinics must provide testing to asymptomatic workers in jobs where they have more risk of exposure, such as health care, first responders, and jobs with frequent public interactions at less than six-feet apart. Staff and residents of congregate settings also must be provided testing if requested.

The goal of this Health Order is to more fairly distribute testing across city providers and ease the demand on City-run sites so that residents who are uninsured or are members of impacted communities are able to get tested in a timely manner.

*For more specific questions regarding what businesses and actions are allowed under the current order, please email safaistaff@sfgov.org


INVEST BLACK OMI TOWN HALL


Last night, Supervisor Safai hosted the INVEST BLACK Town Hall to hear directly from community ideas about how to strengthen and empower the Black community in Lakeview / OMI. 

We had over 100 participants and attendance by Mayor London Breed and 8 City Departments. It was a lively discussion about accountability to community and ensuring that funds invested for the Black community are serving the Black community. Also, we heard ideas and recommendations about how to INVEST BLACK.

To view last night's meeting please visit here:

https://zoom.us/rec/share/zNVYE7j5znNIH6eK2XrBa6grON7Leaa8hncf-_MEzk-v2zKzpi7IPOuIWXokl7KC

 
Historic Geneva Car Barn and Powerhouse Reborn as Youth Arts Hub
 
The meticulous renovation of Geneva Car Barn and Powerhouse, part of San Francisco’s railway history in the Excelsior District, is complete! The historic landmark will open to the public as a hub for creativity, performance, youth arts education and community connection when health orders allow. 

Please view the video regarding this important community project here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrG4fHdR-tU
 

NEW SLOW STREET PROPOSED FOR DISTRICT 11
 
Pending approval, the proposed Phase Three Slow Streets would install temporary barricades and signage at designated intersections along the following additional corridors:

Cayuga Avenue from Naglee Avenue to Rousseau Street 
 
 
Slow Streets does not legally change the designation of the public right-of-way; people walking or running in the street are allowed to be in the street as the California Vehicle Code currently permits, but people walking or running are required to yield to vehicular traffic.

Slow Streets are for essential trips, not neighborhood gathering points. We also encourage everyone to follow current health guidelines, bring a face covering and maintain proper physical distance from people outside their households. 

For updates, additional information and to provide input on the SFMTA’s Slow Street Program, visit the program webpage at  SFMTA.com/SlowStreets. Please also visit  SFMTA.com/COVID19 for the latest agency updates about our COVID-19 response. 


 
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