Health and Safety

Values-Based Planning and Response during COVID-19

Our community values guide us as we continue to assess and adapt to maintain our collective health and safety. We lead with empathy in our planning, knowing how challenging this moment is for all of us, and how the financial and physical strains and stresses of this pandemic are present in all of our lives. Our commitment to integrity reminds us to always be honest in our dealings with one another and keep the safety and health of our students, professionals, and community at the heart of our decision making. We continue to keep public health interests and needs in mind as we maintain the evolving guidelines in partnership with the San Francisco Department of Public Health.

Our Practices:

We follow detailed CDPH guidance for schools and childcare
Families check daily for COVID-19 symptoms, testing if symptoms or exposure
Aside from close-contact and return after 5-days from testing positive for COVID-19, which require masking for up to 10 days, family's should make their own determination to wear a well-fitting mask in indoor settings based on three factors: (1) their own risk tolerance, (2) the overall level of community transmission, such as when future variants occur, and (3) whether the individual or someone they live or work with is at risk of severe disease.
Practicing good hand hygiene is a priority
We follow Isolation and Quarantine Guidance

Health & Safety Norms

COVID-19 Symptom Check

Health & Safety Plan

Health and Safety Resources

Health and Safety Resources and Guides
COVID-19 Symptom Check
San Francisco COVID-19 Testing Resources
What To Do If Suspected COVID-19 Symptoms
What To Do If Around Someone With COVID-19
What To Do If Tested Positive For COVID-19
How To Stay Home Safely Away From Others
CDC Travel Guidance
GBS Health and Safety Norms
Submit At-Home COVID-19 Test Results

Public Health Guidance
CDPH Guidance for Schools
March 2023 Updates

Air Quality

Resource Links
AirNow Fire and Smoke AQI
AirNow Air Quality Guide
AirNow Guide for Schools
GBS Air Quality Response Plan

Extreme Heat

Resource Links
CDPH Guidance for Outdoor Activities
NWS Site on Heat Risk

School Updates

March 13, 2023

Removes recommendation to test in order to leave isolation before Day 10, if the individual is well with no symptoms, or symptoms are mild or improving and are fever free for 24 hours.
After ending isolation, persons may remove their mask sooner than Day 10 with two sequential negative tests one day apart.

September 26, 2022

July 1st, 2022 - San Francisco COVID-19 Data

SFDPH: "Actual case rates are higher than those reported because of widespread use of home tests.”

SFDPH: "Always get tested when any of these apply:

When you have Covid-19 symptoms
When you’ve had close contact with someone who has COVID-19, test 5 days after your exposure. Testing earlier to find out if you’re positive is optional
When asked by your school, workplace, doctor, or the Department Public of Health"

COVID-19 Data and Reports
https://sf.gov/resource/2021/covid-19-data-and-reports
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated
COVID-19 Testing Sites
https://sf.gov/find-out-about-your-covid-19-testing-options

July 1st, 2022 - CDPH Updates School Guidance For The 2022-23 School Year
The CDPH schools guidance for the 2022-23 school year has been updated, informed by the latest CDC guidance. As anticipated, the SFDPH no longer has separate local guidance for schools, childcare, and programs for children and youth, and now refers to CDPH guidance for these settings. Since new variants of COVID can spread more easily, SFDPH no longer tracks individual cases of COVID in schools, stating that this is not an effective public health strategy.

CDPH COVID-19 Public Health Guidance for K-12 Schools to Support Safe In-Person Learning, 2022-2023 School Year
https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/K-12-Guidance-2022-23-School-Year.aspx
CDC Operational Guidance for K-12 Schools and Early Care and Education Programs to Support Safe In-Person Learning
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/k-12-childcare-guidance.html

June 15th, 2022 - San Francisco COVID-19 Data

SFDPH: "Actual case rates are higher than those reported because of widespread use of home tests.”

SFDPH: "Always get tested when any of these apply:

When you have Covid-19 symptoms
When you’ve had close contact with someone who has COVID-19, test 5 days after your exposure. Testing earlier to find out if you’re positive is optional
When asked by your school, workplace, doctor, or the Department Public of Health"

June 9th, 2022 - San Francisco COVID-19 Data

SFDPH: "Actual case rates are higher than those reported because of widespread use of home tests.”

SFDPH: "Always get tested when any of these apply:

When you have Covid-19 symptoms
When you’ve had close contact with someone who has COVID-19, test 5 days after your exposure. Testing earlier to find out if you’re positive is optional
When asked by your school, workplace, doctor, or the Department Public of Health"

June 8th, 2022 - San Francisco COVID-19 Data

SFDPH: "Actual case rates are higher than those reported because of widespread use of home tests.”

SFDPH: "Always get tested when any of these apply:

When you have Covid-19 symptoms
When you’ve had close contact with someone who has COVID-19, test 5 days after your exposure. Testing earlier to find out if you’re positive is optional
When asked by your school, workplace, doctor, or the Department Public of Health"

June 6th, 2022 - San Francisco COVID-19 Data

SFDPH: "Actual case rates are higher than those reported because of widespread use of home tests.”

SFDPH: "Always get tested when any of these apply:

When you have Covid-19 symptoms
When you’ve had close contact with someone who has COVID-19, test 5 days after your exposure. Testing earlier to find out if you’re positive is optional
When asked by your school, workplace, doctor, or the Department Public of Health"

June 1st, 2022 - SFDPH: When To Get Tested
ALWAYS get tested when any of these apply:

When you have Covid-19 symptoms
When you’ve had close contact with someone who has COVID-19, test 5 days after your exposure. Testing earlier to find out if you’re positive is optional
When asked by your school, workplace, doctor, or the Department Public of Health

Optionally, think about getting tested in these situations:

Before and after activities that put you or others at higher risk for COVID-19, like attending large gatherings or being in crowded indoor settings
When you work somewhere with a higher risk of COVID-19 transmission, like homeless shelters, jails, and settings with close contact with the public. See detailed testing guidance from the State
Right after a close contact with someone who has COVID-19. Earlier treatments might be open to you, and you can let anyone exposed to you know sooner if your test is positive

For travel, no matter your vaccine status:

For all international travel to the United States, you must get tested within 24 hours of your flight
For all travel to California from other states or countries, you should get tested 3 to 5 days after you arrive in California

For travel, when you’re not vaccinated:

You should avoid traveling for leisure
If you come back to San Francisco from outside California, you should quarantine for 5 days. During quarantine, get tested 3 to 5 days after your return

COVID-19 symptoms

Fever over 100.4° Fahrenheit or 38.0° Celsius
Chills (shivering a lot)
Cough
Difficulty breathing
Fatigue or soreness
Loss of smell or taste
Sore throat
Headache
Runny or stuffy nose
Diarrhea, feeling sick to your stomach, or throwing up

Your child does not have to get tested if they:

They only have a runny nose
They have had no close contact with someone with COVID-19

SFDPH: Testing Options
https://sf.gov/find-out-about-your-covid-19-testing-options

June 1st, 2022 - SFDPH: What To Do If You’ve Had A Close Contact Or Positive Test
What a close contact is: A close contact means you have been indoors with someone who has Covid for 15 minutes or more, even if everyone was masked. You may have the virus.
Stop the spread: When you’ve tested positive or have Covid-19 symptoms, stay away from others to stop the virus from spreading.

What to do if you've had close contact (exposed to COVID-19)
If you’ve had close contact, or potential exposure, with someone who has tested positive or is sick with COVID-19, you may have the virus. You can lower the risk of spread by staying away from others, especially those at high risk of getting very sick. Follow these steps for testing and mask wearing.

What to do if you are not feeling sick but tested positive
If you don’t develop symptoms but tested positive for COVID-19, stay home and away from others for 5 days, starting from when you first tested positive.

Test again on day 5 or later, preferably with a rapid antigen test. If your test is:

Negative, you can leave home
Positive, stay home until you test negative or until 10 days have passed since you first tested positive, whichever comes first

After 10 days, you do not need to repeat another test.

You should wear a well-fitting mask any time you have to be around others for 10 days, starting from when you first tested positive.

If you do not get tested again, stay home and away from others for 10 days from when you first tested positive.

What to do if you are feeling sick and tested positive
If you have symptoms and tested positive for COVID-19, stay home and away from others for 5 days, starting from when you first felt symptoms.

After 5 days, you can leave home only if:

You have no fever
Your symptoms are getting better
You test negative for COVID-19 on day 5 or later, preferably with a rapid antigen test.

Otherwise, you can leave by day 10 as long as you have no fever and your symptoms are getting better. You do not have to take a test again after day 10.

You should wear a well-fitting mask any time you have to be around others for 10 days, starting from when you first felt symptoms.

Taking COVID-19 medicine does not change the time you should stay home and away from others.

What to do if you are feeling sick but haven’t tested yet
If you have symptoms but haven’t yet tested for COVID-19, you should stay home and away from others until you get tested. Test as soon as possible.

You should wear a well-fitting mask any time you are around others.

If you use a rapid antigen test within the first 1 or 2 days of feeling sick and it’s negative, you should:

Continue to stay away from others
Test again 1 or 2 days later

If the 2nd test is also negative but you’re still feeling sick, consider staying home until you feel better.

If you test positive at any time while feeling sick, you should stay home and away from others until you test negative.

What to do if you are unable to test
If you’re unable to test or choose not to test, stay away from others for 10 days from when you first started feeling sick.

Get treated for Covid
You may be eligible for Covid medicines if you are at high risk of severe illness. Find out how to get early treatment.

June 1st, 2022 - San Francisco COVID-19 Data

SFDPH: "Actual case rates are higher than those reported because of widespread use of home tests.”

SFDPH: "Always get tested when any of these apply:

When you have Covid-19 symptoms
When you’ve had close contact with someone who has COVID-19, test 5 days after your exposure. Testing earlier to find out if you’re positive is optional
When asked by your school, workplace, doctor, or the Department Public of Health"

May 31st, 2022 - CDC Updates Operational Guidance For The 2022-23 School Year
It is anticipated that the upcoming CDPH schools guidance for the 2022-23 school year will be available in the coming weeks. The CDPH guidance for schools will be informed by this latest CDC guidance. The SFDPH will then likely sunset local-level guidance for schools at the end of this current school year, and direct schools to the upcoming CDPH guidance for the 2022-23 school year, when published.

Operational Guidance for K-12 Schools and Early Care and Education Programs to Support Safe In-Person Learning
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/k-12-childcare-guidance.html

May 31st, 2022 - Order Free At-Home COVID-19 Test Kits
Residential households in the U.S. are now eligible for another order of free at-home tests on USPS.com. Here's what you need to know about your order:

Each order now includes 8 rapid antigen COVID-19 tests
Your order of 8 tests will come in 2 separate packages (4 tests in each package), each with its own tracking number
Packages will ship free

Place Your Order for Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests
https://special.usps.com/testkits

May 30th, 2022 - San Francisco COVID-19 Data

SFDPH: "Actual case rates are higher than those reported because of widespread use of home tests.”

COVID-19 Data and Reports
https://sf.gov/resource/2021/covid-19-data-and-reports
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated
COVID-19 Testing Sites
https://sf.gov/find-out-about-your-covid-19-testing-options

May 28th, 2022 - San Francisco COVID-19 Data

May 26th, 2022 - San Francisco COVID-19 Data

San Francisco Department of Public Health Update:
"San Francisco begins COVID-19 boosters for children ages 5 to 11"

"The San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) is recommending parents and caregivers to get children ages 5 to 11 a COVID-19 booster, now that this age group is eligible, to give stronger protection against the virus as cases continue to swell."

"As cases swell again this spring, now is the time to get children up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations. While hospitalizations remain very low among children, becoming infected can cause disruptions to schooling and the work schedules of parents and caregivers, and can put people in a household who are medically vulnerable at risk for severe illness. The booster rate among older children 12 to 17 is 54%, the lowest of any age group (above age 12). SFDPH continues to strongly urge boosters for teenagers as well."

"COVID-19 vaccines have been authorized for safe use in children ages 5 to 11 since November 2021 and their effectiveness in preventing severe illness has been proven in the January surge, and during the current swell in cases. Boosters for this age group are the same Pfizer vaccine, at the same dosage, as those used in the two-dose primary series.

SFDPH is urging families to contact their primary pediatric health care provider first, if they have one, to access boosters for their children. Pharmacies are also offering booster vaccines for children aged 5-11 years. Those who need to get a booster at SFDPH-affiliated sites, can visit this link or check MyTurn (https://myturn.ca.gov/) for information on where to get one." - SFDPH

SFDPH Press Release
https://sf.gov/news/san-francisco-begins-covid-19-boosters-children-ages-5-11

COVID-19 Data and Reports
https://sf.gov/resource/2021/covid-19-data-and-reports
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated
COVID-19 Testing Sites
https://sf.gov/find-out-about-your-covid-19-testing-options

May 25th, 2022 - San Francisco COVID-19 Data

May 23rd, 2022 - San Francisco COVID-19 Data

Recent San Francisco Department of Public Health Updates

"With COVID-19 cases going up in San Francisco, people are at an elevated risk of contracting COVID-19 right now and we are urging people to take personal protections against the virus,” said San Francisco Health Officer, Dr. Susan Philip. “Wearing a mask in indoor, public settings is a smart move, as is staying up to date on vaccinations and, importantly, having a plan to reach a doctor if you get infected. People who are at high risk of severe illness, or who are in close contact with someone at high risk should be especially vigilant as we get through this current swell in cases.”

"The Bay Area now has California’s highest COVID infection rates. The current wave is fueled by highly contagious Omicron subvariants. Bay Area counties are seeing increases in reported cases, levels of virus in sewer sheds, and hospitalizations. Actual case rates are higher than those reported because of widespread use of home tests.”

"Masking is strongly recommended by California Department of Public Health for most public indoor settings. Wearing N95/KN95 or snug-fitting surgical masks indoors is a wise choice that will help people protect their health when community spread is high. For more info, visit http://sf.gov/masks .”

In school settings, “individuals should wear well-fitted masks in indoor settings based on three factors: (1) their own risk tolerance, (2) the overall level of community transmission, such as when future variants occur, and (3) whether the individual or someone they live or work with is at risk of severe disease."

GBS Health and Safety Reminders

Suspected COVID-19 Symptoms
Although a common occurrence in children, many common cold, flu, and other illness symptoms may also be suspected COVID-19 symptoms that either require a COVID-19 test, note from a medical provider, or a quarantine period before a return to school.

Fever (100.4°F/38°C or higher) or chills
Cough
Headache
Sore throat
Loss of taste or smell that started in the last 10 days Children may say that food “tastes bad” or “tastes funny”
Feeling out of breath or having a hard time breathing
Diarrhea, nausea or vomiting
Fatigue
Muscle aches or body aches

If your child has any of the symptoms above:

Have your child tested for COVID-19.
Keep your child at home until you get their test results.
Parents/guardians are required to notify Golden Bridges School within one hour if your child is exposed to, tests positive for, or is diagnosed with COVID-19. Email healthandsafety@goldenbridgesschool.org to report COVID-19 exposure and/or positive test results.

Submitting Test Results
https://my.primary.health/appointment_recoveries (if already registered or you have submitted test results before) OR
https://my.primary.health/l/goldenbridgesschool (if you need to register or have NOT submitted test results before)

Returning to School / Notes on Symptoms After a Negative COVID-19 Test Result Or Completing An Isolation Or Quarantine Period
In general, and after receiving a negative test result, or completing a required isolation or quarantine period, the best time to return to school is when symptoms have improved and are under control, such that the child is comfortable and the symptoms are not a distraction for the child. For example, a cold with a runny nose (congestion) that only required blowing a few times during the school day is perfectly fine for school, where as a persistent runny nose (requiring ongoing care) would mean the child should stay home. A very occasional cough that did not bother the child is fine for school, but an uncomfortable and persistent cough would mean that the child should stay home. The child must have experienced 24 hours with no fever, without taking fever-reducing medicines like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin). You are encouraged to stay home until you feel better, so that you don't spread other illnesses.

May 20th, 2022 - San Francisco COVID-19 Data

SFDPH: "Masking is strongly recommended by California Department of Public Health for most public indoor settings. Wearing N95/KN95 or snug-fitting surgical masks indoors is a wise choice that will help people protect their health when community spread is high. For more info, visit http://sf.gov/masks ."

SFDPH: "The Bay Area now has California’s highest COVID infection rates. The current wave is fueled by highly contagious Omicron subvariants. Bay Area counties are seeing increases in reported cases, levels of virus in sewer sheds, and hospitalizations. Actual case rates are higher than those reported because of widespread use of home tests."

COVID-19 Data and Reports
https://sf.gov/resource/2021/covid-19-data-and-reports
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated
COVID-19 Testing Sites
https://sf.gov/find-out-about-your-covid-19-testing-options

May 19th, 2022 - San Francisco COVID-19 Data

May 17th, 2022 - Reminder: What To Do When Experiencing Symptoms, Step-By-Step Instructions

Step 1: Suspected COVID-19 Symptoms
Although a common occurrence in children, many common cold, flu, and other illness symptoms may also be suspected COVID-19 symptoms that either require a COVID-19 test, note from a medical provider, or a quarantine period before a return to school. Please review the Daily Symptom and Exposure Check form below (Step 2) for the specific symptoms that require follow-up, including testing.

Step 2: Review the Daily COVID-19 Symptom and Exposure Check
GBS and the SFDPH recommend consulting with a medical provider when symptoms are present. Please review the daily COVID-19 Symptom and Exposure Check, as the current list of symptoms, and required follow-up protocols, are regularly updated:
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/files/ig/Parent-Guardian-Health-Check-Handout.pdf

Has your child had any symptoms listed below that are NEW or DIFFERENT from usual?

Fever (100.4°F/38°C or higher) or chills
Cough
Headache
Sore throat
Loss of taste or smell that started in the last 10 days Children may say that food “tastes bad” or “tastes funny”
Feeling out of breath or having a hard time breathing
Diarrhea, nausea or vomiting
Fatigue
Muscle aches or body aches

If your child has any of the symptoms above:

Contact your child’s doctor, and have your child tested for COVID-19.
Keep your child at home until you get their test results.
Tell your child’s school or program.

Children with symptoms of COVID‑19
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/covid-19/schools-isolation-and-quarantine.asp#symptoms
Children around someone diagnosed with COVID-19
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/covid-19/schools-isolation-and-quarantine.asp#unvax

Step 3: Isolate, Quarantine, and Get Tested
Get tested, then follow the specific isolation and quarantine protocols. Parents/guardians are required to notify Golden Bridges School within one hour if your child is exposed to, tests positive for, or is diagnosed with COVID-19. Email healthandsafety@goldenbridgesschool.org to report COVID-19 exposure and/or positive test results.

Isolation and Quarantine Instructions
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/covid-19/schools-isolation-and-quarantine.asp

Step 4: Submitting Test Results
https://my.primary.health/appointment_recoveries (if already registered or you have submitted test results before) OR
https://my.primary.health/l/goldenbridgesschool (if you need to register or have NOT submitted test results before)

Results from rapid antigen tests taken at home may be submitted to the school using the links above. Please send results from a clinically supervised test (e.g. medical provider, testing site, clinic) or home test not supported by the website to healthandsafety@goldenbridgesschool.org.

Map of San Francisco testing sites: https://sf.gov/find-out-about-your-covid-19-testing-options

Step 5: Returning to School / Notes on Symptoms After a Negative COVID-19 Test Result Or Completing An Isolation Or Quarantine Period
In general, and after receiving a negative test result, or completing a required isolation or quarantine period, the best time to return to school is when symptoms have improved and are under control, such that the child is comfortable and the symptoms are not a distraction for the child. For example, a cold with a runny nose (congestion) that only required blowing a few times during the school day is perfectly fine for school, where as a persistent runny nose (requiring ongoing care) would mean the child should stay home. A very occasional cough that did not bother the child is fine for school, but an uncomfortable and persistent cough would mean that the child should stay home. The child must have experienced 24 hours with no fever, without taking fever-reducing medicines like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin). You are encouraged to stay home until you feel better, so that you don't spread other illnesses.

May 17th, 2022 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Data

SFDPH: "The Bay Area now has California’s highest COVID infection rates. The current wave is fueled by highly contagious Omicron subvariants. Bay Area counties are seeing increases in reported cases, levels of virus in sewer sheds, and hospitalizations. Actual case rates are higher than those reported because of widespread use of home tests."

COVID-19 Data and Reports
https://sf.gov/resource/2021/covid-19-data-and-reports
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated
COVID-19 Testing Sites
https://sf.gov/find-out-about-your-covid-19-testing-options

May 16th, 2022 - Updated CDC Travel Guidance
Before Travel

Make sure you are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines before travel.
Check your destination’s COVID-19 situation before traveling.
Wearing a mask over your nose and mouth is recommended in indoor areas of public transportation (including airplanes) and indoors in U.S. transportation hubs (including airports).
Do not travel if you have COVID-19 symptoms, tested positive for COVID-19, are waiting for results of a COVID-19 test, or had close contact with a person with COVID-19 and are recommended to quarantine.
Everyone aged 2 years or older—including passengers and workers— should properly weara well-fitting mask or respirator in indoor areas of public transportation (such as airplanes, trains, buses, ferries) and transportation hubs (such as airports, stations, and seaports), especially in locations that are crowded or poorly ventilated such as airport jetways.

After Travel
You might have been exposed to COVID-19 on your travels. You might feel well and not have any symptoms, but you can still be infected and spread the virus to others.

Get tested for current infection with a viral test if your travel involved situations with greater risk of exposure such as being in crowded places while not wearing a well-fitting mask or respirator.
Follow additional guidance if you know you were exposed to a person with COVID-19.
Self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms; isolate and get tested if you develop symptoms.
International Travel Only: If you are NOT up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines, stay home and self-quarantine for a full 5 days after travel.
International Travel Only: ALL travelers (regardless of vaccination status) get tested for current infection with a COVID-19 viral test 3-5 days after arrival.

CDC Domestic Travel Guidance (updated 5/3/2022)
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/travel-during-covid19.html
CDC International Travel Guidance (updated 5/3/2022)
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/international-travel-during-covid19.html

May 16th, 2022 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Data

May 13th, 2022 - Bay Area Health Officers Urge Public To Take Precautions As COVID Levels Rise
Twelve Bay Area health officers are stressing the importance of taking safety precautions, including continued masking indoors, as the region experiences a new swell of COVID cases and hospitalizations.

The Bay Area now has California’s highest COVID infection rates. The current wave is fueled by highly contagious Omicron subvariants. Bay Area counties are seeing increases in reported cases, levels of virus in sewer sheds, and hospitalizations. Actual case rates are higher than those reported because of widespread use of home tests.

These health officers reiterate their continued, strong support for people to mask up indoors, keep tests handy, and ensure they are up to date on vaccinations by getting boosters when eligible.

“With COVID-19 cases going up in San Francisco, people are at an elevated risk of contracting COVID-19 right now and we are urging people to take personal protections against the virus,” said San Francisco Health Officer, Dr. Susan Philip. “Wearing a mask in indoor, public settings is a smart move, as is staying up to date on vaccinations and, importantly, having a plan to reach a doctor if you get infected. People who are at high risk of severe illness, or who are in close contact with someone at high risk should be especially vigilant as we get through this current swell in cases.”

In San Francisco, hospitalizations are increasing but remain relatively low compared to previous surges and well within the capacity of the hospital system. Approximately 84% of San Francisco is vaccinated, reducing the severity of the disease even as case rates increase.

The grim milestone of 1 million deaths from COVID in the United States underscores the need for continued vigilance against the virus.
Although not required, masking is strongly recommended by the California Department of Public Health for most public indoor settings, and health officials say wearing higher-quality masks (N95/KN95 or snug-fitting surgical masks) indoors is a wise choice that will help people protect their health. Vaccines remain the best protection against severe disease and death from COVID.

Health officials say people should also stay home if they feel sick and get tested right away. Officials also encourage getting tested after potential exposure and limiting large gatherings to well ventilated spaces or outdoors. For people who are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19 infection, medications are available that can reduce your chances of severe illness and death. Talk with your healthcare provider right away if you test positive.

The above statement has been endorsed by health officers from the counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, Napa, San Benito, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and Sonoma as well as the City of Berkeley

San Francisco Health Officer
https://sf.gov/news/bay-area-health-officers-urge-public-take-precautions-covid-levels-rise

May 13th, 2022 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Data

May 12th, 2022 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Data

May 10th, 2022 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Data

May 3rd, 2022 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Data

May 3rd, 202 SFDPH Updates and Consolidates Guidance For TK-12 Schools, Childcare & Programs
Summary of changes since 4/13/2022

Consolidated and combined guidance for childcare and programs for youth and children into this unified guidance document for all schools and programs serving children.
In alignment with CDPH, eliminated requirement for masking on public transportation.
Added testing guidance for asymptomatic children with continual exposures, such as household exposures. Specifically, it is reasonable to recommend testing 3-5 days after first exposure and if negative, recommend testing again 3-5 days after that. No further testing is recommended if child remains asymptomatic.

Summary of changes since 3/11/2022

In alignment with CDPH, eliminated requirement for quarantine for children after exposure to a positive COVID-19 case, regardless of vaccination status, location, or type of exposure.
SFDPH now recommends that individuals wear well-fitted masks indoors based on three factors: (1) their own risk tolerance, (2) the overall level of community transmission, such as when future variants occur, and (3) whether the individual or someone they live or work with is at risk of severe disease.

SFDPH Key Messages

Vaccination and boosters of staff, eligible students, and household members for COVID-19 is one of the most effective ways to decrease the risk of COVID-19 in schools and programs. Up-to-date vaccinated adults and eligible students also provide protection to younger children who are not yet eligible for vaccination.
In-person attendance is crucial to students’ physical and mental health as well as their learning, Measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 must consider and prioritize students’ access to safe and full in-person instruction, keeping them in school as much as possible and limiting unnecessary missed days at school.

Masking Update

As for other school and program activities, individuals may wear well-fitted masks in indoor settings and school vans based on three factors: (1) their own risk tolerance, (2) the overall level of community transmission, such as when future variants occur, and (3) whether the individual or someone they live or work with is at risk of severe disease.

Exposure Update - When a child reports an exposure to COVID-19 outside of school or program:

It is no longer necessary to require children exposed to COVID-19 outside of the school or program to quarantine at home. If they are asymptomatic, they may return immediately and recommend testing 3-5 days after the exposure.
It is strongly recommended that exposed children over age 2 wear a well-fitting mask whenever feasible for 10 days after exposure and particularly when around others indoors.
If children become symptomatic, they should isolate at home immediately until their symptoms start to improve and their test result is known.
For continual exposures, such as those in the household where the child is not isolating away from the person with COVID-19, asymptomatic children are allowed to return to the program throughout the duration of exposure. It is reasonable to recommend testing once 3-5 after initial exposure and, if the test is negative, repeat testing again 3-5 days after the first test. If both tests are negative, no further testing is recommended as long as child remains asymptomatic.

SFDPH Guidance for TK-12 Schools, Childcare & Programs for Youth & Children
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/alerts/covid-guidance/2020-33-Guidance-TK12-Schools.pdf

May 2nd, 2022 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Data

April 29th, 2022 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Data

April 29th, 2022 - Updated SFDPH Guidance For Quarantine After Exposure
SFDPH: "Children who are exposed to COVID-19, regardless of the type or location of exposure or their vaccination status are allowed to return to school as long as they are asymptomatic. It is strongly recommended they continue to wear a well-fitting mask for 10 days, if not already doing so. It is recommended that they test 3-5 days after exposure.

For continual exposures, such as those in the household where the child is not isolating away from the person with COVID-19, asymptomatic children are allowed to return to the program throughout the duration of exposure. It is reasonable to recommend testing once 3-5 after initial exposure and, if test is negative, repeat testing again 3-5 days after the first test. If both tests are negative, no further testing is recommended as long as child remains asymptomatic."

SFDPH: Around Someone Diagnosed WIth COVID-19
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/covid-19/schools-isolation-and-quarantine.asp#unvax

April 26th, 2022 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Data

April 7th, 2022 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Data

SFDPH: "Although we have seen an increase in COVID-19 cases in SF, they are not rising at the rapid rate we saw at the beginning of the Omicron wave. Hospitalizations are low and at pre-Omicron levels. We urge SF to vax, boost, test, & keep masks handy. More info: http://sf.gov/covid"

COVID-19 Data and Reports
https://sf.gov/resource/2021/covid-19-data-and-reports
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated
COVID-19 Testing Sites
https://sf.gov/find-out-about-your-covid-19-testing-options

April 7th, 2022 - Reminder: Current CDC Travel Guidance
If you are NOT Up-to-Date with your COVID-19 Vaccines

Delay travel until you are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines.
Getting vaccinated is still the best way to protect yourself from severe disease and slow the spread of COVID-19.
Get tested before you travel.
- Get a viral test as close to the time of departure as possible (no more than 3 days) before you travel.
- Isolate if you test positive or develop COVID-19 symptoms.
Follow additional recommendations before, during, and after travel.
Self-quarantine and get tested after travel:
- Get tested with a viral test 3-5 days after returning from travel.
- Stay home and self-quarantine for a full 5 days after travel.

CDC Travel Guidance (last updated 2/25/2022)
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/travel-during-covid19.html

April 7th, 2022 - Reminder What To Do When Experiencing Symptoms, Step-By-Step Instructions

Step 1: Suspected COVID-19 Symptoms
Although a common occurrence in children, many common cold, flu, and other illness symptoms are consistent with COVID-19 symptoms that either require a COVID-19 test, note from a medical provider, or a quarantine period before a return to school. Please review the Daily Symptom and Exposure Check form below (Step 2) for the specific symptoms that require follow-up, including testing before a return to school.

Step 2: Review the Daily COVID-19 Symptom and Exposure Check
GBS and the SFDPH recommend consulting with a medical provider when suspected COVID-19 symptoms are present. Please review the daily COVID-19 Symptom and Exposure Check, as the current list of symptoms, and required follow-up protocols, are regularly updated:
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/files/ig/Parent-Guardian-Health-Check-Handout.pdf

Has your child had any symptoms listed below that are NEW or DIFFERENT from usual?

Fever (100.4°F/38°C or higher) or chills
Cough
Headache
Sore throat
Loss of taste or smell that started in the last 10 days Children may say that food “tastes bad” or “tastes funny”
Feeling out of breath or having a hard time breathing
Diarrhea, nausea or vomiting
Fatigue
Muscle aches or body aches

If your child has any of the symptoms above:

Contact your child’s doctor, and have your child tested for COVID-19.
Keep your child at home until you get their test results.
Tell your child’s school or program. Email healthandsafety@goldenbridgesschool.org.

Children with symptoms of COVID‑19
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/covid-19/schools-isolation-and-quarantine.asp#symptoms

Step 3: Isolate, Quarantine, and Get Tested
Get tested, then follow the specific isolation and quarantine protocols for your program. Isolation and quarantine protocols may be specific to the student's vaccination status. Parents/guardians are required to notify Golden Bridges School within one hour if your child is exposed to, tests positive for, or is diagnosed with COVID-19. Email healthandsafety@goldenbridgesschool.org to report COVID-19 exposure and/or positive test results.

Preschool Instructions
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/COVID-19/Isolation-and-Quarantine.asp (preschool only)
Kindergarten through 7th Grade Instructions
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/covid-19/schools-isolation-and-quarantine.asp (K-8)

Step 4: Submitting Test Results
Submit results: https://my.primary.health/l/goldenbridgesschool
Results from rapid antigen tests taken at home may be submitted to the school using the link above. Please send results from a clinically supervised test (e.g. medical provider, testing site, clinic) or home test not supported by the website to healthandsafety@goldenbridgesschool.org.

Resource: Map of San Francisco testing sites: https://sf.gov/find-out-about-your-covid-19-testing-options

Step 5: Returning to School / Notes on Symptoms After a Negative COVID-19 Test Result Or Completing An Isolation Or Quarantine Period
In general, and after receiving a negative test result, or completing a required isolation or quarantine period, the best time to return to school is when symptoms have improved and are under control, such that the child is comfortable and the symptoms are not a distraction for the child. For example, a cold with a runny nose (congestion) that only required blowing a few times during the school day is perfectly fine for school, where as a persistent runny nose (requiring ongoing care) would mean the child should stay home. A very occasional cough that did not bother the child is fine for school, but an uncomfortable and persistent cough would mean that the child should stay home. The child must have experienced 24 hours with no fever, without taking fever-reducing medicines like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin). You are encouraged to stay home until you feel better, so that you don't spread other illnesses.

April 6th, 2022 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Data

April 5th, 2022 - CDPH And SFPDP Announce Updated School Guidance
CDPH: "On April 6, 2022, CDPH will update the K-12 guidance to permit asymptomatic exposed students to continue in-person instruction regardless of vaccination status or exposure location. Exposed students remain strongly recommended to wear a well-fitting mask around others, test 3 to 5 days following exposure, and monitor closely for symptoms. This guidance change is being previewed before going into effect so that public health and education partners can review and update policies, as they see fit."

SFDPH: "The Health Officer now recommends that individuals wear a well-fitted mask in indoor public settings based on three factors: (1) your own risk tolerance; (2) the overall level of community transmission, such as when future variants occur; and (3) whether you or someone with whom you work or live is at risk of severe disease.

Masking is still required under federal and state rules, at least through April 15, for public transportation and indoor public transportation facilities.
Masking is still required under State health rules for certain higher risk indoor settings, like hospitals and other healthcare settings, emergency shelters and cooling centers, correctional facilities and detention centers, homeless shelters, and long-term care settings and adult and senior care facilities.
Masking is still strongly recommended under State health rules for a certain period after someone is allowed to leave isolation or quarantine with a negative test.
Owners and operators of other individual facilities may still require masking."

The following guidance document will go into effect April 6, 2022: UPDATED K-12 Guidance

March 28th, 2022 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Data

March 25th, 2022 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Data

March 24th, 2022 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Data

March 23rd, 2022 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Data

SFDPH Notes: "Although we may begin to see an increase in BA.2 subvariant cases, we do not expect BA.2 to cause more severe disease or hospitalizations for people who are up to date on their vaccinations. Get vaccinated. Get boosted."

COVID-19 Data and Reports
https://sf.gov/resource/2021/covid-19-data-and-reports
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated
COVID-19 Testing Sites
https://sf.gov/find-out-about-your-covid-19-testing-options

March 22nd, 2022 - SFDPH Statement on BA.2 Subvariant
"The San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) is closely following the emerging science and epidemiological data on the new BA.2 subvariant. We know that the BA.2 subvariant has been circulating in San Francisco for some time already, having been first detected on Feb. 8 at the Oceanside Water Pollution Control Plant on the City’s west side by Stanford University monitoring.

At this time based on data from Europe, we may begin to see an increase in cases, but we do not expect BA.2 to cause more severe disease or hospitalizations for people who are up to date on their vaccinations. While COVID-19 will remain with us for the foreseeable future, we have many tools to slow the spread of the virus and prevent severe illness.

We are urging all San Franciscans to be prepared for BA.2 and any other variants or subvariant that may arrive in the future by getting up to date on their vaccinations (primary series and booster if eligible); having a supply of over-the-counter test kits at home; wearing masks when extra precautions are needed; and increasing safety around those who are medically vulnerable or unvaccinated. To address health inequities, SFDPH in partnership with community organizations is targeting COVID-19 resources toward highly impacted communities and where test positivity rates are higher, including vaccination and testing sites and distribution of masks and over-the-counter test kits, among other efforts." - SFDPH

March 22nd, 2022 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Data

March 17th, 2022 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Data

March 14th, 2022 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Data

March 10th, 2022 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Data

March 9th, 2022 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Data

March 9th, 2022 - Effective March 14th, Indoor Mask Wearing At School Strongly Recommended, Not Required
Golden Bridges School follows the guidance and recommendations of the CDC, the CDPH, and the SFDPH.

As previously posted , this past week there were several important public health and school operations guidance announcements. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) updated their guidance around monitoring and supporting community health, and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) announced updated guidance around when face masks are required in school settings.

After March 11, 2022, the universal indoor masking requirement for K-12 and Childcare settings will terminate. CDPH and SFDPH "strongly recommend that individuals in these settings continue to mask in indoor settings when the universal masking requirement lifts. Masking will continue to be an important layer of protection along with the continued recommendations around vaccinations, testing and ventilation, to keep schools a safe environment, even as case rates and hospitalizations decline."

The CDPH and the SFDPH recommend that individuals and families, and not schools, make their own determination as to whether to follow the CDPH and SFDPH’s strong recommendation to wear masks indoors while at school. Following the guidance and recommendations of the CDC, CDPH, and SFDPH, the school is updating our mask wearing policy.

Updated Policy:
Effective Monday, March 14th, 2022, and as long as supported by public health guidance and recommendations, the school will strongly recommend, but not require, teachers, staff, and students to wear masks in indoor school settings. Masks are strongly recommended, but optional in indoor school settings. Masks are optional in outdoor settings.

The school continues to follow all recommended COVID-19 mitigation practices, including classroom ventilation and high-efficiency air purification, maintaining on-site COVID-19 testing capability and employee COVID-19 vaccination requirements, and requiring that teachers, staff, and students follow COVID-19 health and safety protocols when ill or experiencing any suspected COVID-19 symptoms, after being around someone with COVID-19 or testing positive for COVID-19, and after traveling.

The CDPH and the SFDPH are expected to publish updated school operations guidance next week, and the school will continue to review and share further updates as available. Announcements referenced in this email and additional resources may be found below. As always, I am available to support any questions.

Thank you for supporting the health and safety of our Golden Bridges School community.

Additional Resources

GBS Health and Safety Updates
https://www.goldenbridgesschool.org/health-and-safety.html#school_updates
CDPH Get the Most Out of Masking
https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/Get-the-Most-out-of-Masking.aspx
SFDPH Guidance for TK-12 Schools for School Year 2021-2022
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/alerts/covid-guidance/2020-33-Guidance-TK12-Schools.pdf
SFDPH COVID-19 Cases in Schools
https://sf.gov/information/updated-data-covid-19-cases-among-san-francisco-children-and-schools

*Referenced Announcements

CDPH Statement: “Accordingly, after March 11, 2022, the universal masking requirement for K-12 and Childcare settings will terminate. CDPH strongly recommends that individuals in these settings continue to mask in indoor settings when the universal masking requirement lifts. Masking will continue to be an important layer of protection along with the continued recommendations around vaccinations, testing and ventilation, to keep schools a safe environment, even as case rates and hospitalizations decline.”
More Information: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/guidance-for-face-coverings.aspx

SFDPH Statement: “The San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) announced today that the City will align with the State to remove the requirement that children wear masks in TK-12 schools and early childcare settings beginning March 12. SFDPH strongly recommends that all individuals in schools and childcare continue to wear masks for the time being to keep an added layer of protection and minimize disruptions to in-person learning.”
More Information: https://sf.gov/news/sf-aligns-state-recommend-not-require-masks-schools-and-child-care-settings

CDC: Know Your COVID-19 Community Level
COVID-19 Community Levels are a new tool to help communities decide what prevention steps to take based on the latest data. Levels can be low, medium, or high and are determined by looking at hospital beds being used, hospital admissions, and the total number of new COVID-19 cases in an area. Take precautions to protect yourself and others from COVID-19 based on the COVID-19 Community Level in your area.
More Information: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/covid-by-county.html

March 8th, 2022 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Data

March 7th, 2022 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Data

March 7th, 2022 - Updated SFDPH Schools Guidance Anticipated This Week
This past week the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) updated their guidance around monitoring and supporting community health and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) announced updated guidance around when face masks are required in indoor school settings.

Golden Bridges School follows the guidance and recommendations of the CDC, the CDPH, and the SFDPH. The CDPH and SFDPH are expected to publish updated schools guidance this week, and the school will review and share when available.

______________
CDC Statement
“With current high levels of vaccination and high levels of population immunity from both vaccination and infections, the risk of medically significant disease, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19 is greatly reduced for most people. At the same time, we know that some people and communities, such as our oldest citizens, people who are immunocompromised, and people with disabilities, are at higher risk for serious illness and face challenging decisions navigating a world with COVID-19.
In addition to protecting those at highest risk of severe outcomes, focusing on reducing medically significant illness and minimizing strain on the healthcare system reflects our current understanding of SARS-CoV-2 infection, immunity from vaccination and infection, and the tools we have available. Vaccines are highly protective against severe disease, and continuing to expand vaccine coverage and ensuring people are up to date with vaccination is essential to protecting individuals against hospitalizations and deaths.
Health officials and individuals should consider current information about COVID-19 hospitalizations in the community, as well as the potential for strain on the local health system and COVID-19 cases in the community, when making decisions about community prevention strategies and individual behaviors. Communities and individuals should also make decisions based on whether they are at high risk for severe disease and take into account inequities in access to prevention strategies.
COVID-19 Community Levels can help communities and individuals make decisions based on their local context and their unique needs. Community vaccination coverage and other local information, like early alerts from surveillance, such as through wastewater or the number of emergency department visits for COVID-19, when available, can also inform decision making for health officials and individuals.”

Source: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/science/community-levels.html

CDC: Know Your COVID-19 Community Level
COVID-19 Community Levels are a new tool to help communities decide what prevention steps to take based on the latest data. Levels can be low, medium, or high and are determined by looking at hospital beds being used, hospital admissions, and the total number of new COVID-19 cases in an area. Take precautions to protect yourself and others from COVID-19 based on the COVID-19 Community Level in your area.
Source: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/covid-by-county.html

______________
CDPH Statement
CDPH: “Accordingly, after March 11, 2022, the universal masking requirement for K-12 and Childcare settings will terminate. CDPH strongly recommends that individuals in these settings continue to mask in indoor settings when the universal masking requirement lifts. Masking will continue to be an important layer of protection along with the continued recommendations around vaccinations, testing and ventilation, to keep schools a safe environment, even as case rates and hospitalizations decline.”

Source: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/guidance-for-face-coverings.aspx

______________
SFDPH Statement
SFDPH: “The San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) announced today that the City will align with the State to remove the requirement that children wear masks in TK-12 schools and early childcare settings beginning March 12. SFDPH strongly recommends that all individuals in schools and childcare continue to wear masks for the time being to keep an added layer of protection and minimize disruptions to in-person learning.”

Source: https://sf.gov/news/sf-aligns-state-recommend-not-require-masks-schools-and-child-care-settings

March 4th, 2022 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Data

SFDPH Key Messages

Vaccination and boosters of staff, eligible students, and household members for COVID-19 is one of the most effective ways to decrease the risk of COVID-19 in schools. Up-to-date vaccinated adults and eligible students also provide protection to younger children who are not yet eligible for vaccination.
In-person attendance is crucial to students’ physical and mental health as well as their learning, Measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 must consider and prioritize students’ access to safe and full in-person instruction, keeping them in school as much as possible and limiting unnecessary missed days at school.

March 3rd, 2022 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Data

SFDPH: "While children tend to have less severe forms of COVID-19 than adults, they can still become seriously ill. Disruptions to their schooling and risks to vulnerable family members all point to the urgent need to vaccinate children."

COVID-19 Data and Reports
https://sf.gov/resource/2021/covid-19-data-and-reports
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated
COVID-19 Testing Sites
https://sf.gov/find-out-about-your-covid-19-testing-options

March 2nd, 2022 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Data

March 1st, 2022 - CDPH Published Updated Guidance For The Use Of Masks
Excerpt: "Current projections show that statewide, the declines we are seeing in cases and hospitalizations will continue. Accordingly, after March 11, 2022, the universal masking requirement for K-12 and Childcare settings will terminate. CDPH strongly recommends that individuals in these settings continue to mask in indoor settings when the universal masking requirement lifts. Masking will continue to be an important layer of protection along with the continued recommendations around vaccinations, testing and ventilation, to keep schools a safe environment, even as case rates and hospitalizations decline." - CDPH

CDPH Guidance for the Use of Face Masks
https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/guidance-for-face-coverings.aspx

March 1st, 2022 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Data

February 28th, 2022 - SFDPH Press Release Announcing Upcoming Guidance Changes Around Mask Wearing
SAN FRANCISCO ALIGNS WITH STATE TO RECOMMEND BUT NOT REQUIRE MASKS IN SCHOOLS AND CHILD CARE SETTINGS
School systems and childcare sites may choose to be more restrictive than the state and City’s guidelines; City prioritizes health equity for highly impacted communities with low barrier vaccinations at schools and distribution of masks.

San Francisco, CA — The San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) announced today that the City will align with the State to remove the requirement that children wear masks in TK-12 schools and early childcare settings beginning March 12. SFDPH strongly recommends that all individuals in schools and childcare continue to wear masks for the time being to keep an added layer of protection and minimize disruptions to in-person learning.

Additionally, the City will also align with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) in strongly recommending but not requiring unvaccinated individuals to wear masks in most indoor public settings. This change to the order will be issued later this week and will be retroactive to March 1.

Masks are still required for everyone, vaccinated or unvaccinated, on public transportation, in health care settings, congregate settings like correctional facilities and homeless shelters, and long-term care facilities.

Masks remain an effective tool to prevent COVID-19 infections, and as always individual entities such as businesses or school systems may choose to be more restrictive than state and local guidelines, including on masking and vaccination. People can continue to choose to wear masks around others whether it’s required or not for added protection and people should respect other’s choices around their health.

With the changes in masking guidance, SFDPH continues to recognize the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on communities hardest hit by the virus and is prioritizing low-barrier access to vaccines and masking supplies. SFDPH also strongly recommends childcare and schools implement a “group tracing approach” to decrease the number of missed school days. Group tracing allows students who are close contacts to others who infected to safely stay in school and test unless they become symptomatic.

“What enables us to align with the state in recommending but not requiring masking in school and child-care settings is the foundational work we have done as a San Francisco community to keep each other safe throughout this pandemic,” said Health Officer, Dr. Susan Philip. “We have vaccinated 83% of our population, adults and children, and this provides significant protection for even our youngest children who are not yet eligible for vaccinations. Masks are still an important prevention tool for now and in the future, and we may need to rely on masks again if we see new surges in cases or new variants. For now, with case rates continuing to drop, this is a safe step in a direction toward fewer restrictions. We still have work to do to make sure we reach all children with vaccines and provide resources like masks to communities hardest hit, and we will work diligently with our community partners and schools to close the health equity gaps.”

SFDPH will be working closely with the school systems to provide guidance and assistance in the coming days. The City has distributed 150,000 KN95 masks for San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) staff, and a half million surgical masks for SFUSD students. In the coming weeks, SFDPH will also be distributing pediatric KN95 and surgical masks through community partners working in highly impacted neighborhoods.

Redoubling on vaccination efforts, the City and SFUSD has opened drop-in vaccination sites at Bret Harte Elementary School in the Bayview and Rosa Parks Elementary School in Western Addition for eight weeks and is hosting numerous “pop-up” clinics at school sites.

The majority of San Francisco children ages 5 to 11 are fully vaccinated, or 69%. More than 90% of teenagers ages 12 to 17, giving San Francisco children the best defense against the virus. However, last week, SFDPH released data showing a widening disparity in vaccinations among children ages 5 to 11 by race and ethnicity. Just as during earlier parts of the city-wide vaccination campaign, the leadership of community partners has been critical in identifying the most meaningful interventions for reducing disparities in vaccination rates for adults. SFDPH is also working with community partners to find creative and meaningful ways to reach families in the coming weeks and months. 

San Francisco Department of Public Health Press Release
https://sf.gov/news/sf-aligns-state-recommend-not-require-masks-schools-and-child-care-settings

February 28th, 2022 - Governors Newsom, Brown and Inslee Announce Updated Health Guidance
The California Governor's Office issued a press release announcing updated masking guidance. As is the practice, the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH), our local health jurisdiction, will review the updated California Department of Public Health (CDPH guidance and then issue updated public health and schools guidance for San Francisco. The CDPH and SFDPH may or may not follow the same timeline or the same restrictions. As required, the school follows SFDPH guidance and will provide updates as guidance changes.

Excerpt: "SACRAMENTO – With declining case rates and hospitalizations across the West, California, Oregon and Washington are moving together to update their masking guidance. After 11:59 p.m. on March 11, California, Oregon and Washington will adopt new indoor mask policies and move from mask requirements to mask recommendations in schools.

State policies do not change federal requirements, which still include masks on public transit.

Statement from California Governor Gavin Newsom: “California continues to adjust our policies based on the latest data and science, applying what we’ve learned over the past two years to guide our response to the pandemic. Masks are an effective tool to minimize spread of the virus and future variants, especially when transmission rates are high. We cannot predict the future of the virus, but we are better prepared for it and will continue to take measures rooted in science to keep California moving forward.”

In California, starting March 1, masks will no longer be required for unvaccinated individuals, but will be strongly recommended for all individuals in most indoor settings. After March 11, in schools and child care facilities, masks will not be required but will be strongly recommended. Masks will still be required for everyone in high transmission settings like public transit, emergency shelters, health care settings, correctional facilities, homeless shelters and long-term care facilities. As always, local jurisdictions may have additional requirements beyond the state guidance."

Press Release From CA Governor's Office
https://www.gov.ca.gov/2022/02/28/governors-newsom-brown-and-inslee-announce-updated-health-guidance/

February 28th, 2022 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

February 24th, 2022 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

February 24th, 2022 - SFDPH Covid-19 Isolation & Quarantine Decision Tree For Children

SFDPH Covid-19 Isolation & Quarantine Decision Tree For Children (TK-12 and Childcare)
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/files/ig/covid-decision-tree-children.pdf

February 18th, 2022 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

February 16th, 2022 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

February 16th, 2022 - Updated Order Of The San Francisco Health Officer
Get vaccinated. Get boosted. Visit sf.gov/masks.
ORDER OF THE HEALTH OFFICER No. C19-07y (Updated - Effective 2/16/2022)
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/alerts/files/C19-07-Safer-Return-Together-Health-Order.pdf

February 15th, 2022 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

February 14th, 2022 - Reminder: Current CDC Travel Guidance
If you are NOT Up-to-Date with your COVID-19 Vaccines

Delay travel until you are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines.
Getting vaccinated is still the best way to protect yourself from severe disease and slow the spread of COVID-19.
Get tested before you travel.
- Get a viral test as close to the time of departure as possible (no more than 3 days) before you travel.
- Isolate if you test positive or develop COVID-19 symptoms.
Follow additional recommendations before, during, and after travel.
Self-quarantine and get tested after travel:
- Get tested with a viral test 3-5 days after returning from travel.
- Stay home and self-quarantine for a full 5 days after travel.

CDC Travel Guidance (last updated 1/27/2022)
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/travel-during-covid19.html

February 14th, 2022 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

February 14th, 2022 - SFDPH School Guidance Update
Masks are optional outdoors, get up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations, including boosters), and test if symptoms
Key Messages:

Vaccination and boosters of staff, eligible students, and household members for COVID-19 is one of the most effective ways to decrease the risk of COVID-19 in schools. Up-to-date vaccinated adults and eligible students also provide protection to younger children who are not yet eligible for vaccination.
In-person attendance is crucial to students’ physical and mental health as well as their learning. Measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 must consider and prioritize students’ access to safe and full in-person instruction, keeping them in school as much as possible and limiting unnecessary missed days at school.

Summarized Changes (from February 3rd, 2022 guidance):

Clarified guidance about face masks outdoors, specifically that masks are not required since the risk of transmission is low in most outdoor settings.
Clarified that unvaccinated individuals who have had COVID-19 in the last 90 days and are required to undergo weekly asymptomatic screening testing for certain situations are exempt from the asymptomatic screening testing for 90 days from the date of infection. They should resume screening testing after 90 days.

Guidance for TK-12 Schools for School Year 2021-2022 (updated February 11, 2022)
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/alerts/covid-guidance/2020-33-Guidance-TK12-Schools.pdf

February 11th, 2022 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

February 9th, 2022 - San Francisco Department of Public Health Press Release
San Francisco lifts most universal mask mandates on February 16. Masking remains for schools and childcare. Please see press release below.

***PRESS RELEASE***
ELEVEN BAY AREA HEALTH OFFICERS TO LIFT MOST INDOOR MASK MANDATES ON FEBRUARY 16
Masks still strongly recommended; vaccines and boosters urged to further strengthen defenses

In alignment with the State, the Bay Area counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma, and the City of Berkeley will lift universal mask requirements for most indoor public settings beginning Wednesday, February 16.
Unvaccinated individuals over age 2 will continue to be required to wear masks in all indoor public settings. Businesses, venue operators and hosts may determine their own paths forward to protect staff and patrons and may choose to require all patrons to wear masks.

The change aligns with the California Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) decision to let expire the statewide indoor mask requirement, which was instated on December 15 during the latest COVID-19 surge. Indoor masking is still required by the State for everyone, regardless of vaccination status, in public transportation; health care settings; congregate settings like correctional facilities and homeless shelters; long term care facilities; and in K-12 schools and childcare settings.

Bay Area health officers continue to strongly recommend masks be used as an effective tool to prevent the spread of the virus especially when case rates are high, or when additional personal protection is needed. Continuing to mask in indoor public settings, especially crowded or poorly ventilated spaces, remains the safest choice for an individual and protects those who are medically vulnerable or are not able to get vaccinated, like our youngest children. As evidence continues to show, vaccinations and boosters remain the best defense against the virus.

The highly contagious Omicron variant brought on a new stage of the pandemic with a high number of new infections, but significantly fewer cases of life-threatening illnesses, especially for those who are vaccinated and boosted. While relaxing indoor masking requirements is part of a population-level shift toward a “new normal” of living with the disease, the Health Officers recognize that essential workers and communities of color continue to be highly impacted by COVID-19 and will need additional support to limit widening health disparities. Changes to health orders and recommendations may be updated as Health Officers follow the science and the data to evaluate whether additional protective measures may be needed as the virus evolves and if future surges occur.

People should continue to choose layered prevention strategies, such as wearing well-fitted masks (N95 or double layer cloth over surgical are best); staying home and testing when symptomatic; testing before gatherings; and improving indoor ventilation in situations where these strategies can add protection for themselves and others. Staying “up to date” on vaccinations, meaning primary series and boosters when eligible, remains the most important way to prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death.

By aligning with the state masking rules, the participating Bay Area counties will not need to meet previously established criteria for lifting local masking orders, which were devised at a different point in the pandemic.

San Francisco’s cases declining
After reaching a high on January 9 of 2,258 new cases per day, San Francisco’s case rates have rapidly declined to a 7-day average of 552 on February 1 and continue to drop. Meanwhile, hospitalizations, a lagging indicator of disease, have begun to drop and never exceeded the City’s capacity during this latest surge because of the City’s overall high rates of vaccinations (84%) and boosters (64%). San Francisco’s universal mask mandate has been in place since August 2 when cases began climbing from the Delta variant. A combination of preventative strategies, which included mask use, vaccination, boosters and testing, along with the community’s cooperation helped get the Bay Area through this last surge together as a stronger regional community.

“Omicron was an immense stress test on our system, and although it presented many difficulties because of the sheer number of people who became infected, we made it through with schools and businesses open and without overwhelming our hospitals because we have built up strong defenses against the virus with our high vaccination and booster rates,” said San Francisco’s Health Officer, Dr. Susan Philip. “We are able to take this next major step of removing the universal indoor mask requirement because we have laid a strong foundation in good public health protections and know we can prevent severe illness, hospitalizations and deaths. We do want people to continue to be cautious and layer their defenses through masking and other measures when the situation requires. And we are continuing to prioritize our City’s efforts to reduce the impacts of COVID-19 on vulnerable people and communities. Being vaccinated and boosted remains the best protection against future variants of the virus.”

Other San Francisco COVID-19 requirements
San Francisco will continue to require proof of vaccinations or a negative test to enter restaurants, bars, gyms and other settings where food and drink is consumed, or elevated breathing occurs. A patron who is unvaccinated may show proof of a recent negative COVID-19 test instead, and entry without proof of vaccination is no longer limited to those with a medical or religious exemption, per a new change in the City’s health order. Additionally, patrons attending large indoor events are required to show proof of being “up-to-date” on vaccinations (including the primary series and a booster, if eligible) or have a recent negative test. The change updates the definition of “mega-event” from 500 to 1,000 in alignment with the State. A negative test could be a PCR-lab test within two days of attendance of the event, or one-day for a verified antigen test.

Masking remains for schools and childcare
CDPH continues to require masking in K-12 school settings but has indicated adjustments to the state’s policies will be shared in the coming weeks. In the meantime, there is work to be done in closing the remaining gaps in vaccinations and boosters among children with a particular focus on equity gaps within the most highly impacted communities.

For early education programs, such as preschool and childcare settings, CDPH continues to require masking for children older than age two. Vaccinations for children under 5 are currently undergoing federal review. Workplaces will continue to follow the COVID-19 prevention standards set by CalOSHA.

Supporting the choice to mask
Some people may understandably feel anxious about these changes to masking requirements. People can continue to choose to wear face coverings around others whether it’s mandated or not and should respect people’s choices around their health. Community members who are vaccinated and choose not to mask should respect the choices of those who continue to mask. Officials ask residents and visitors to be kind and respectful as people evaluate their risks and make choices to protect themselves and those around them.

February 8th, 2022 - Reminder: Current CDC Travel Guidance
If you are NOT Up-to-Date with your COVID-19 Vaccines

Delay travel until you are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines.
Getting vaccinated is still the best way to protect yourself from severe disease and slow the spread of COVID-19.
Get tested before you travel.
- Get a viral test as close to the time of departure as possible (no more than 3 days) before you travel.
- Isolate if you test positive or develop COVID-19 symptoms.
Follow additional recommendations before, during, and after travel.
Self-quarantine and get tested after travel:
- Get tested with a viral test 3-5 days after returning from travel.
- Stay home and self-quarantine for a full 5 days after travel.

CDC Travel Guidance (last updated 1/27/2022)
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/travel-during-covid19.html

February 8th, 2022 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

February 2nd, 2022 - SFDPH Updated Guidance For Children With Exposure In A Preschool-12 School Setting
Updated CDPH and SFDPH guidance now support two different approaches for responding to COVID-19 exposures in the school setting based on the specific exposure scenario. In the event of a school exposure and in responding to the specific exposure scenario, schools may apply the Individual-Based Tracing approach, with associated Close Contact and General Exposure notifications and protocols, or the Group-Based Tracing approach, with exposed group notifications and protocols. In general, and superseded by the requirements for a specific exposure scenario, GBS will primarily utilize the Group-Based Tracing approach in our Preschool through 7th Grade programs.

School-facilitated onsite COVID-19 testing participants are required to collect their own sample by independently performing their own lower nostril nasal swab in a proctored environment. Some students have this capacity and others do not. In general, students in early childhood programs do not have this capacity. Participation in school-facilitated testing is optional, and as an alternative to school-facilitated testing, test results from clinics, testing sites, and at-home test kits are all acceptable. San Francisco testing resources are also available by clicking here to find a testing site near you. Over-the-counter (at-home) tests may also be used, with results submitted to: https://my.primary.health/l/goldenbridgesschool

SFDPH K-12 Schools Isolation and Quarantine Guidance
Allows for both Individual-Based Tracing AND Group-Based Tracing protocols
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/covid-19/schools-isolation-and-quarantine.asp
SFDPH Preschool Isolation and Quarantine Guidance
Allows for both Individual-Based Tracing AND Group-Based Tracing protocols
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/COVID-19/Isolation-and-Quarantine.asp
SFDPH Preschool Guidance (Programs for Children and Youth: Childcare, Out-of-School Time Programs, and Day Camps)
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/files/ig/Programs-for-Children-and-Youth.pdf (updated 2/1/2022)

February 2nd, 2022 - CDPH Choosing Your Mask and GBS Mask Wearing Norms
Golden Bridges School Health and Safety Norms - Mask Wearing
When at school, my family will follow the guidance, including: Wearing well-fitted face covering to school.
Face masks can keep infection from spreading, by trapping respiratory droplets and aerosols before they can travel through the air. They are an essential prevention strategy in indoor spaces that include anyone unvaccinated against COVID-19. Students, staff, parents, volunteers, and visitors may not enter the school, the farm, or other instruction space unless wearing a face covering. Teachers will inform students when face coverings are optional for a specific outdoor activity.

Update: San Francisco case rates are in decline, school exposures have been limited, and schools may now support all student populations with the group tracing approach and exposure-based testing. The school anticipates the resumption of our practice of supporting mask-optional outdoor activities, as described above and in our Health and Safety Norms.

GBS Health and Safety Norms
https://www.goldenbridgesschool.org/gbs-health-and-safety-norms.html
CDPH: Get The Most Out Of Masking
https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/Get-the-Most-out-of-Masking.aspx

February 2nd, 2022 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

February 2nd, 2022 - Current Percentage Of San Francisco Residents Fully Vaccinated By Age 

SFDPH COVID-19 Vaccinations By Age
https://sf.gov/data/covid-19-vaccinations-race-and-age#vaccinations-by-age-
SFPDH Case Rate By Vaccination Status
https://sf.gov/data/covid-19-cases-and-deaths#new-cases-by-vaccination-status

January 31st, 2022 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

January 27th, 2022 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

January 27th, 2022 - Current 7-Day Rolling Average Cases Per Day

SFDPH COVID-19 Case Data
https://sf.gov/data/covid-19-cases-and-deaths

January 25th, 2022 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

January 24th, 2022 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

January 20th, 2022 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

January 19th, 2022 - Current 7-Day Rolling Average Cases Per Day

SFDPH COVID-19 Case Data
https://sf.gov/data/covid-19-cases-and-deaths

January 18th, 2022 - SFDPH Updated Guidance For Children With Exposure In A TK-12 School Setting
Updated CDPH and SFDPH guidance now support two different approaches for responding to COVID-19 exposures in the school setting based on the specific exposure scenario. In the event of a school exposure and in responding to the specific exposure scenario, schools may apply the Individual-Based Tracing approach, with associated Close Contact and General Exposure notifications and protocols, or the Group-Based Tracing approach, with exposed group notifications and protocols. In general, and superseded by the requirements for a specific exposure scenario, GBS will primarily utilize the Group-Based Tracing approach in our Kindergarten through 7th Grade programs and the Individual-Based Tracing approach, with standard quarantine, in our Preschool programs.

January 18th, 2022 - USPS: Place Your Order for Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests
Residential households in the U.S. can order one set of 4 free at-home tests from USPS.com. Here’s what you need to know about your order:

Limit of one order per residential address
One order includes 4 individual rapid antigen COVID-19 tests
Orders will ship free starting in late January

Fill in this form with your contact and shipping information to order your tests:
https://special.usps.com/testkits

January 18th, 2022 - Reminder: What To Do When Experiencing Symptoms
Step-By-Step Instructions

Step 1: Suspected COVID-19 Symptoms
Although a common occurrence in children, many common cold and flu symptoms may also be suspected COVID-19 symptoms that either require a COVID-19 test, note from a medical provider, or a quarantine period before a return to school. Please review the Daily Symptom and Exposure Check form below (Step 2) for the specific symptoms that require follow-up, including required testing.

Step 2: Review the Daily COVID-19 Symptom and Exposure Check
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/files/ig/Parent-Guardian-Health-Check-Handout.pdf
GBS and the SFDPH recommend consulting with a medical provider when symptoms are present. Please review the daily COVID-19 Symptom and Exposure Check, as the current list of symptoms, and required follow-up protocols, are regularly updated.

Step 3: Isolate, Quarantine, and Get Tested
Get tested, then follow the specific isolation and quarantine protocols for your program. Isolation and quarantine protocols are scenario-based, and the protocol you need to follow may be specific to the student's vaccination status, and in the case of close contact, whether the COVID-19 exposure occurred at school or outside of school.

Parents/guardians are required to notify Golden Bridges School within one hour if your child is exposed to, tests positive for, or is diagnosed with COVID-19. Email healthandsafety@goldenbridgesschool.org to report COVID-19 exposure and/or positive test results.

Preschool Instructions
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/COVID-19/Isolation-and-Quarantine.asp
Kindergarten through 7th Grade Instructions
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/covid-19/schools-isolation-and-quarantine.asp

Step 4: Submitting Test Results
Submit results: https://my.primary.health/l/goldenbridgesschool
Results from rapid antigen tests taken at home may be submitted to the school using the link above. Please send results from a clinically supervised test (e.g. medical provider, testing site, clinic) or home test not supported by the website to healthandsafety@goldenbridgesschool.org.
Map of San Francisco testing sites: https://sf.gov/find-out-about-your-covid-19-testing-options

Step 5: Returning to School / Notes on Symptoms After a Negative COVID-19 Test Result Or Completing An Isolation Or Quarantine Period
In general, and after receiving a negative test result, or completing a required isolation or quarantine period, the best time to return to school is when symptoms have improved and are under control, such that the child is comfortable and the symptoms are not a distraction for the child. For example, a cold with a runny nose (congestion) that only required blowing a few times during the school day is perfectly fine for school, where as a persistent runny nose (requiring ongoing care) would mean the child should stay home. A very occasional cough that did not bother the child is fine for school, but an uncomfortable and persistent cough would mean that the child should stay home. The child must have experienced 24 hours with no fever, without taking fever-reducing medicines like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin). You are encouraged to stay home until you feel better, so that you don't spread other illnesses.

January 18th, 2022 - Current 7-Day Rolling Average Cases Per Day

SFDPH COVID-19 Case Data
https://sf.gov/data/covid-19-cases-and-deaths

January 18th, 2022 - SFDPH Hospitalization Data

SFDPH COVID-19 Hospitalization Data
https://sf.gov/data/covid-19-hospitalizations

January 18th, 2022 - Current Percentage Of San Francisco Residents Fully Vaccinated By Age

SFDPH COVID-19 Vaccinations By Age
https://sf.gov/data/covid-19-vaccinations-race-and-age#vaccinations-by-age-

January 12th, 2022 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

CDPH: Get the most out of masking
https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/Get-the-Most-out-of-Masking.aspx

January 11th, 2022 - San Francisco Health Officer Issues New Health Orders
Summary: As of January 10, 2022, this Order replaces the prior update of this health order, Health Officer Order No. C19-07y (issued December 29, 2021), in its entirety. Excerpt, as follows:

"The Health Officer is updating the Order in light of the spread in San Francisco and the Bay Area region of the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID- 19, and the imminent threat that it poses to the health of vulnerable residents and particularly to the capacity of San Francisco’s healthcare system. Current evidence indicates that the Omicron variant is much more transmissible than Delta and other variants of the virus, and that individuals who have had only their initial vaccine series are susceptible to the Omicron variant. Medical data to date also show that individuals who have received a booster shot increase their immunity to a level that confers significantly more protection from all circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants, including the Omicron variant, and generally prevents severe disease. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the California Department of Public Health now recommend that everyone who has been vaccinated receive a booster shot as soon as they are eligible because immunity wanes several months after completion of the initial vaccine series. And the CDC and CDPH recommend that people receive the Pfizer- BioNTech or Moderna booster if they can.

Vaccination remains a critical component in preventing COVID-19 and its associated health harms. Individuals who have not received their initial vaccine series or a booster shot are more likely to become infected and spread infection to others, and more likely to become seriously ill and die. It is critical that community members receive their initial vaccine series and booster shots when eligible to maintain the protective effect of the high community-wide vaccination rates in San Francisco.
Even though a high percentage of people are vaccinated in San Francisco and the Bay Area region against the virus that causes COVID-19 and an increasing percentage are boosted, there remains a risk that people may come into contact with others who have COVID-19 when outside their residence. Many COVID-19 infections are caused by people who have no symptoms of illness. Also, there are people in San Francisco who are not yet fully vaccinated or who are not yet eligible to receive a booster, including children under five years old, and people who are immuno-compromised and may be particularly vulnerable to infection and disease. Everyone who is eligible, including people at risk for severe illness with COVID-19—such as unvaccinated older adults and unvaccinated individuals with health risks—and members of their households, are strongly urged to get vaccinated and receive their booster as soon as they can if they have not already done so."

SFDPH Order of the Health Officer
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/alerts/files/C19-07-Safer-Return-Together-Health-Order.pdf

January 11th, 2022 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

January 11th, 2022 - Reminder: How Schools Respond To COVID-19 - Including Advisory Communications
This is a quick reference guide around how schools respond to COVID-19 infections, symptoms, and exposure. Specific scenarios prompt specific actions and associated communications.
For more information:
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/covid-19/schools-isolation-and-quarantine.asp

SFDPH Guidance For Schools When Responding To COVID-19
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/covid-19/schools-isolation-and-quarantine.asp

January 9th, 2022 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

January 9th, 2022 - Reminder: What To Do When Experiencing Symptoms Or After Exposure To COVID-19
Students who have symptoms of infectious illness, such as COVID-19, a cold, or the flu, must stay home, and parents, guardians, and caregivers should contact a healthcare provider for testing and care, regardless of vaccination status.

Parents, guardians, and caregivers must report test results and fulfill the relevant isolation or quarantine requirements after suspected COVID-19 symptoms, COVID-19 exposure, and/or recovering from COVID-19 before the student may return to school.

Isolation and Quarantine Requirements (updated 12/31/2021)
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/covid-19/schools-isolation-and-quarantine.asp
How long to stay home, if…

Submit Test Results
https://my.primary.health/l/goldenbridgesschool

For support in navigating this process from suspected symptom onset or exposure to a return to school, please contact: healthandsafety@goldenbridgesschool.org

Daily Symptom and Exposure Check
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/files/ig/Parent-Guardian-Health-Check-Handout.pdf

January 6th, 2022 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

COVID-19 Data and Reports
https://sf.gov/resource/2021/covid-19-data-and-reports
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

January 1st, 2022 - Readiness For A Return To School After Winter Break
Thank you for submitting your test results this weekend. We hope many students will be returning to school on Monday, and for those who will be joining us later, we can’t wait to see you.

Submit Test Results
https://my.primary.health/l/goldenbridgesschool

As always, students who have symptoms of infectious illness, such as COVID-19 or the flu, must stay home, and parents, guardians, and caregivers should contact a healthcare provider for testing and care, regardless of vaccination status. Parents, guardians, and caregivers must report test results and fulfill the relevant isolation or quarantine requirements before the student returns to school.

Isolation and Quarantine Requirements (updated 12/31/2021)
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/covid-19/schools-isolation-and-quarantine.asp

How long to stay home, if…

As always, for support in navigating this process from suspected symptom onset or exposure to a return to school, please contact: healthandsafety@goldenbridgesschool.org

In addition to the required testing before students return from winter break, we wanted to offer a snapshot of our preparations and suggestions we have to you in order to keep our community as safe and comfortable as possible. It is our priority to keep school open and in service to the students.

We will be instituting universal mask wearing, inside and outside except when eating, for the first 5 days (extended) on return from break.
We can anticipate programming changes as our staff availability fluctuates.
We prioritize ventilation. Air filters are always running and will be keeping doors and windows open, when environmental conditions allow.
Students with symptoms detected during the school day will be sent home, unless previous protocols have cleared them to attend school.

Due to colder temperatures and predicted rain:

Send children to school with layers, gloves, hats, thick socks, and jackets, when available.
Send children with appropriate rain gear - rain pants, jackets, and boots.
Send children with a change of clothes that includes undergarments, long sleeves/pants, an additional sweater, and socks.

If you do not have the necessary gear, please contact your class parent who can help facilitate borrowing or procuring any missing elements.

Thank you for your vigilance and care during this time!

January 1st, 2022 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

COVID-19 Data and Reports
https://sf.gov/resource/2021/covid-19-data-and-reports
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

December 31st, 2021 - A Message From SFDPH About Isolation Period Change From 10 To 5 Days
The San Francisco Department of Public Health is updating the isolation period for COVID-19-positive students and staff in schools and childcare settings. In accordance with updated guidance from the California Department of Public Health and recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control:

Students and staff who have tested positive for COVID-19 can return after 5 days of isolation (previously 10 days) IF

they no longer have a fever, AND
their other symptoms are getting better, AND
they have a negative test collected on or after day 5. Both PCR/NAAT and antigen tests are acceptable.

As part of the updated recommendations for isolation, these individuals must wear masks while around others, indoors and outdoors, for a total of 10 days.

The changes above apply for isolation (someone who has tested positive). At this time, there are no changes to quarantine for exposures or close contacts in schools or childcare. We are expecting this to come soon and will update you as possible.
We are unable to finalize changes to our web resources over the holiday weekend, but programs can begin observing these changes. Once finalized they will be reflected in the following resources.

What are isolation and quarantine?
Both isolation and quarantine refer to staying at home and away from other people, when you have or might have COVID‑19. Isolation and quarantine are used to keep people who have or might have COVID‑19 away from others, to keep the infection from spreading.

You isolate when you have been infected with the virus, even if you don’t have symptoms. If you have symptoms that could be from COVID‑19, you also must isolate until you know you are not infected, usually after you have a negative COVID‑19 test.

You quarantine when you have had close contact with someone with COVID‑19 and might be infected.

Close contact is being within 6 feet of an infected person for a total of 15 minutes or more in 24 hours, even if both people were wearing masks. An infected person can spread COVID‑19 starting 2 days before they have symptoms or test positive for COVID‑19. They stay contagious for at least 10 days after their symptoms started (if they never have symptoms, 10 days after their positive test).

Important Note About Students Not Up-To-Date On COVID-19 Vaccinations (Or Unvaccinated)
If the unvaccinated child has ongoing close contact with the person with COVID‑19 (for example, a parent or sibling), the child must quarantine for an additional 7‑14 days after the person with COVID‑19 is no longer infectious and completes there isolation period. For example, a child quarantining for 10 days after the last close contact would have to stay home for a total of 20 days after the person with COVID‑19 first developed symptoms, or if asymptomatic, had a positive test.

December 31st, 2021 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

COVID-19 Data and Reports
https://sf.gov/resource/2021/covid-19-data-and-reports
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

December 30th, 2021 - Reminder: School Requirements For Retuning To School From Winter Break
Please review the school requirements for a return to school after the winter break.

Stay Home When Sick

Students, teachers and staff who have symptoms of infectious illness, such as COVID-19 or the flu, must stay home and should contact healthcare provider for testing and care, regardless of vaccination status.
Daily symptom and exposure check for students: https://www.sfdph.org/dph/files/ig/Parent-Guardian-Health-Check-Handout.pdf

Required Testing for Return to School

All students and staff are required to get tested for COVID-19 regardless of vaccination status 1-2 days before returning to school or work, even if they are asymptomatic.
If families or staff have traveled over the holidays, they are required to test 3-5 days after returning from travel. Travelers who were not fully vaccinated at the time of travel may return to school on Day 8, if they received a negative COVID-19 test result on or after Day 3 after retuning from travel. When counting quarantine days, Day 0 is the day you return home from travel.
If any students or staff test positive, parents, guardians or staff are required to notify the school immediately at healthandsafety@goldenbridgesschool.org and follow isolation and quarantine guidelines: https://www.sfdph.org/dph/COVID-19/Isolation-and-Quarantine.asp. As of !2/30/2021, SFDPH continues to require a full 10-day isolation after COVID-19. Day 0 is the day the sample was collected that tested positive for COVID-19 OR the day of symptoms on-set, if earlier. Day 11 is the day you can leave isolation and return to school.
COVID-19 testing sites and resources: https://sf.gov/find-out-about-your-covid-19-testing-options

December 30th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases

COVID-19 Data and Reports
https://sf.gov/resource/2021/covid-19-data-and-reports
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

December 30th, 2021- A message from the San Francisco Department of Public Health
SFDPH reaffirms support for in-person learning despite presence of COVID-19 Omicron variant
As families prepare for a return to school following the holidays, the SF 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.
“San Francisco has remained vigilant and beat back four surges, and we are well positioned with a highly vaccinated population to do the same with this current surge due to Omicron,” said Dr. Grant Colfax, SF Director of Public Health. “Throughout the pandemic, San Francisco schools have remained low-risk settings by following proper safety protocols – let’s work together to keep it that way.”
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.
“I appreciate this guidance from our public health experts on the importance of keeping our students safely in the classroom,” said Mayor London Breed. “We know how hard the last two years have been on our kids, and we need to focus on what’s best to support them, while also putting policies in place to ensure that everyone in our schools is protected.”
When rates of COVID are high in our communities, cases will appear at schools, just as they do in other settings. However, with effective health protocols in place, the data shows that these multiple layers of defense can stop the spread of COVID in school settings.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently announced its support for an additional valuable tool in school settings as part of its layered prevention strategy called Test to Stay. Test to Stay combines contact tracing and COVID-19 testing that is repeated at least twice during a seven-day period post-exposure to allow asymptomatic school-associated close contacts who are not fully vaccinated and do not test positive for COVID-19 to continue in-person learning. Students who participate in Test to Stay should consistently and correctly wear masks while in school and should stay home and isolate if they develop symptoms or test positive for COVID-19.
SFDPH continues to support strategies that safely keep as many kids in schools, such as the CDC’s Test to Stay tool, which is similar to the modified quarantine guidance that SFDPH supported and allowed since the beginning of the school year. More information on the modified quarantine guidance is available here: https://www.sfdph.org/dph/covid-19/isolation-and-quarantine.asp#school.
“We must do everything possible to keep students safely attending schools,” said Dr. Susan Philip, SF Health Officer. “The mental health impacts on students due to social isolation far outweigh the challenges of in-person learning.”
Safer Return to School RecommendationsTesting

All students and staff are recommended to get tested for COVID-19 regardless of vaccination status 1-2 days before returning to school or work, even if they are asymptomatic.
If families or staff have traveled over the holidays, SFDPH recommends testing 3-5 days after returning from travel.
If any students or staff test positive, please notify your school immediately and follow isolation and quarantine guidelines: https://www.sfdph.org/dph/COVID-19/Isolation-and-Quarantine.asp. Individuals who need assistance with isolation can connect with the COVID Resource Center at (628) 217-6101.
COVID-19 testing sites and resources: https://sf.gov/find-out-about-your-covid-19-testing-options
SF Unified School District (SFUSD) specific testing resources: https://www.sfusd.edu/covid-19-response-updates-and-resources/covid-19-surveillance-testing-students/covid-19-testing-locations-and-dates

Stay Home When Sick

Students, teachers and staff who have symptoms of infectious illness, such as COVID-19 or the flu, should stay home and be referred to their healthcare provider for testing and care, regardless of vaccination status.

Vaccination

Everyone who is eligible (currently open to age 5 and above) for a COVID-19 vaccine should get vaccinated and stay up to date with boosters (currently open to age 16 and above if enough time has passed since their initial vaccination).
COVID-19 vaccination sites and resources: https://sf.gov/get-vaccinated-against-covid-19

Face Coverings

A well-fitted mask that can be comfortably worn is most important.
Double masking is an effective way to improve fit and filtration. A close-fitting cloth mask can be worn on top of a surgical/disposable mask to improve the seal of the mask to the face.
Additional masking resources: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/Get-the-Most-out-of-Masking.aspx

December 30th, 2021 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

COVID-19 Data and Reports
https://sf.gov/resource/2021/covid-19-data-and-reports
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

December 14th, 2021 - A Message From SFDPH About Testing Before Returning To School After Winter Break
"During this winter break, it is important to remember that anytime different households gather and mix indoors or if there is any travel, people are at higher risk for exposure to, and infection with, COVID-19. As an added layer of safety for the school community, proactive testing before returning can prevent classroom exposures, outbreaks and unnecessary missed days from school for students.

Therefore, SFDPH recommends that all students and staff, regardless of vaccination status, get tested for COVID-19 1-2 days prior to return to school, even if they are asymptomatic. The test can be done with a home test, or a PCR or rapid antigen from a clinic or testing site.

SFDPH also recommends testing 3-5 days after returning from travel as per CDC/CDPH guidelines, so depending on when a family or staff returns from travel, testing twice might be a good idea. For example, if a family or staff returns from travel on the Sunday before school starts, it would be a good idea to test once on that Sunday as well as test once again sometime during the following Wednesday through Friday.

If a student or staff tests positive, please notify your school immediately and follow SFDPH isolation and quarantine guidelines." - SFDPH

Golden Bridges School has at-home antigen test kits available for students and staff.

Submitting Test Results Before Returning To School
Results from a BinaxNOW rapid antigen test taken at home may be submitted to the school using this link: https://my.primary.health/l/goldenbridgesschool
Results from a clinically supervised test (e.g. medical provider, testing site, clinic) or home test kits other than BinaxNOW to healthandsafety@goldenbridgesschool.org.

December 14th, 2021 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

COVID-19 Data and Reports
https://sf.gov/resource/2021/covid-19-data-and-reports
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

December 9th, 2021 - Reminder: CDC Domestic Travel Quarantine Guidance for Unvaccinated Travelers
Delay travel until you are fully vaccinated. If you are not fully vaccinated there are additional recommendations to follow before, during, and after travel.

Quarantine timeline, if testing:

Day 0: Day you return home from travel
Day 3-5: Test
Day 8: Return to school (if test negative)

Quarantine timeline, if NOT testing:

Day 0: Day you return home from travel
Day 10: Last day of staying home and self-quarantining
Day 11: Return to school (if test negative)

If you’ve been fully vaccinated, you do not need to get tested before or after travel or self-quarantine after travel.

More Information: https://www.goldenbridgesschool.org/health-and-safety.html
CDC Domestic Travel: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/travel-during-covid19.html

December 9th, 2021 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

COVID-19 Data and Reports
https://sf.gov/resource/2021/covid-19-data-and-reports
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

December 9th, 2021 - Reminder: What To Do When Experiencing Symptoms, Step-By-Step
Step 1: Suspected COVID-19 Symptoms
Although a common occurrence in children, many common cold and flu symptoms may also be suspected COVID-19 symptoms that either require a COVID-19 test, note from a medical provider, or a quarantine period for a return to school. Please review the daily symptom check form below (Step 2) for the specific symptoms that require follow-up, including testing. (Note: Runny nose and congestion, no longer requires testing.)

Step 2: Review the Daily COVID-19 Symptom and Exposure Check
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/files/ig/Parent-Guardian-Health-Check-Handout.pdf
GBS and the SFDPH recommend consulting with a medical provider when symptoms are present. Please review the daily COVID-19 Symptom and Exposure Check, as the current list of symptoms, and required follow-up protocols, are regularly updated. If a child experiences a symptom, notify the school at healthandsafety@goldenbridgesschool.org and follow the required process before returning to school.

Step 3: Isolate and Quarantine, and Get Tested
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/covid-19/schools-isolation-and-quarantine.asp

Step 4: Submitting Test Results
https://my.primary.health/l/goldenbridgesschool
Results from a BinaxNOW rapid antigen test taken at home may be submitted to the school using the link above. The school has secured at-home test kits to support families, as needed, and requests to pickup a test kit may be sent to healthandsafety@goldenbridgesschool.org. Please send results from a clinically supervised test (e.g. medical provider, testing site, clinic) or home test kits other than BinaxNOW to healthandsafety@goldenbridgesschool.org.

Step 5: Returning to School / Notes on Symptoms After a Negative COVID-19 Test Result
In general, and after receiving a negative test result, the best time to return to school is when symptoms have improved and are under control, such that the child is comfortable and the symptoms are not a distraction for the child. For example, a cold with a runny nose (congestion) that only required blowing a few times during the school day is perfectly fine for school, where as a persistent runny nose (requiring ongoing care) would mean the child should stay home. A very occasional cough that did not bother the child is fine for school, but an uncomfortable and persistent cough would mean that the child should stay home. The child must have experienced 24 hours with no fever, without taking fever-reducing medicines like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin).

December 9th, 2021 - San Francisco COVID-19 Vaccinations by Age

San Francisco COVID-19 Vaccinations by Age
https://sf.gov/data/covid-19-vaccinations-race-and-age#vaccinations-by-age-

COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated
Note: The San Francisco vaccination site locator allows the user to sort/filter for vaccination sites that serve children 5-11 years old.

November 29th, 2021 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

COVID-19 Data and Reports
https://sf.gov/resource/2021/covid-19-data-and-reports
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

November 15th, 2021 - San Francisco COVID-19 Vaccinations by Age

November 15th, 2021 - Message From SFDPH Around Adult Vaccine Boosters
SAN FRANCISCO OPENS COVID-19 BOOSTERS BROADLY TO ADULTS TO AVOID WINTER SURGE

Case rates are increasing in San Francisco as the holiday season approaches and people gather and travel.

San Francisco, CA – San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) is opening-up COVID-19 boosters to all adults 18 years and older, provided they qualify based on timing of the previous dose of the vaccine. No one should be turned away if they feel they are at risk of COVID-19 and would like to get a booster in advance of the holiday season.

Pfizer and Moderna recipients may receive a booster 6 months after their second dose in alignment with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) guidance this week to local jurisdictions for patients to self-determine their risk of exposure. Previously, per federal and state guidance only certain categories of higher risk individuals were recommended to receive a booster.

SFDPH also strongly recommends that anyone in a higher risk group – including seniors 65 and older, people with underlying medical conditions, and people who work in high-risk settings – receive a booster as soon as possible. Additionally, all Johnson & Johnson recipients should receive a booster two months after their previous dose, a criterion that remains the same.

"We are taking an expansive approach to COVID-19 boosters, realizing that people are at risk of getting COVID or spreading it as we enter the busy holiday season,” said Director of Health, Dr. Grant Colfax. “We are already seeing an uptick in cases, and that could mean hospitalization for some vulnerable people, even if they are fully vaccinated. We have been stressing that boosters are essential for higher risk individuals, but now it’s become apparent that we need many more people to receive a booster dose so that we can protect ourselves, our families and friends, and our community.”

A number of healthcare partners are providing booster vaccines, including medical offices, pharmacies, healthcare systems, and community-based organizations. Members of the public do not need to receive the booster from the same entity that provided their initial vaccine series.

While SFDPH-affiliated vaccine facilities are ready to turn no one away, health systems and pharmacies may need time to respond to the booster expansion. For example, patients may still see screening tools used during appointment bookings asking them to attest to a narrower set of eligibility criteria. As the systems are updated, people should choose the least restrictive of the criteria that applies to them. Many work and residential settings pose the risk of exposure to COVID.

More than 100,000 boosters have been administered in San Francisco since they were authorized to higher- risk groups in September. The City is averaging about 3,900 booster doses a day. Of the total administered, more than 43,000 boosters have gone to seniors ages 65 and older, bringing their rates of booster vaccinations up to more than 1 in 3. Meanwhile, more than 65,000 booster doses have been administered to residents under age 65.

San Francisco is committed to ensuring low-barrier access to COVID-19 vaccine booster doses, just as we have with primary dose vaccinations. There are nearly 100 vaccine sites across the City where people can get a booster, and within a 10 to 15 minute walk for most people.

For more information on where to get a vaccination or booster in San Francisco, go to: sf.gov/getvaccinated

Source: https://sf.gov/news/sf-opens-covid-19-boosters-broadly-adults-avoid-winter-surge

November 13th, 2021 - San Francisco COVID-19 Vaccinations by Age

November 12th, 2021 - San Francisco COVID-19 Vaccinations by Age

November 4th, 2021 - At-Home COVID-19 Test Results Accepted Under Specific Conditions
In alignment with our goal of prioritizing in-person instruction, safety, and our time together, additional testing options are now available.

First, and at all times, the school and the SFDPH recommend consulting with a medical provider when symptoms are present. Please review the daily COVID-19 Symptom and Exposure Check, as the current list of symptoms, and required follow-up protocols, are regularly updated.

The school continues to support modified quarantine when approved by the SFDPH for a specific exposure scenario. Further, when conditions allow, the school supports on-site testing for students participating in modified quarantine. As the school has the above systems in place, including consent protocols, testing capability, and required reporting, under specific conditions (see SFDPH guidance below), the school may accept test results from COVID-19 tests done at home.

The school always accepts positive results from a COVID-19 test done at home (example BinaxNOW). If ALL of the specific conditions below are met, the school will also accept negative results from a COVID-19 test done at home.

As always, please contact healthandsafety@goldenbridgesschool.org when reporting symptoms and exposure, and for support in navigating the process required for a return to school. If you need support acquiring an at-home testing kit, the school may be able to help.

If all of the conditions listed in the guidance below are met, at-home test results may be submitted to the school using the following link:
https://my.primary.health/l/goldenbridgesschool

SFDPH Guidance
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/COVID-19/Schools-isolation-and-quarantine.asp

When can we do a rapid antigen test?
Rapid antigen tests provide results in 15 minutes. But rapid antigen tests can sometimes miss infections, especially in people who don't have symptoms.

Schools can use rapid antigen tests for students who have no symptoms, for example, for modified quarantine. Testing repeatedly over multiple days makes up for the decreased sensitivity of the antigen test compared to the PCR test.

To help detect infections early, schools can also use rapid antigen tests for students who start to have symptoms at school. Students whose symptoms start at home should NOT go to school to get tested.

When can schools and programs accept a COVID‑19 test done at home?
We currently do not know how well home tests, when performed by the child’s caregiver, can detect COVID-19. If schools choose to accept home test results to return to school, SFDPH recommends that home testing be limited to symptomatic children when all the following are true:

The child’s symptoms* do not include loss-of-taste or smell; AND
The child has not had close contact with someone positive for COVID-19 in the past 14 days; AND
The caregiver is confident that they were able to thoroughly swab the child’s nose, obtain a good sample and all test instructions were followed correctly; AND
Requiring a test at a clinic, school, or other test site would result in additional missed school days; AND

When the above conditions are not met, getting a test from a clinic or other medical provider is strongly recommended.

Schools should accept positive home test results in all situations. At this time, SFDPH does not recommend accepting home tests to end quarantine.

*Regardless of the test result, if symptoms include fever, a child must stay out of school until they are fever free for at least 24 hours without the use of medications for fever.

Interim Guidance for SARS-CoV-2 At-Home Self-Testing
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/files/ig/athomecovidtest.pdf

November 4th, 2021 - San Francisco Department of Public Health Message On Vaccine Availability
The San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH), health system partners and pharmacies will begin administering the vaccines largely by appointment only starting today in select locations, with SFDPH-affiliated spots and four school sites initially reserved for children in highly-impacted neighborhoods where access is crucial.

Demand for doses is expected to be high as an estimated 44,000 San Francisco children ages 5 to 11 become newly eligible. After the first few weeks, vaccine supplies are expected to increase and more evenly match the demand. For this week, SFDPH has received a shipment of 12,300 doses of the orange-capped pediatric version of the vaccine, which is one-third the dose of people 12 and older, and is distributing supplies to community and school sites, as well as independent pediatric providers. The larger health care systems and pharmacies are directly receiving separate vaccine allocations. Pediatric vaccine supply is expected to increase on a weekly basis.

We anticipate every child to have access to a vaccination over the next several weeks as we enter the busy holiday season. Parents and caregivers can make appointments using their health system’s instructions, or pharmacy websites. Other sources for vaccine appointments include the state’s vaccine booking website, myturn.ca.gov and the City’s website, sf.gov/getvaccinated, which will be updated with local information about appointments as it becomes available across the network of sites in San Francisco.

Many of the larger health systems, such as UCSF and Kaiser, will begin to book appointments on Friday and into the weekend as well as next week. Scaling up, number of larger-volume sites across the City, including those at major health systems, have the capacity to administer 500 or more doses per day, while SFDPH’s four school-based sites are expanding to accommodate 250 vaccines per day to support the school community as needed. To ensure easy access for working families and children in school, SFDPH and health system partners will hold evening and weekend vaccination sites, and pop-up events at select locations.

For more information, including how to support children during their vaccine visit, see:
https://sf.gov/news/sf-ready-roll-out-covid-19-vaccines-5-11-year-olds

October 27th, 2021 - Upcoming SFDPH Town Hall on COVID-19 Vaccines for Children Ages 5-11
The San Francisco Department of Public Health and the UCSF Division of General Pediatrics are hosting community town halls to support questions about COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 5-11 years old.

Date, Time, and Registration Links:
Tuesday, November 2nd, 7:30 - 8:30 PM, in English (Recorded video available here.)
Thursday, November 4th, 7:30 - 8:30 PM, in Spanish

October 27th, 2021 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

COVID-19 Data and Reports
https://sf.gov/resource/2021/covid-19-data-and-reports
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

October 26th, 2021 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

COVID-19 Data and Reports
https://sf.gov/resource/2021/covid-19-data-and-reports
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

October 11th, 2021 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

COVID-19 Data and Reports
https://sf.gov/resource/2021/covid-19-data-and-reports
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

October 6th, 2021 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

COVID-19 Data and Reports
https://sf.gov/resource/2021/covid-19-data-and-reports
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

October 6th, 2021 - SFDPH Tips for a Safe Halloween and Día de los Muertos
"The San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) encourages safe Halloween and Día de los Muertos celebrations across the City, including trick-or-treating, and asks the community to please exercise caution to prevent the spread of COVID-19 while having fun.

We are looking forward to celebrating and recommend City residents and visitors consider wearing well-fitted face coverings outdoors for activities with large numbers of people or when social distancing cannot be maintained, especially if participants are not fully vaccinated. Those celebrating at indoor businesses where food or drink is consumed, such as bars and restaurants, need to show proof of vaccination and wear a face covering when not actively eating or drinking.

Additional tips:

Outdoor activities, such as trick-or-treating, are much safer
Wash your hands before and after Halloween activities
Bring hand sanitizer while trick-or-treating
Limit outdoor crowds especially for unvaccinated children
Monitor your health and stay home if you feel sick
Continue to make safer choices; consider wearing a mask in private indoor settings, especially where the vaccination status of those present is unknown

Vaccines are highly effective in preventing severe illness from COVID-19. When more people are vaccinated in the household, everyone is safer, including those who cannot get vaccinated yet, such as young children.  San Franciscans have done an amazing job to protect themselves, their families and their communities; currently 83% of eligible persons are fully vaccinated. If you have not taken that step yet, please start the process today. Visit SF.gov/getvaccinated."

October 5th, 2021 - SFDPH Roles and Responsibilities on COVID-19 Cases, Clusters, and Outbreaks in Schools
"San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) conducts several procedures and protocols to support schools when there are COVID-19 cases, clusters and/or outbreaks. This includes determining if a school exposure has occurred as well as case investigation, contact tracing, and outbreak investigation and management." - SFDPH
SFDPH Roles and Responsibilities on COVID-19 Cases, Clusters, and Outbreaks in Schools
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/files/ig/sfdph-schools-roles-responsibilities.pdf

September 30th, 2021 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

COVID-19 Data and Reports
https://sf.gov/resource/2021/covid-19-data-and-reports
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

September 28th, 2021 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

COVID-19 Data and Reports
https://sf.gov/resource/2021/covid-19-data-and-reports
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

September 22nd, 2021 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

COVID-19 Data and Reports
https://sf.gov/resource/2021/covid-19-data-and-reports
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

September 21st, 2021 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

COVID-19 Data and Reports
https://sf.gov/resource/2021/covid-19-data-and-reports
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

September 19th, 2021 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

COVID-19 Data and Reports
https://sf.gov/resource/2021/covid-19-data-and-reports
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

September 16th, 2021 - Pending Guidance Update Supports Clinical Antigen Test Option After Symptoms
A pending guidance update will allow for the option of a clinically supervised rapid antigen test OR a molecular test (e.g.: NAA, Lamp, PCR) after suspected COVID-19 symptoms. The updated guidance is not currently planned to support at-home antigen tests, but access to clinical rapid antigen tests, and their 15-30 minute results, may shorten the time for a return to school.

Returning to School After COVID-19 Or Suspected COVID-19 Symptoms (not updated as of 9/16/21)
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/COVID-19/Schools-Returning.asp

September 13th, 2021 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

COVID-19 Data and Reports
https://sf.gov/resource/2021/covid-19-data-and-reports
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

September 12th, 2021 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

COVID-19 Data and Reports
https://sf.gov/resource/2021/covid-19-data-and-reports
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

September 11th, 2021 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

COVID-19 Data and Reports
https://sf.gov/resource/2021/covid-19-data-and-reports
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

September 11th, 2021 - SFDPH Publishes Updated Schools, Childcare, and Camps Guidance
SFDPH Guidance Key Messages:

Vaccination of staff, eligible students, and household members for COVID-19 is one of the most effective ways to decrease the risk of COVID-19 in schools. Vaccinated adults and eligible students also protect younger children who are not yet eligible for vaccination. As of September 6, 2021, 80% of eligible San Franciscans were fully vaccinated.
In-person attendance is crucial to students’ physical and mental health as well as their learning, Measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 must consider and prioritize students’ access to safe and full in-person instruction, keeping them in school as much as possible and limiting unnecessary missed days at school.
The risk of transmission in schools remains low. Schools provide layers of prevention, in a structured, supervised setting where everyone must follow COVID-19 precautions. As a result, the risk of COVID-19 in schools is often lower than outside of school. During the past school year, San Francisco had seven cases of COVID transmission with in-person learning among 48,000 students and teachers, including during the height of the winter COVID-19 surge. As of September 8, 2021, no school outbreaks have occurred. SFDPH recommends that families with concerns consult with their child’s doctor before deciding not to send their child to school.

Guidance for TK-12 Schools for School Year 2021-2022 - September 10, 2021
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/alerts/files/Directive-2020-33-Schools.pdf

Programs for Children and Youth: Childcare, Out-of-School Time Programs, and Day Camps - September 10, 2021
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/alerts/files/Directive-2020-14-Childcare.pdf

September 10th, 2021 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

COVID-19 Data and Reports
https://sf.gov/resource/2021/covid-19-data-and-reports
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

September 9th, 2021 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

COVID-19 Data and Reports
https://sf.gov/resource/2021/covid-19-data-and-reports
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

September 9th, 2021 - SFDPH Provides An Update On Cases In Schools
"Data Shows COVID-19 Cases Among San Francisco Children is Low and Schools Remain Safe Settings
The San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) is closely monitoring COVID-19 cases among children and in schools and is providing critical public health resources to San Francisco communities. These include free vaccinations for all eligible individuals; testing services; critical guidance and support to schools on COVID safety measures; and case investigations and contact tracing at schools. To date, our data demonstrate that cases among San Francisco residents under age 18 have remained low and stable throughout the pandemic and that schools are low-risk settings when the proper safety protocols are followed.

SFDPH data on schools and children will updated on a weekly basis to provide information and context to the COVID-19 pandemic in San Francisco as it relates to the impact on children. Future weekly updates will be made public on the City’s COVID-19 data dashboards page.

Data Highlights for San Francisco on COVID-19 in Children:
(as of September 6, 2021)

Pediatric cases in children are a small percentage of total cases in San Francisco. COVID-19 cases in children under 18 has remained less than 20% of overall cases throughout this pandemic, including the most recent surge due to the Delta variant. The vast majority of COVID-19 cases have been in adults.

The percentage of pediatric cases has been relatively consistent over time. The most recent data shows that 11.5% of COVID-19 positive cases were among children under 18. Recent historical 2021 data is as follows:
- August: 12.8%
- July: 10.8%
- June: 12.8%
- May: 17.0%

Serious forms of COVID among children are extremely rare in San Francisco. The majority of San Francisco children with COVID-19 have mild symptoms or are asymptomatic, including most recent cases from the Delta variant. Hospitalization of San Francisco children due to COVID-19 continues to be so low (less than 5 at any given time) that the data cannot be publicly reported without concern for privacy and confidentiality. Since March 2020, there have been a total of 13 pediatric hospitalizations among San Francisco residents at San Francisco hospitals. There are currently no San Francisco children who are hospitalized for COVID-19.

Vaccinations are our best defense to protect children. An estimated 90% of children ages 12 to 17 are fully vaccinated. We highly encourage all eligible members for the household (12+ years old) to get vaccinated to protect children who are not yet eligible for the vaccine. The majority of pediatric COVID-19 cases in San Francisco were from an unvaccinated adult in the household getting COVID-19 and transmitting it to their family members, including children.

Data Highlights on San Francisco Schools:
(as of September 3, 2021)

Schools are safe places for our children to learn, socialize and play when the appropriate safety measures are taken. When community background rates of COVID-19 are high, we expect to see cases in most settings, including among children and individuals at schools. SFDPH’s guidelines for schools are designed to stop the spread of COVID between people at school while minimizing disruptions to the school community. When the proper safety measures are in place, schools are a low risk environment for children and youth. More information on school guidelines for COVID-19 can be found here.

Case Data:

SFUSD reported 227 cases to SFDPH out of nearly 52,000 students and nearly 10,000 staff (as of September 8).
Among the City’s private, parochial and charter school sites there were 61 cases out of nearly 22,500 students and nearly 5,000 staff (as of September 3).
The vast majority of these infections are occurring outside of schools.

In-School Transmissions and Outbreaks:

Suspected in-school transmissions has been so low it cannot be publicly reported without concern for privacy and confidentiality. All other cases reported at schools were related to community transmission outside of school (as of September 8).
No COVID-19 outbreaks have been verified as having occurred at San Francisco schools (as of September 8). An outbreak is defined as three or more cases in non-related households in which the source of infection occurred at the school, and not another setting.
No outbreaks were verified as having occurred at San Francisco camps and learning hubs during the summer of 2021.
During the 2020-2021 school year, there were seven cases of COVID transmission in all schools in San Francisco with in-person learning, including the height of the winter surge. All other cases reported at schools were related to community transmission outside of school." - SFDPH

September 8th, 2021 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

COVID-19 Data and Reports
https://sf.gov/resource/2021/covid-19-data-and-reports
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

September 7th, 2021 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

COVID-19 Data and Reports
https://sf.gov/resource/2021/covid-19-data-and-reports
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

September 5th, 2021 - Staying home to prevent spread of infection when you have or might have COVID-19
How long do I have to stay at home? (Ending Isolation and Quarantine)

If you tested positive or were recently diagnosed with COVID‑19
If you had a positive COVID‑19 test or were diagnosed with COVID‑19, you must stay home, except to get needed medical care, until all of the following are true:

10 days have passed since your symptom(s) started AND
You had no fever in the last 24 hours, without taking medicine for fever AND
Your symptoms are getting better. You can be around others even if changes in taste or smell are not improving. Loss of taste or smell can last for weeks to months.

If you never had any symptoms, you must stay home for 10 days after your positive test.

Example: Your symptoms began on the 1st. You must stay at home for 10 days after your symptoms started. You can leave home on the 12th

SFDPH: Isolation and Quarantine
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/covid-19/isolation-and-quarantine.asp

September 5th, 2021 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

COVID-19 Data and Reports
https://sf.gov/resource/2021/covid-19-data-and-reports
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

September 5th, 2021 - 7-Day Average New COVID-19 Case Rate Per Day Per 100k By Vaccination Status
SFDPH: "The data below on cases by vaccination status are estimates based on case data matched to COVID-19 vaccine data. Individuals are fully vaccinated after 14 days or more have passed from completing their COVID-19 vaccine series. A fully vaccinated case is when someone tests positive for COVID-19 and is fully vaccinated. An unvaccinated case is when someone tests positive and has not received any COVID-19 vaccine. Data are not shown for new cases among partially vaccinated residents.

No COVID-19 vaccine completely prevents all COVID-19 infections.
Fully vaccinated cases (also called "breakthrough infections") are expected. This does not mean the vaccines do not work.
The vaccine's job is to promote a healthy immune response. If you are fully vaccinated and contract the virus, your symptoms will most like be mild and similar to the common cold.
Vaccinated people are still highly unlikely to be hospitalized due to COVID-19.

The 7-day rolling average case rate shows the trend in new cases per 100,000 residents by vaccination status. We calculate the rolling average case rate by averaging the new case rate for a particular day with the prior 6 days.

Data for the most recent 5 days may be incomplete and are not shown."

September 4th, 2021 - SFDPH Urges Continued Vigilance With Ongoing COVID-19 and Wildfire Threat
"While 80 percent of San Francisco’s eligible population is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, we encourage our community to remain vigilant during Labor Day weekend and the coming weeks as we continue to navigate the current virus surge.

Even though we have made remarkable progress in the fight against COVID-19, the variants continue to pose an ongoing threat to the health and wellbeing of our community, in particular the unvaccinated population which include children under the age of 12. Now that schools in San Francisco have started in-person learning again, staying vigilant to ensure the safety of our children and school staff is now more important than ever.

“As we celebrate the holiday weekend, we urge everyone to take reasonable safeguards against COVID-19. That means showing proof of vaccination where required, wearing masks in indoor public settings, getting tested if you are exposed or develop symptoms, and staying home if sick. Have a great time, just do it as safely as possible,” says Dr. Grant Colfax, Director of Health." - San Francisco Emergency Operations Center

The CDC does not recommend Labor Day weekend travel for people who are not vaccinated.

San Francisco Emergency Operations Center
https://sf.gov/news/sf-emergency-operations-center-urges-continued-vigilance-ahead-labor-day-weekend-ongoing-covid

This Labor Day weekend, we’re reminded that fun times are best shared with family and friends. Let’s #GetVaccinated and remember to celebrate safely this weekend so that we can get back to living life to the fullest. #VaccinateSF pic.twitter.com/3mDWGhcW2B
— SFDPH (@SF_DPH) September 3, 2021

80% of those eligible have been fully vaccinated in SF! COVID-19 vaccines are the safest way to end this pandemic and we're almost there. Learn more about how they work. Visit: https://t.co/waJI3WDdsL. #VaccinateSF pic.twitter.com/u0ZNw1oYAt
— SFDPH (@SF_DPH) August 30, 2021

September 3rd, 2021 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

COVID-19 Data and Reports
https://sf.gov/resource/2021/covid-19-data-and-reports
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

September 2nd, 2021 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

COVID-19 Data and Reports
https://sf.gov/resource/2021/covid-19-data-and-reports
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

August 31st, 2021 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

COVID-19 Data and Reports
https://sf.gov/resource/2021/covid-19-data-and-reports
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

August 29th, 2021 - Reminder - School Air Quality Response Plan
Health and Safety Plan: Environmental Comfort and Safety
Planned locations, times, and settings, including whether instruction occurs indoors or outdoors, may change due to changing environmental or instructional needs throughout the school day or at the actual time of the class.

An official environmental advisory (air quality, lighting, wind, fire, smoke, precipitation, etc) may indicate that it is unsafe to be outdoors, in a particular area, or perform a particular activity, and we will follow that guidance.

When the school has advanced knowledge of an environmental concern that will result in school closure, the school will communicate the school closure as early as possible and, whenever possible, an hour before the school day starts.

We closely monitor the air quality for San Francisco using AirNow (airnow.gov) and we may need to make changes to our programming based on the changing air quality index (AQI). If the air quality is Red (AQI 151 - 200 Unhealthy), and indoor locations or transportation are unavailable, the school, or a specific program, may need to close for the day.

If the children are outdoors when the AQI changes to red, we may contact parents for immediate pickup. Regardless of AQI, teachers on-site may make a determination to require an early pick-up based on direct experience in the environment and observation of the children.

Preschool and Farm Camp programs scheduled for outdoor days will cancel programming when the air quality is Orange (AQI 101 - 150 Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).

Kindergarten and Grades programs will transition from outdoor locations to indoor locations when AQI is red, or as a result of a teacher's determination based on direct experience in the environment and observation of the children. Following SFDPH guidance, when outdoor air quality is poor, we may need to close windows to decrease outdoor intake, and support indoor air quality with high-efficiency HEPA portable air cleaners.

August 28th, 2021 - SFDPH Update - PCR Test Required for a Return to School After Symptoms
When can schools and programs accept a COVID‑19 test done at home?
"Schools and programs should only accept positive results from home tests. If the test is negative, the child still needs a PCR test sent from a clinic or testing site to make sure they are not infected."

Source: SFDPH Returning to School After COVID-19
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/COVID-19/Schools-Returning.asp

SFDPH Summary of Testing Scenarios

CDC: PCR or RT-PCR Tests (Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction) are a form of a NAAT (Nucleic Acid Amplification Test)

August 28th, 2021 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

COVID-19 Data and Reports
https://sf.gov/resource/2021/covid-19-data-and-reports
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

August 27th, 2021 - Bay Area Health Officers Reaffirm Support for Full In-Person School
Joint Statement by the Association of Bay Area Health Officials
"As Bay Area Health Officials, we are excited that more than a million Kindergarten-12th grade students are returning to school for in-person learning this fall across the wider San Francisco Bay Area. In the counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, Napa, San Benito, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma, and the City of Berkeley, many children are back in the classroom for the first time since early 2020.

This summer’s surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalization due to the spread of the Delta variant is causing people to feel cautious about the return to school. We know that when rates of COVID are high in our communities, cases will appear at schools, just as they do in other settings. However, with effective protocols in place – including universal indoor masking, vaccinations of eligible persons, testing, good hand hygiene, staying home when sick and proper ventilation – the data shows that these multiple layers of defense can stop the spread of COVID in school settings.

In considering the many benefits to children, Bay Area Health Officials reaffirm the joint Bay Area Health Officials’ statement from June, endorse the recent statement from Bay Area County Superintendents of Schools, and continue to firmly support a safe return to the classroom.

The lack of in-person learning during the COVID-19 pandemic not only disrupted education, but it also weakened social supports and harmed the mental health of students. The risks and benefits of returning to in-person learning are clearer now than any other time during this pandemic – we must all continue to do everything possible to keep kids safely attending their schools.
While children can get COVID-19, severe disease among kids is uncommon and deaths are exceedingly rare. Transmission can happen in any setting, including in schools, but children are often exposed to COVID-19 at home or in social settings where safety practices vary. Cases identified by school testing programs may often be unrelated classroom exposure.

In SF, we are seeing cases of COVID-19 among children however the percentage of pediatric cases has been consistent over time including this most recent surge. For the previous school year (2020-2021), there were seven cases of COVID transmission in all schools in SF with in-person learning among 48,000 students and teachers, including the San Francisco Unified School District. All other cases reported at schools were related to community transmission outside of school. This was even during the height of our winter surge. Moreover, there have been no verified outbreaks in SF camps and learning hubs this summer.
SF has one of the highest vaccination rates in the nation with 79 percent of our eligible population fully vaccinated. Impressively, 99 percent of our 12- to 17-year-olds have received at least one dose of the vaccine. Middle and high schools will be safer because of the high vaccination rates among teens in SF.

The State’s K-12 Schools Guidance for the 2021-22 School Year is practical guidance that emphasizes universal application of the most important safety measures while also offering flexibility for different approaches to meet the needs and capacities of a broad range of schools and districts seeking to safely keep children in classrooms.

School leaders have worked hard to implement this Guidance and are ready to welcome students back. Health Officials continue to monitor the data closely and we will work across the region and the state to adapt when needed." - SFDPH

Press Release: Bay Area Health Officers Reaffirm Support for Full In-Person School - August 26th, 2021
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/alerts/files/08.26.21_ABAHO_Statement_on_School_Reopening.pdf

August 26th, 2021 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

COVID-19 Data and Reports
https://sf.gov/resource/2021/covid-19-data-and-reports
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

August 22th, 2021 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

COVID-19 Data and Reports
https://sf.gov/resource/2021/covid-19-data-and-reports
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

August 20th, 2021 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

COVID-19 Data and Reports
https://sf.gov/resource/2021/covid-19-data-and-reports
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

August 17th, 2021 - Community Health and Safety Norms for 2021-22 School Year

Community Health and Safety Norms

Together, we must encourage everyone in the school and our community to practice ALL COVID-19 preventive behaviors as shared in the regularly updated guidance from the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH). Preventative behaviors are evolving, requiring all of us to be receptive and attuned to new and changing SFDPH guidance. Based on this guidance, we must adapt, modify and even suspend common pre-pandemic activities. Implementing new social practices is often uncomfortable and challenging, but essential to support the health of the greater community. This is our critical work in these times, and each of us is responsible to engage in the work of elevating community safety and practicing preventative behaviors.

For Golden Bridges School, our community’s practice of preventative behaviors reduces risk for our school community, expands our capability to be together for in-person instruction, and centers student, teacher, and community health. Ultimately, our decisions made outside of school life, including: to ask clarifying questions with openness, to stay informed around developing guidance, to encourage progress with compassion and kindness, and practice preventative behaviors, influences the health of the greater community.

When in community, SFDPH preventative behaviors for San Francisco include: getting vaccinated, monitoring health daily, getting tested, wearing face coverings, and practicing good hand hygiene. These basic prevention measures are well-known and clear, and are supported by further more detailed resources around quarantine and isolation, and travel. Following public health guidance requires significant changes in common pre-pandemic behaviors, including: how we care for ourselves and those around us, how we gather, how we travel, and how to keep ourselves, our families, and others safer when engaging in these activities.

When at school, these same preventative behaviors apply, AND we follow specific and detailed SFDPH schools and childcare guidance to mitigate the transmission of COVID-19. The SFDPH works in direct partnership with schools, and our school, to support safety. Golden Bridges School welcomes ALL questions and is available to help our community understand and navigate the latest guidance.

SFDPH School Guidance: https://www.sfcdcp.org/infectious-diseases-a-to-z/coronavirus-2019-novel-coronavirus/schools/
GBS Health and Safety: https://www.goldenbridgesschool.org/health-and-safety.html

Community Expectations

When in community, my family will follow the guidance, including:

Actively monitoring for COVID-19 symptoms, and, other than to obtain testing and care, staying home if ANY symptoms.
Getting tested promptly, when experiencing suspected COVID-19 symptoms.
Following Isolation and Quarantine Guidance.
Wearing well-fitted face coverings in alignment with public health guidance. Face masks can keep infection from spreading, by trapping respiratory droplets and aerosols before they can travel through the air.
Getting a flu shot this Fall. The San Francisco Department of Public Health (DPH) strongly recommends that everyone ages six months and older get their yearly flu vaccine. With COVID-19 and the upcoming flu season overlapping, health officials say it's more important than ever to get vaccinated against influenza this year. For more information, contact your healthcare provider.
Following CDC travel recommendations, including testing and quarantine.

When at school, my family will follow the guidance, including:

Completing a daily at-home symptom and exposure check for students each day before the student arrives at school.
Actively monitoring for COVID-19 symptoms, and not attending school or school activities if ANY symptoms.
Getting tested promptly, when experiencing suspected COVID-19 symptoms.
Informing the School immediately (within one hour of learning of the test result) if your child receives a positive or inconclusive COVID-19 test result. Providing documentation of the positive or inconclusive result within 48 hours. Contact the school at (415) 912-8666 AND healthandsafety@goldenbridgesschool.org.
Notifying the school and staying home, unless exempted, if any household member or other close contact has a positive or inconclusive COVID-19 test or was otherwise diagnosed with COVID-19 by a healthcare provider. School-based adults and students may return to school when the relevant criteria set forth in the SFDPH Returning to School after COVID-19 guidance are satisfied. Contact the school at (415) 912-8666 AND healthandsafety@goldenbridgesschool.org.
Following Isolation and Quarantine Guidance.
Wearing well-fitted face covering to school. Face masks can keep infection from spreading, by trapping respiratory droplets and aerosols before they can travel through the air. They are an essential prevention strategy in indoor spaces that include anyone unvaccinated against COVID-19. Students, staff, parents, volunteers, and visitors may not enter the school, the farm, or other instruction space unless wearing a face covering. Teachers will inform students when face coverings are optional for a specific outdoor activity.
Carpooling, when needed, with the same stable group of people. Everyone in the vehicle should wear a face covering and windows should be open to maximize outdoor air circulation, when feasible.
Promptly responding to school notifications and directions. Students with symptoms of COVID-19 will need to be picked up and are encouraged to get tested as soon as possible. Students sent home with symptoms cannot attend school until they have met the conditions required to return to school. Contact your regular doctor or clinic for advice. Partner with the school to develop a plan, share important updates, and determine a date to return to school. Contact the school at (415) 912-8666 AND healthandsafety@goldenbridgesschool.org.

Our Golden Bridges School Health and Safety Norms represent our shared understanding and acknowledgment of what is expected when attending school.

COVID-19 Symptoms

COVID-19 has a wide range of symptoms – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus.

Parents: Has your child had any symptoms listed below that are NEW or DIFFERENT from usual?

Fever (100.4°F/38°C or higher) or chills
Cough
Headache
Sore throat
Loss of taste or smell that started in the last 10 days (Children may say that food “tastes bad” or “tastes funny”)
Feeling out of breath or having a hard time breathing
Nasal congestion or runny nose
Diarrhea, nausea or vomiting
Fatigue
Muscle aches or body aches

If a student has any of the symptoms above:

Contact your child’s doctor, and have your child tested for COVID-19.
Keep your child at home until you get their test results.

SFDPH Student Symptom and Exposure Check
SFDPH Student Home Quarantine Instructions
CDC Adult Symptom Check

August 17th, 2021 - Golden Bridges School Health and Safety Plan for 2021-22 School Year
Golden Bridges School operations follow the guidance of the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH), the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

School Health and Safety Plan

Golden Bridges School monitors and follows guidance from the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH), California Department of Public Health (CDPH), Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other regulatory agency policies and orders, relevant to our operations. Public health orders, regulations and other school requirements are extensive, detailed and we work to support transparency by sharing visibility to the comprehensive source documents that inform our policy and procedure on our Health and Safety page.

Golden Bridges School Health and Safety Plan is consistent with and informed by the following SFDPH guidance:
Guidance for TK-12 Schools for In-Person, On-Site Instruction for School Year 2021-2022 - August 11, 2021
Programs for Children and Youth: Childcare, Out-of-School Time Programs, and Day Camps - August 13, 2021

General Policy and Procedure

The school follows San Francisco SFDPH guidance, consulting with SFDPH around school operations, as needed.
The Director of Operations for Golden Bridges School is designated to respond to all COVID-19 concerns and can be contacted by email at healthandsafety@goldenbridgesschool.org or by phone at (415) 912-8666.
The school provides school-based adults, students, and families with a list of COVID-19 symptoms, and require that they review the list and check for symptoms and exposure daily before arrival to school. Students and school-based adults may not come to school if COVID-19 symptoms or exposure are discovered during the at-home symptom check.
School-based adults with symptoms or exposure to COVID-19 are not allowed on campus, and will be sent home. Students with symptoms, or close contact exposure outside of the school setting, will be sent home. We will keep students who are waiting to be picked up in a designated isolation space.
GBS policies encourage sick staff members to stay at home without fear of job loss or other consequences and protect their privacy, particularly for those with underlying medical conditions and at higher risk for severe illness.
The school will limit non-essential visitors and non-essential visitors who are not fully vaccinated.
The school offers flexible sick leave policies and practices.
The school cross-trains staff and maintains a roster of trained back-up staff.
The school has a plan for if someone gets sick or shows symptoms of COVID-19 and follows this specific guidance: https://www.sfdph.org/dph/files/ig/COVID-19-QuickGuide-Suspected-Confirmed-COVID-Schools-Childcares-Programs.pdf

Communication

The school Health and Safety Plan is based on guidance received from the SFDPH, CDPH and CDC. Frequent updates to support evolving public health guidance will be shared with our community and available on our Health and Safety page, with significant updates also shared via email.
The school Health and Safety Norms represent our shared understanding as a community around health and safety practices that support the safety of our Golden Bridges School community.
The school posts signs in highly visible locations to promote everyday protective measures and describe how to stop the spread of germs.

Parents, Guardians, and Caregivers

Parents, guardians, and caregivers are responsible for completing a daily at-home symptom and exposure check for students each day before the student arrives at school.
Parents, guardians, and caregivers are responsible for actively monitoring for actively monitoring for COVID-19 symptoms, and not allowing the student to attend school or school activities if experiencing ANY suspected COVID-19 symptoms.
Parents, guardians, and caregivers are responsible for getting students and family members tested promptly, when experiencing suspected COVID-19 symptoms.
Parents, guardians, and caregivers are responsible for informing the school immediately (within one hour of learning of the test result) if your child receives a positive or inconclusive COVID-19 test result. Providing documentation of the positive or inconclusive result within 48 hours. Contact the school at (415) 912-8666 AND healthandsafety@goldenbridgesschool.org.
Parents, guardians, and caregivers are responsible for notifying the school and keeping the student home, unless exempted, if any household member or other close contact has a positive or inconclusive COVID-19 test or was otherwise diagnosed with COVID-19 by a healthcare provider. School-based adults and students may return to school when the relevant criteria set forth in the SFDPH Returning to School after COVID-19 guidance are satisfied. Contact the school at (415) 912-8666 AND healthandsafety@goldenbridgesschool.org.
Parents, guardians, and caregivers are responsible for following Isolation and Quarantine Guidance.
Parents, guardians, and caregivers are responsible for students wearing a well-fitted face covering to school. Face masks can keep infection from spreading, by trapping respiratory droplets and aerosols before they can travel through the air. They are an essential prevention strategy in indoor spaces that include anyone unvaccinated against COVID-19. Students, staff, parents, volunteers, and visitors may not enter the school, the farm, or other instruction space unless wearing a face covering. The school will specify when face coverings are optional for a specific activity, and provide relevant instructions.
Parents, guardians, and caregivers are responsible for promptly responding to school notifications and directions. Students with symptoms of COVID-19 will need to be picked up and are encouraged to get tested as soon as possible. Students sent home with symptoms cannot attend school until they have met the conditions required to return to school. Contact your regular doctor or clinic for advice. Partner with the school to develop a plan, share important updates, and determine a date to return to school. Contact the school at (415) 912-8666 AND healthandsafety@goldenbridgesschool.org.

Gatherings, Visitors, and Events

The school will limit non-essential visitors and volunteers, as much as possible.
The school will limit non-essential visitors who are not fully vaccinated, including volunteers and activities involving external groups, as required by CDPH.

Well-Fitted Face Coverings
SFDPH requires that all individuals, including school-based adults and students of all ages, wear well-fitted face coverings over both their nose and mouth while indoors. When supported by SFDPH guidance AND as appropriate for the planned activity, with specific instructor permission, face coverings may be optional for staff and students while in outdoor settings. Well-fitted face coverings are required to be worn upon arrival to school, indoors, and until students receive instruction that face coverings are optional for the planned activity.

When Someone Has Symptoms
The school will immediately separate individuals with COVID-19 symptoms. People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus.

Student Symptom and Exposure Check to be completed by Parents, Guardians, and Caregivers:

Has your child had any symptoms listed below that are NEW or DIFFERENT from usual?

Fever (100.4°F/38°C or higher) or chills
Cough
Headache
Sore throat
Loss of taste or smell that started in the last 10 days Children may say that food “tastes bad” or “tastes funny”
Feeling out of breath or having a hard time breathing
Nasal congestion or runny nose
Diarrhea, nausea or vomiting
Fatigue
Muscle aches or body aches

If a student has any of the symptoms above:

Contact your child’s doctor, and have your child tested for COVID-19.
Keep your child at home until you get their test results.
Immediately notify the school at healthandsafety@goldenbridgesschool.org

SFDPH Student Symptom and Exposure Check
SFDPH Student Home Quarantine Instructions
CDC Adult Symptom Check

Students and school-based adults must not attend school if they have any of the symptoms listed above. This is a community-wide expectation and agreement shared in our GBS Health and Safety Norms.

SFDPH: Exposure and Close Contact
For COVID-19, a close contact is anyone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for a total of 15 minutes or more over 24 hours (for example, three individual 5-minute periods over the course of a day), while the infected person was contagious, even if both people were wearing masks. An infected person can spread COVID-19 starting 2 days before they have symptoms or test positive for COVID-19. Close contacts who are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 or have had COVID-19 in the last 3 months do not have to quarantine as long as they do not have symptoms.

Returning to School After Symptoms, Exposure, or COVID-19

Before retuning to school, students must satisfy the SFDPH conditions required to return to school based on these specific exposure scenarios: https://www.sfdph.org/dph/COVID-19/Schools-Returning.asp
Before retuning to school, school-based adults must satisfy the SFDPH conditions required to return to school based on these specific exposure scenarios: https://www.sfdph.org/dph/covid-19/isolation-and-quarantine.asp

SFDPH: Modified Quarantine for Students Only
Students in TK-12 schools who are not fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and have close contact in an indoor classroom setting at school can leave quarantine to attend school if both the student and the infected person were wearing face masks consistently and correctly at the time.

This "modified quarantine" applies only to students who were exposed to COVID-19 at school, because of the low risk of transmission between students in school classrooms. It does not apply to students who were exposed to COVID-19 at home, outside of school, or during extracurricular activities like school sports.

To attend school during quarantine, the student must:

Continue to wear a face mask in school
Get tested for COVID-19 twice a week, and
Remain free of any COVID-19 symptoms during this time.

Students must quarantine except to attend school. Students must not participate in activities outside of school or extracurricular activities at school, including sports, aftercare, after school programs during their modified quarantine. For more information, see CDPH schools guidance.

SFDPH: Outdoor Exposures in Schools, Childcares and other Supervised Programs
If the close contact is only outdoors at a school, childcare, or other supervised program, unvaccinated children and youth do not have to quarantine in most situations. They must quarantine only if the total time spent within 6 feet of the infected person was at least 15 minutes; regardless of the duration of the activity; AND:

The outdoor close contact happened while the child and infected person were unmasked and stationary (ie sitting or standing), such as eating together or singing in a group, OR
The outdoor close contact happened during high-contact sports or dance.

COVID-19 Testing
When public health and safety guidance and SFDPH requires COVID-19 testing for in-person instruction, the school will implement testing plans for staff and students, as required. SFDPH requires testing of on-site school-based adults who are not fully vaccinated for COVID-19, including teachers, staff, paraprofessionals, contracted janitorial staff, security, therapists, aides, essential volunteers, interns, and student teachers. Golden Bridges School has a mandatory vaccination policy for school employees and school-based adults.

SFDPH recommends testing for the following groups:
People with symptoms of COVID-19 or close contact to COVID-19, even if they have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19.

SFDPH does not recommend routine testing of the following groups:

Students without COVID-19 symptoms or known exposures.
Fully vaccinated staff without COVID-19 symptoms or known exposures.
Staff and students who had COVID-19 in the last 3 months, confirmed by a lab test, and who do not have symptoms."

Education and Training

The school educates staff, students, and their families about when they should stay home if they have COVID-19 symptoms, have been diagnosed with COVID-19, are waiting for test results, or have been exposed to someone with symptoms or a confirmed or suspected case, and when they can return to school.
The school educates staff on flexible work and leave policies that encourage sick staff members to stay at home without fear of job loss or other consequences.
The school teaches and incorporates into daily instruction the importance of good hand hygiene.
The school provides information on proper use, removal, and washing of cloth face coverings.
The school trains staff on safety protocols.

Facilities

The school maintain supplies including: soap, hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol), paper towels, tissues, cleaning and disinfection supplies, face coverings for staff (and backups for students), no-touch trash cans, no-touch soap/hand sanitizer dispensers, disposable food service items (when applicable), and as part of our response we upgraded many restrooms, including the installation of no-touch faucets and no-touch flush valves for our new restrooms.
The School schedules routine cleaning and disinfection in collaboration with maintenance staff, including frequently touched surfaces (e.g., desks, door handles, railings, and communal spaces).
The school will monitor, assess and support the ability of staff, students, and families to obtain face masks for everyday use.
The school increases circulation of outdoor air as much as possible throughout the school day (e.g., opening windows and doors when it is safe to do so). Air quality is further supported by HEPA air cleaners.

Transportation
Since vehicles are small, enclosed spaces that do not allow physical distancing, they are higher risk of COVID-19 transmission. Biking and walking are lower risk than shared vehicles.

Carpools and Shared Rides

Staff and families to should try to carpool with the same stable group of people.
Open windows and turn the fan on high, set to outdoor air.
Treat the vehicle as an indoor space: everyone in the vehicle should wear a face mask.

School Van

Face masks are required for everyone riding in the school van, including the driver.
We maximize space between people from different households who have not been vaccinated for COVID-19.
We keep vehicle windows open when weather and safety permit.

Public transit

Everyone must wear face masks while riding public transit or in transit stations (train stations, subway stations), even if they are fully vaccinated, as required by San Francisco’s Safer Return Together order, CDPH and CDC.

Travel
Students and school-based adults who are not fully vaccinated for COVID-19 should quarantine and test
after travel, as recommended by the CDC.

Delay Travel (Both Domestic and International) Until You’re Fully Vaccinated
If you’re fully vaccinated, you can travel safely within the United States (and you don’t need to test or quarantine). If you’re fully vaccinated and traveling internationally, you must follow CDC testing guidelines before and after your return to the US. Please follow all CDC and California masking guidelines. Please stay informed of CDC Destination Travel Alerts that will warn you about high transmission rates in an area.

If You Are NOT Vaccinated, But Choose to Travel, Get Tested Before and After
If you are not vaccinated, but choose to travel domestically, get tested with a viral test 1-3 days before travel and 3-5 days after travel. Also, even if you test negative, stay home and self-quarantine for a full 7 days after travel. If you don’t get tested, stay home and self-quarantine for 10 days after travel. If you’re not vaccinated, and traveling internationally, you must follow CDC testing guidelines before and after your return to the US.

CDC Travel Guidance

Environmental Comfort and Safety
Planned locations, times, and settings, including whether instruction occurs indoors or outdoors, may change due to changing environmental or instructional needs throughout the school day or at the actual time of the class.

An official environmental advisory (air quality, lighting, wind, fire, smoke, precipitation, etc) may indicate that it is unsafe to be outdoors, in a particular area, or perform a particular activity, and we will follow that guidance.

When the school has advanced knowledge of an environmental concern that will result in school closure, the school will communicate the school closure as early as possible and, whenever possible, an hour before the school day starts.

We closely monitor the air quality for San Francisco using AirNow (airnow.gov) and we may need to make changes to our programming based on the changing air quality index (AQI). If the air quality is Red (AQI 151 - 200 Unhealthy), and indoor locations or transportation are unavailable, the school, or a specific program, may need to close for the day.

If the children are outdoors when the AQI changes to red, we may contact parents for immediate pickup. Regardless of AQI, teachers on-site may make a determination to require an early pick-up based on direct experience in the environment and observation of the children.

Preschool and Farm Camp programs scheduled for outdoor days will cancel programming when the air quality is Orange (AQI 101 - 150 Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).

Kindergarten and Grades programs will transition from outdoor locations to indoor locations when AQI is red, or as a result of a teacher's determination based on direct experience in the environment and observation of the children. Following SFDPH guidance, when outdoor air quality is poor, we may need to close windows to decrease outdoor intake, and support indoor air quality with high-efficiency HEPA portable air cleaners.

Public Health Guidance Informing School Policy
San Francisco Department of Public Health
California Department of Public Health
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

August 14th, 2021 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

COVID-19 Data and Reports
https://sf.gov/resource/2021/covid-19-data-and-reports
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

August 13th, 2021 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

COVID-19 Data and Reports
https://sf.gov/resource/2021/covid-19-data-and-reports
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

August 11th, 2021 - SFDPH Updates Guidance for TK-12 Schools
Golden Bridges School operations follow all health and safety guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), and the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH). As is our practice, the school will operationalize this, and all, updated public health guidance, and share any policy or procedural updates with our community. Our Health and Safety Plan and our Community Health and Safety Norms will be updated prior to the commencement of the 2021-22 school year.

Summary of Changes Since the 7/28/2021 Version

School-based personnel who are not fully vaccinated for COVID-19 must be tested once a week by PCR, or twice a week by antigen testing.
Adults must wear face masks indoors, even when students are not present.
Wind instruments are not allowed indoors at this time.

Guidance for TK-12 Schools for In-Person, On-Site Instruction for School Year 2021-2022 - August 11th, 2021
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/alerts/files/Directive-2020-33-Schools.pdf

August 10th, 2021 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

COVID-19 Data and Reports
https://sf.gov/resource/2021/covid-19-data-and-reports
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

August 8th, 2021 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

COVID-19 Data and Reports
https://sf.gov/resource/2021/covid-19-data-and-reports
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

August 6th, 2021 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

COVID-19 Data and Reports
https://sf.gov/resource/2021/covid-19-data-and-reports
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

August 5th, 2021 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

COVID-19 Data and Reports
https://sf.gov/resource/2021/covid-19-data-and-reports
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

August 4th, 2021 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

COVID-19 Data and Reports
https://sf.gov/resource/2021/covid-19-data-and-reports
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

August 2nd, 2021 - San Francisco Health Officer Issues Orders Requiring Use of Face Masks Indoors
Bay Area Health Officials Urge Immediate Vaccination and Issue Orders Requiring Use of Face Coverings Indoors to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19
Counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Sonoma, and the City of Berkeley Indoor Masking Orders Take Effect Tuesday

San Francisco, CA – Vaccination continues to protect against severe COVID-19 illness, but with the COVID-19 Delta variant now infecting a small percentage of vaccinated people as well as many unvaccinated people, eight Bay Area health officers have issued Health Orders requiring masks indoors in public places. The Orders require all individuals, regardless of vaccination status, to wear face coverings when indoors in public settings, with limited exceptions, starting at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, August 3rd.

Vaccines remain the most powerful tool in the fight against COVID-19, including the Delta variant. Nonetheless, the Delta variant is infecting a small percentage of the vaccinated in the Bay Area — who still remain strongly protected against severe illness, hospitalization, and death. In those instances of infection in a vaccinated person, a face covering prevents further spread. Bay Area health officials urge all unvaccinated residents 12 and older to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

“COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective in protecting people against severe illness and hospitalizations, and the vaccine continues to be our best way to protect ourselves, our families and our communities,” said Dr. Naveena Bobba, San Francisco Acting Health Officer. “Indoor masking is a temporary measure that will help us deal with the Delta variant, which is causing a sharp increase in cases, and we know increases in hospitalizations and deaths will follow. When we all wear face coverings indoors, we are protecting our fellow residents and helping our healthcare workers.”

These Health Orders aim to reduce community transmission of COVID-19 and protect everyone. Health officials are very concerned by the substantial levels of community transmission now found across the Bay Area, especially among unvaccinated people. In part, this is due to the widespread COVID-19 Delta variant, which is substantially more transmissible than previous forms of the virus. Recent information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also indicates that even fully vaccinated individuals can in some cases spread the Delta variant to others, and so indoor use of face coverings provides an important added layer of protection.

The new Health Orders require wearing a well-fitting mask indoors in public settings. Indoor settings, whether public or private, are higher risk for COVID-19 transmission, especially when you are with people you do not live with.

Health officials also recommend that all employers make face coverings available to individuals entering their businesses, and businesses are required to implement the indoor face covering order.

Today’s Health Orders are consistent with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the California Department of Public Health, which recommend that fully vaccinated individuals wear masks while in indoor public settings. Bay Area Health Officers will continue to monitor data, including increasing vaccination throughout the region, to determine when the Orders can be adjusted or lifted.

The update to San Francisco’s Safer Return Together Health Order adds a new requirement for individuals, regardless of their vaccination status, to wear masks while in indoor public settings in San Francisco. There are limited exceptions for certain exempt individuals (like children under two). Other limited exceptions apply to designated settings where required ventilation measures have been put in place and when participants are engaged in an activity where masks may be removed. Refer to the health order for more information.

The San Francisco Health Officer strongly encourages individuals to wear masks when they are in crowded outdoor spaces (parades, fairs and outdoor concerts, sports exhibitions, etc.), or while taking part in indoor gatherings at private homes with members of other households.

The San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) will make signage available for businesses and others to post regarding the new indoor masking requirements.

SFDPH is also providing updated guidance on what masks satisfy the requirements of the order. In most situations outside health care settings, wearing a face covering that is well-fitted to an individual and covers the nose and mouth especially while talking. A non-vented N95 mask is strongly recommended as a well-fitted mask, even if not fit-tested, to provide maximum protection. A scarf, ski mask, balaclava, bandana, turtleneck, collar, or single layer of fabric or any mask that has an unfiltered one-way exhaust valve do not satisfy the requirement. The guidance can be found at www.sfcdcp.org/maskingupdate.

San Francisco Department of Public Health

FAQs for COVID-19 Health Order C19-07y
https://sfdph.org/dph/alerts/coronavirus-faq.asp

ORDER OF THE HEALTH OFFICER No. C19-07y (updated August 2nd)
https://sfdph.org/dph/alerts/files/C19-07-Safer-Return-Together-Health-Order.pdf

Bay Area Health Officials Press Release
https://sf.gov/sites/default/files/2021-08/8-02-21_Press%20Release_New%20HealthOrder%20Masking%20%281%29.pdf

July 31st, 2021 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

COVID-19 Data and Reports
https://sf.gov/resource/2021/covid-19-data-and-reports
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

July 30th, 2021 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

COVID-19 Data and Reports
https://sf.gov/resource/2021/covid-19-data-and-reports
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

July 30th, 2021 - SFDPH Press Release on Vaccinations and Delta Variant
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH DATA REINFORCE THAT VACCINES ARE HIGHLY EFFECTIVE AGAINST NEW DELTA VARIANT
New Data from San Francisco Show Vaccines are Powerful at Preventing Severe Illness and Hospitalizations; Breakthrough Cases are also Present; Department Strongly Recommends Vaccination and Indoor Masking Regardless of Vaccination Status

San Francisco, CA — The San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) today released new COVID-19 data showing a rapid rise in cases due to the highly infectious Delta variant, including breakthrough cases among vaccinated individuals. However, the data demonstrates that vaccines are proving highly effective in preventing not only illness, but also severe illness and hospitalizations.

San Francisco is averaging 176 new cases a day, a ten-fold increase since the beginning of June. New data released on case rates and hospitalizations show that case rates among the unvaccinated are more than double that of vaccinated individuals, and hospitalization rates among the unvaccinated are eight times higher. Unvaccinated people in the data presented include those who are not fully vaccinated.

“San Francisco’s response to COVID-19 has always been grounded in data, science and facts and the more data we can analyze to drive our public health decisions, the better,” said Dr. Grant Colfax, Director of Health. “The data we are seeing today shows vaccines are highly effective in protecting people from severe illness and hospitalizations due to COVID-19, even as we see some breakthrough cases. Getting vaccinated continues to be your best protection.”

The Delta variant is now the dominant strain in San Francisco, as is the case throughout the country, and is driving up cases and hospitalizations. San Francisco is one of the highest vaccinated cities in the world with 77% of the eligible population fully vaccinated, so breakthrough cases are expected.

The additional data will be updated weekly online along with the long provided daily data on confirmed cases, testing, and hospitalization across the San Francisco health care system.

Data Highlights for San Francisco:

Vaccinated people are highly unlikely to be hospitalized due to COVID-19.
The case rate among the unvaccinated population is more than double that of the vaccinated population in San Francisco.
There have been no recorded COVID-related deaths amongst fully vaccinated people.
San Francisco is averaging 176 new cases a day, a ten-fold increase since the beginning of June.

No vaccine offers 100% protection from infection, but all three authorized vaccines are effective at preventing serious disease. Based on clinical studies, breakthrough infections are to be expected but hospitalization due to COVID-19 are rare.

Testing positive for COVID-19 after being fully vaccinated does not mean the vaccine isn’t working, it just means that a person was exposed and the immune system responded. The vaccine’s job is to promote a healthy immune response. In other words, if you are fully vaccinated and contract the virus, your symptoms will most likely be mild, similar to the common cold.

Case Data

The data on cases by vaccination status are estimates based on verifications of San Francisco case data matched to California Immunization Registry (CAIR2) vaccine data.

The 7-day rolling average among fully vaccinated individuals and not fully vaccinated individuals shows the trend in new cases. We calculate the rolling average by averaging the new cases for a particular day with the prior 6 days.

7-Day Rolling  Average of  Case Rate: 22.7 per 100,000
7-Day Rolling  Average of  Case Rate- Not Fully Vaccinated: 36.8
7-Day Rolling  Average of  Case Rate- Fully Vaccinated: 16.2

For reference, the highest our case rate reached during the third surge was 42.9 (January 8, 2021). The case rate in California overall is currently 14.2. San Francisco’s rate may register as higher than the state average because of the City’s robust testing and system of data tracking, including within heavily impacted communities. San Francisco currently conducts 500 tests per 100,000 residents compared to California’s rate of 360 tests per 100,000 residents.

Hospitalization Data

COVID-19 hospitalization numbers are sourced from the California Hospital Association. The number of vaccinated patients hospitalized are obtained from matching the San Francisco COVID Hospital Data Repository (CHDR) to CAIR2 then validated through the DPH Task Force COVID Disease Response Unit. The vaccinated patients counted are those deemed to be hospitalized due to their COVID-19 diagnosis, not those hospitalized due to other causes who happen to test positive for COVID-19 before or during their stays.

Currently there are 86 COVID-19 patients in San Francisco hospitals of which 24 are in the ICU. This includes both residents and non-residents.  The COVID-19 hospitalization census reached 256 during the third surge.

There have been 16 clinically validated fully vaccinated San Franciscans who have ever been hospitalized due to COVID-19. There have been 3,041 San Franciscans hospitalized for COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic. Fully vaccinated patients have accounted for just 0.5% of all COVID-1 hospitalizations in San Francisco.

Joint Information Center
SF Emergency Operations Center

SFDPH Press Release
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/alerts/files/07.30.2021_SF_New_COVID_Data.pdf

July 29th, 2021 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

COVID-19 Data and Reports
https://sf.gov/resource/2021/covid-19-data-and-reports
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

July 28th, 2021 - SFDPH Updates Guidance for TK-12 Schools
Golden Bridges School operations follow all health and safety guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), and the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH). As is our practice, the school will operationalize this, and all, updated public health guidance, and share any policy or procedural updates with our community. Our Health and Safety Plan and our Community Health and Safety Norms will be updated prior to the commencement of the 2021-22 school year.

Summary of changes since the 5/20/2021 version of SFDPH Schools Guidance:

Updated to align with the CDC and CDPH TK-12 Guidance for school year 2021-2022
Schools should prioritize a full return to in-person learning for all grades at full capacity.
Everyone must wear face masks indoors at schools, even if fully vaccinated.
Updated testing recommendations.
Physical distancing and cohorting are not required. These two measures are lower priority than other prevention strategies such as face coverings and ventilation that allow for a full return to in-person instruction.
Mitigation for wildfire smoke and poor air quality added to the Ventilation section

“New rules for quarantine” section added:

Modified quarantine for students with close contact to COVID-19 at school: if both the exposed student and the person with COVID-19 were wearing face masks, the exposed student may continue to attend school with testing.
Students with outdoor exposures at school must quarantine only if the exposure happened while unmasked and seated, or during high-contact sports.
Students in the same class or group as a positive COVID-19 case must quarantine only if they are known to have spent 15 minutes within 6 feet of the case.

Guidance for TK-12 Schools for In-Person, On-Site Instruction for School Year 2021-2022 - July 16th, 2021
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/alerts/covid-guidance/2020-33-Guidance-TK12-Schools.pdf

July 28th, 2021 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

COVID-19 Data and Reports
https://sf.gov/resource/2021/covid-19-data-and-reports
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

July 27th, 2021 - CDC Updates Recommendations on Wearing Face Masks
Summary of Changes:

Updated information for fully vaccinated people given new evidence on the B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant currently circulating in the United States.
Added a recommendation for fully vaccinated people to wear a mask in public indoor settings in areas of substantial or high transmission.
Added information that fully vaccinated people might choose to wear a mask regardless of the level of transmission, particularly if they are immunocompromised or at increased risk for severe disease from COVID-19, or if they have someone in their household who is immunocompromised, at increased risk of severe disease or not fully vaccinated.
Added a recommendation for fully vaccinated people who have a known exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 to be tested 3-5 days after exposure, and to wear a mask in public indoor settings for 14 days or until they receive a negative test result.
CDC recommends universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to schools, regardless of vaccination status

CDC Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated-guidance.html

July 27th, 2021 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated
California Digital COVID-19 Vaccine Record Portal
https://myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov

July 25th, 2021 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases

COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated
California Digital COVID-19 Vaccine Record Portal
https://myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov

July 23rd, 2021 - July All-School Update
Summer is always a season of inner and outer expansion and this year some people are running into the fields with open arms while others are stepping out slowly, one foot at a time. Our hope for our community is that you find moments for meaningful rest and connection. As a school, we are also expanding! We’d like to share our summer plans as well as exciting staffing announcements for this coming school year...

July All-School Update

July 22nd, 2021 - SFDPH Introduces New COVID-19 Data Tracker
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 94 (As of 7/14/2021)
12 or Older San Francisco Population who have Completed a Vaccine Series: 76% (83% Received At Least One Dose)
San Francisco Population who have Completed a Vaccine Series: 69% (75% Received At Least One Dose)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated
California Digital COVID-19 Vaccine Record Portal
https://myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov

July 22nd, 2021 - SFDPH Publishes School Related COVID-19 Case Data from 2020-21 School Year
"From September 23, 2020 to June 11, 2021, there were 175 cases among 47,615 students or staff. Of these 175 cases, 7 were instances of suspected in-school transmission. In-school transmission means that a student or teacher contracted COVID-19 while at school.

The majority of cases in students or staff are not a result of in-school transmission. Most cases contracted COVID-19 in their family or community outside of school.

San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) began reopening schools on April 12, 2021." - SFDPH

COVID-19 Cases and Transmissions in Schools from 2020-21 School Year
https://sf.gov/data/covid-19-cases-schools

July 16th, 2021 - SFDPH Updates Guidance for TK-12 Schools for In-Person, On-Site Instruction for School Year 2021-2022
Golden Bridges School operations follow all health and safety guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), and the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH). As is our practice, the school will operationalize this, and all, updated public health guidance, and share any policy or procedural updates with our community. Our Health and Safety Plan and our Community Health and Safety Norms will be updated prior to the commencement of the 2021-22 school year.

Summary of changes since the 5/20/2021 version of SFDPH Schools Guidance:

Updated to align with the CDC and CDPH TK-12 Guidance for school year 2021-2022
Schools should prioritize a full return to in-person learning for all grades at full capacity.
Everyone must wear face masks indoors at schools, even if fully vaccinated.
Updated testing recommendations.
Physical distancing and cohorting are not required. These two measures are lower priority than other prevention strategies such as face coverings and ventilation that allow for a full return to in-person instruction.
Unvaccinated masked students with close contact to another masked student with COVID-19 may continue to attend school with testing (modified quarantine).

Guidance for TK-12 Schools for In-Person, On-Site Instruction for School Year 2021-2022 - July 16th, 2021
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/alerts/covid-guidance/2020-33-Guidance-TK12-Schools.pdf

July 16th, 2021 - Bay Area Counties Joint Press Release on Wearing Masks Indoors
"Counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Sonoma, and the City of Berkeley Recommend Masking Indoors for Everyone as a Precaution Against Increased Circulation of COVID-19

San Francisco daily new cases have increased eight-fold and are projected to increase an average of at least 80 new cases per day.

With cases of COVID-19 rising locally and increased circulation of the highly transmissible Delta variant, the Counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Sonoma, and the City of Berkeley recommend that everyone, regardless of vaccination status, wear masks indoors in public places to ensure easy verification that all unvaccinated people are masked in those settings and as an extra precautionary measure for all.

In June, the Delta variants comprised 43 percent of all specimens sequenced in California. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) noted that Delta variants are now responsible for 58 percent of new infections across the country.

Fully vaccinated people are well-protected from infections and serious illness due to known COVID-19 variants including Delta variants, and vaccinating as many people as possible, as soon as possible, continues to be our best defense against severe COVID-19 infection, and the harm it can do to our region. Vaccines are safe, effective, free, and widely available to everyone 12 and older.

Out of an abundance of caution, people are recommended to wear masks indoors in settings like grocery or retail stores, theaters, and family entertainment centers, even if they are fully vaccinated as an added layer of protection for unvaccinated residents. Businesses are urged to adopt universal masking requirements for customers entering indoor areas of their businesses to provide better protection to their employees and customers. Workplaces must comply with Cal/OSHA requirements and fully vaccinated employees are encouraged to wear masks indoors if their employer has not confirmed the vaccination status of those around them.

“We are asking our residents to collectively come together again in this effort to stem the rising cases until we can assess how our hospital capacity will be impacted,” said San Francisco Health Officer Dr. Susan Philip.

Bay Area Health Officers will revisit this recommendation in the coming weeks as they continue to monitor transmission rates, hospitalizations, deaths, and increasing vaccination rates throughout the region. Data can be monitored here: https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#county-view

“The Delta variant is spreading quickly, and everyone should take action to protect themselves and others against this potentially deadly virus,” said Alameda County Health Officer

Dr. Nicholas Moss. For masks to work properly, they need to completely cover your nose and mouth and fit snugly against the sides of your face and around your nose.

People are considered fully vaccinated 2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. People with only one vaccine dose of Pfizer or Moderna not fully protected. Completion of the vaccine series is necessary to provide full protection.

Visit sf.gov/getvaccinated to learn where you can find a vaccination site near you or call 628-652-2700 to book an appointment, find a drop-in site, or if you have questions about the vaccine. If you missed your second dose, please find a vaccination clinic near you." - San Francisco Department of Public Health

See full SFDPH statement here.

July 16th, 2021 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 51 or 5.8 per 100k (As of 7/8/2021)
12 or Older San Francisco Population who have Completed a Vaccine Series: 76% (83% Received At Least One Dose)
San Francisco Population who have Completed a Vaccine Series: 68% (75% Received At Least One Dose)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated
California Digital COVID-19 Vaccine Record Portal
https://myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov

July 15th, 2021 - Mayor's Office Press Release
City Officials Encourage Residents To Get Vaccinated To Combat Covid-19 Variants

"Mayor London N. Breed, Board of Supervisors President Shamann Walton, and the Department of Public Health (DPH) today encouraged residents to get vaccinated as the delta variant of COVID-19 is now the dominant strain in the United States and California. This variant spreads more easily than the original virus and poses new risks to communities in San Francisco. Vaccines continue to be highly effective at preventing severe illness and death. Over the last three weeks, all Bay Area counties have seen at least a doubling of new COVID-19 cases, causing concern that unvaccinated people are more at risk than ever.

San Francisco continues to make vaccines accessible to all residents through sites located in neighborhoods and through mobile vaccine efforts. In the Bayview, the Southeast Health Center (2401 Keith Street) is offering vaccines – no appointment needed – Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9:00am to 7:00pm, and Saturdays from 9:00am to 4:00pm. Vaccines are also available at 1800 Oakdale, with drop-ins available on Fridays and Saturday from 9:30am to 3:00pm. For more information on COVID-19 vaccines, visit sf.gov/getvaccinated."

Office of the Mayor Press Release
https://sfmayor.org/article/city-officials-encourage-residents-get-vaccinated-combat-covid-19-variants

July 15th, 2021 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 42 or 4.8 per 100k (As of 7/7/2021)
12 or Older San Francisco Population who have Completed a Vaccine Series: 76% (83% Received At Least One Dose)
San Francisco Population who have Completed a Vaccine Series: 68% (75% Received At Least One Dose)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated
California Digital COVID-19 Vaccine Record Portal
https://myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov

July 12th, 2021 - CDPH Publishes COVID-19 Public Health Guidance for K-12 Schools in California
As the CDPH has published updated guidance for K-12 schools, the SFDPH plans to update the San Francisco schools guidance and release by end of day on Wednesday.

CDPH Guidance for K-12 Schools:

Masks are optional outdoors for all in K-12 school settings.
K-12 students are required to mask indoors, with exemptions per CDPH face mask guidance. Adults in K-12 school settings are required to mask when sharing indoor spaces with students.
Persons exempted from wearing a face covering due to a medical condition, must wear a non-restrictive alternative, such as a face shield with a drape on the bottom edge, as long as their condition permits it.

CDPH: COVID-19 Public Health Guidance for K-12 Schools in California, 2021-22 School
https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/K-12-Guidance-2021-22-School-Year.aspx#

July 9th, 2021 - SFDPH To Update Schools Guidance In The Coming Weeks
SFDPH: "[T]he CDC updated their schools guidance for this coming fall. In response, the SF Health Officer issued this media statement clarifying expectations for schools in San Francisco.

For your reference, here are direct links to CDC schools guidance and CDPH press release issued this morning stating CDPH will require universal indoor masking but not physical distancing.

CDPH is now updating their schools guidance and it is expected early next week. The Schools Team stands ready to update guidance and begin approval process for remaining TK-12 schools in SF. We will be in touch more next week when CDPH publishes updates."

July 9th, 2021 - San Francisco Health Officer Statement
San Francisco Health Officer - Dr. Susan Philip
On School Reopening For Full Time In-Person Instruction This Fall As Cdc Issues New Guidance

“I agree with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) strong focus on getting children back in school safely when the school year begins this fall. Given the proven health and educational benefits of in-person learning, our priority must be to continue to work together to ensure a smooth transition back to school for all grades at full capacity. Health Officers throughout the Bay Area agree and the evidence clearly shows that schools are safe environments for teachers, staff, and students when appropriate COVID-19 prevention and mitigation measures are followed.

As we have done from the beginning of the pandemic, we are following the data, science, and facts to guide our public health measures and they have worked. In San Francisco, there were less than five cases of COVID transmission in schools with in-person learning among 48,000 students and teachers during the last school year, including during the height of our winter surge.

Since then, San Francisco has made incredible progress in the fight against COVID-19, thanks to the actions of everyone in our city. We now have one of the highest vaccination rates in the country, leading to low case rates. As a result, the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) anticipates that schools will have to implement fewer of the COVID-19 prevention and mitigation measures used successfully last school year. While SFDPH carefully tracks and responds to the much more infectious Delta variant, research shows that current vaccines are highly effective in preventing infections and transmission even against this strain. In San Francisco, the vast majority of school-age children with COVID-19 contracted it from an unvaccinated adult in their household. When the adults in their lives are fully vaccinated, children are less likely to get COVID-19.

What does a safer school environment include for the 2021-2022 school year in San Francisco?

All eligible students, staff, and families in our school communities should get vaccinated; schools should continue their good work to support this.
Masks will continue to be required indoors, but not outdoors
Hand hygiene either by washing hands or using hand sanitizer;
Opening windows, adjusting HVAC systems, or using portable air cleaners to increase ventilation;
Screen for symptoms of COVID-19 at home, not at schools;
Test anyone with symptoms or are considered unvaccinated close contacts; and
SFDPH will continue robust case investigation and contact tracing.

Schools in San Francisco should prioritize full in-person enrollment given the low community transmission at this time. Physical distancing will not be required in San Francisco, given low case rates and high vaccination rates. According to the CDC, “when it is not possible to maintain physical distance of at least 3 feet, such as when schools cannot fully re-open while maintaining these distances, it is especially important to layer multiple other prevention strategies, such as indoor masking.” For this reason, as Health Officer, I am prioritizing indoor masking over physical distancing to ensure a safe return to school for all our children.

I urge school administrators, teachers, staff, and families in San Francisco to work together to prepare for full classrooms for all grades next school year. We look forward to seeing students, teachers and staff fully return to school in August.”

June 24th, 2021 - CDPH and CDC Travel Guidance
CDPH: "California’s economy is now fully open. Help keep California open and our communities healthy by following CDC travel guidelines. Read the CDC’s full travel guidance.

Delay Travel (Both Domestic and International) Until You’re Fully Vaccinated
If you’re fully vaccinated, you can travel safely within the United States (and you don’t need to test or quarantine). If you’re fully vaccinated and traveling internationally, you must follow CDC testing guidelines before and after your return to the US. Please follow all CDC and California masking guidelines.

Please stay informed of CDC Destination Travel Alerts that will warn you about high transmission rates in an area.

If You Are NOT Vaccinated, But Choose to Travel, Get Tested Before and After
If you are not vaccinated, but choose to travel domestically, get tested with a viral test 1-3 days before travel and 3-5 days after travel. Also, even if you test negative, stay home and self-quarantine for a full 7 days after travel.

If you don’t get tested, stay home and self-quarantine for 10 days after travel.

If you’re not vaccinated, and traveling internationally, you must follow CDC testing guidelines before and after your return to the US.

Always Wear a Mask on Public Transportation (Regardless of Your Vaccination Status)
Everyone must wear masks at all times on public transportation (including airports, planes, trains, buses, stations, etc.) into, within, or out of the U.S. Read our guidance for the use of face coverings." - California Department of Public Health

Domestic Travel Guidance - Fully Vaccinated Travelers
www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/travel-during-covid19.html#fully-vaccinated-people
Domestic Travel Guidance - Unvaccinated Travelers
www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/travel-during-covid19.html#unvaccinated-people
International Travel Guidance - Fully Vaccinated Travelers
www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/international-travel-during-covid19.html#fully-vaccinated-people
International Travel Guidance - Unvaccinated Travelers
www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/international-travel-during-covid19.html#unvaccinated-people

June 24th, 2021 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases
Daily updates are suspended, as weekly average transmission rates have stabilized over this past month.
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 10 or 1.1 per 100k (As of 6/16/2021)
12 or Older San Francisco Population who have Completed a Vaccine Series: 71% (81% Received At Least One Dose)
San Francisco Population who have Completed a Vaccine Series: 64% (73% Received At Least One Dose)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated
California Digital COVID-19 Vaccine Record Portal
https://myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov

June 18th, 2021 - A Proclamation on Juneteenth Day of Observance
"...NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 19, 2021, as Juneteenth Day of Observance. I call upon the people of the United States to acknowledge and celebrate the end of the Civil War and the emancipation of Black Americans, and commit together to eradicate systemic racism that still undermines our founding ideals and collective prosperity..."

A Proclamation on Juneteenth Day of Observance, 2021
www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/06/18/a-proclamation-on-juneteenth-day-of-observance-2021/

June 18th, 2021 - California Digital COVID-19 Vaccine Record
"How does Digital COVID-19 Vaccine Record portal work?
The Digital COVID-19 Vaccine Record portal draws COVID-19 records from California’s immunization systems. Enter your name, date of birth, and an email or mobile phone number associated with your vaccination record, then create a four-digit PIN. If the information you submitted matches the official record, you will receive a text or email with a link to your digital COVID-19 vaccine record. Enter the PIN you created to view the record." - California Department of Public Health

California Digital COVID-19 Vaccine Record Portal
https://myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov
California Digital COVID-19 Vaccine Record FAQ
https://myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov/faq

June 18th, 2021 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases
Daily updates are suspended, as weekly average transmission rates have stabilized over this past month.
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 11 or 1.2 per 100k (As of 6/10/2021)
12 or Older San Francisco Population who have Completed a Vaccine Series: 71% (80% Received At Least One Dose)
San Francisco Population who have Completed a Vaccine Series: 64% (73% Received At Least One Dose)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated
California Digital COVID-19 Vaccine Record Portal
https://myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov

June 12th, 2021 - SFDPH Updates Guidance for Programs for Children and Youth: Childcare, Out-of-School Time Programs, and Day Camps
Golden Bridges School Farm Camp operations follow all health and safety guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), and the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH). Yesterday, the SFDPH updated San Francisco camp guidance, aligned with the CDPH guidance on face coverings, and effective this Tuesday, June 15th, 2021, face coverings are no longer required at outdoor camps. Golden Bridges School Farm Camp is a fully outdoors program.

Excerpts from SFDPH Camp Guidance updated Friday, June 11th, 2021:

"Due to the low number of COVID-19 cases and high level of COVID-19 vaccination in San Francisco, some COVID-19 precautions are no longer needed at programs for children and youth. COVID-19 cases in San Francisco are at the lowest level since the start of the epidemic. As of June 9, about 70% of eligible San Franciscans are fully vaccinated.”
"Masks are not required outdoors, per CDPH guidance on face coverings issued 6/9/2021.”
"When indoors, all adults and children 24 months and older must wear face masks over both their nose and mouth, except when eating or sleeping. This includes people who have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19."

Effective Tuesday, June 15th, 2021, Farm Camp families may elect to have their child(ren) attending Farm Camp wear or not wear a face mask, based on their family’s discretion and needs.

SFDPH Guidance for Programs for Children and Youth: Childcare, Out-of-School Time Programs, and Day Camps
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/alerts/files/Directive-2020-14-Childcare.pdf
Note: This updated camp guidance does not represent updated schools guidance, which is still pending.

June 12th, 2021 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases
Daily updates are suspended, as weekly average transmission rates have stabilized over this past month.
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 14 or 1.6 per 100k (As of 6/4/2021)
12 or Older San Francisco Population who have Completed a Vaccine Series: 70% (80% Received At Least One Dose)
San Francisco Population who have Completed a Vaccine Series: 63% (72% Received At Least One Dose)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

June 6th, 2021 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases
Daily updates are suspended, as weekly average transmission rates have stabilized over this past month.
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 12 or 1.4 per 100k (As of 5/29/2021)
12 or Older San Francisco Population who have Completed a Vaccine Series: 68% (79% Received At Least One Dose)
San Francisco Population who have Completed a Vaccine Series: 61% (71% Received At Least One Dose)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

June 1st, 2021 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases
Daily updates are suspended, as weekly average transmission rates have stabilized over this past month.
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 14 or 1.6 per 100k (As of 5/24/2021)
12 or Older San Francisco Population who have Completed a Vaccine Series: 66% (78% Received At Least One Dose)
San Francisco Population who have Completed a Vaccine Series: 59% (70% Received At Least One Dose)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

May 26th, 2021 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases
Daily updates are suspended, as weekly average transmission rates have stabilized over this past month.
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 15 or 1.8 per 100k (As of 5/18/2021)
16 or Older San Francisco Population who have Completed a Vaccine Series: 66% (78% Received At Least One Dose)
San Francisco Population who have Completed a Vaccine Series: 58% (70% Received At Least One Dose)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

May 22nd, 2021 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases
Daily updates are suspended, as weekly average transmission rates have stabilized over this past month.
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 17 or 2.0 per 100k (As of 5/14/2021)
16 or Older San Francisco Population who have Completed a Vaccine Series: 65% (77% Received At Least One Dose)
San Francisco Population who have Completed a Vaccine Series: 57% (69% Received At Least One Dose)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

May 20th, 2021 - SFDPH Releases Updated Schools Guidance
Notes on updated schools guidance:

Fully vaccinated persons may volunteer on-site.
Outdoors, only 3 foot physical distancing is required while eating, singing or playing wind instruments.
People who are not fully vaccinated for COVID-19 should avoid non-essential travel outside of California. They should quarantine and get tested after arriving in or returning to San Francisco from other states or countries.

Interim Guidance for School Year 2020-2021 - Updated May 20th, 2021
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/alerts/covid-guidance/2020-33-Guidance-TK12-Schools.pdf

May 19th, 2021 - SFDPH Family Day Vaccination Events
WHAT: SFDPH/COVID Command Center host a series of Family Day vaccination events with free snacks, entertainment, and raffle prizes. Prizes include free tickets for the SkyStar Wheel in Golden Gate Park courtesy of the Recreation and Park Department, pre-loaded Clipper cards provided by the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, free admission to the SF Zoo, memberships to SFMOMA, the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, the SF Botanical Garden and more. All vaccination sites are open to drop-ins and offer the Pfizer vaccine, which is the only vaccine currently approved for individuals ages 12 and older. The Family Day events are designed to encourage all eligible household members to get vaccinated.

WHEN/WHERE:
Friday, May 21, 9:00am - 4:00pm
Festival Friday at SF Market, 901 Rankin Street

Saturday, May 22, 11:30am - 5:30pm
Mission - 18th and Shotwell Street

Friday, May 28, 9:30am - 5:00pm
Bayview - 90 Kiska Road

Saturday, May 29, 9:00am - 2:00pm
Lakeview/OMI - 50 Broad Street

Saturday, May 29 & Saturday, June 5, 9:00am - 4:00pm
Zuckerberg SF General Hospital, 1001 Potrero Avenue, 4E, Building 5

Friday, June 4, 9:00am - 4:00pm
First Union Missionary Baptist Church - 1001 Webster St

Saturday, June 5, 9:00am - 4:00pm
Southeast Health Center, 2401 Keith Street

INFORMATION: sf.gov/getvaccinated

Thank you to the following generous sponsors and city departments for their contributions: SF Recreation & Park Dept, SF Zoo, SFMTA, SF Botanical Garden, SFMOMA Fine Arts Museums of SF, SF Realtors Association, Golden Gate Restaurant Association, and AT&T.

San Francisco Department of Public Health

May 19th, 2021 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases
Daily updates are suspended, as weekly average transmission rates have stabilized over this past month.
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 18 or 2.1 per 100k (As of 5/11/2021)
16 or Older San Francisco Population who have Completed a Vaccine Series: 62% (76% Received At Least One Dose)
San Francisco Population who have Completed a Vaccine Series: 55% (68% Received At Least One Dose)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

May 17th, 2021 - SFDPH Statement On State Decision To Continue Masks Indoors
"SFDPH supports the state’s decision to continue requiring masks in certain indoor settings until June 15 and SF will follow the state’s guidance accordingly. While 76% of our eligible population has received at least one dose, there are still many people in our city who have to get vaccinated.

The CDC’s announcement is proof that the COVID-19 vaccines are effective w/ one study showing that the two-dose Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are 94% effective in preventing symptomatic illness in those who were fully vaccinated. However, there are still indoor public spaces where unvaccinated people may still be at risk.

We just need to hang in there a little longer and for every eligible person to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Appointments are widely available throughout the City. Visit sf.gov/getvaccinated." - San Francisco Department of Public Health

May 17th, 2021 - Statement from California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly on Mask Guidance
Note: This CDPH general public health guidance is shared for community awareness. School operations follow specific SFDPH schools guidance and require face masks.

“California has made amazing progress in our fight against COVID-19. With more than 34 million vaccines administered, we now have among the lowest case and positivity rates in the nation.

On June 15, California plans to implement the CDC’s guidelines around masking to allow fully vaccinated Californians to go without a mask in most indoor settings. This four-week period will give Californians time to prepare for this change while we continue our relentless focus on delivering vaccines, particularly in underserved communities.

We urge all Californians to get vaccinated to ensure that infection and hospitalization rates remain low across the state and that we can all return to the activities we love.

Until June 15, when California plans to fully reopen the economy, California will keep our existing guidance around masks in place.

As of May 3, 2021, face coverings are no longer required outdoors except at crowded events, and for unvaccinated people, when physical distancing cannot be maintained.

In indoor settings outside of one’s home, including public transportation and schools, face coverings continue to be required regardless of vaccination status.” - CDPH

CDPH Guidance for the Use of Face Coverings
www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/guidance-for-face-coverings.aspx

May 17th, 2021 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases
Daily updates are suspended, as weekly average transmission rates have stabilized over this past month.
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 21 or 2.4 per 100k (As of 5/9/2021)
16 or Older San Francisco Population who have Completed a Vaccine Series: 61% (76% Received At Least One Dose)
San Francisco Population who have Completed a Vaccine Series: 53% (67% Received At Least One Dose)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

May 15th, 2021 - CDC Clarifies Schools Guidance In the Context Of Fully Vaccinated Mask Guidance Change
San Francisco follows health and safety guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), and the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH). On May 13th, the CDC updated public health guidance around face mask wearing for fully vaccinated individuals. As of May 15th, the CDPH and the SFDPH have not issued a guidance change to align with the CDC update.

On May 15th, the CDC further clarified schools guidance in the context of the recent CDC update around mask wearing:

"CDC recommends schools continue to use the current COVID-19 prevention strategies for the 2020-2021 school year.

Fully Vaccinated
CDC recently released guidance on the ability of fully vaccinated people to resume pre-pandemic activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and work place guidance. This guidance has raised questions for schools about how to proceed in the current school year. CDC recommends schools continue to use the COVID-19 prevention strategies outlined in the current version of CDC’s Operational Strategy for K-12 Schools for at least the remainder of the 2020-2021 academic school year.

Recommendation for continuation with these prevention strategies is based on:

Students will not be fully vaccinated by the end of the 2020-2021 school year. Youth under the age of 12 are not yet eligible for vaccination. Youth between the ages of 12 and 15 became eligible for vaccination on May 12, 2021. Because people are not fully vaccinated until 2 weeks after their second dose of the Pfizer vaccine, students in this age group will not be fully vaccinated before the end of current school year.
The time needed for schools to make systems and policy adjustments. Systems and policy adjustments may be required for schools to change mask requirements for students and staff while continuing to ensure the safety of unvaccinated populations.

CDC will update its guidance for schools in the coming weeks. Updated guidance can inform school planning for the 2021-2022 academic year." - Centers for Disease Control (CDC)

May 15th, 2021 - Current San Francisco Vaccinations and COVID-19 Cases
Lowest 7-day average new cases per day in nearly 14 months. 53% of San Francisco residents have completed a vaccine series.
Daily updates are suspended, as weekly average transmission rates have stabilized over this past month.
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 21 or 2.4 per 100k (As of 5/7/2021)
16 or Older San Francisco Population who have Completed a Vaccine Series: 60% (75% Received At Least One Dose)
San Francisco Population who have Completed a Vaccine Series: 53% (66% Received At Least One Dose)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

May 13th, 2021 - San Francisco Is Now Vaccinating Everyone Ages 12 And Older
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

May 13th, 2021 - Reminder: Outdoor Gathering Guidance
Note: This updated SFDPH general public health guidance is shared for community awareness. School operations follow specific SFDPH schools guidance and require face masks.

Face masks are required at outdoor gatherings when 6-foot physical distancing between households cannot be maintained.

SFDPH Outdoor Gathering Guidance
https://www.sfcdcp.org/infectious-diseases-a-to-z/coronavirus-2019-novel-coronavirus/#gatherings

May 13th, 2021 - Reminder: Face Masks And 6-Foot Physical Distancing Between Households Required At Arrival And Dismissal
If students and parents/caregivers from different households gather and interact with each other during arrival and dismissal, this creates an opportunity for COVID-19 to spread in the school community.

Family members must stay 6 feet away from people from other households when dropping off or picking up their student.
People must wear face masks when dropping off or picking up children.

This is a public health requirement for school operations.

May 13th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases (Daily Updates Suspended)
Daily updates are suspended, as weekly average transmission rates have stabilized over this past month.
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 24 or 2.8 per 100k (As of 5/5/2021)
16 or Older San Francisco Population who have Completed a Vaccine Series: 58% (75% Received At Least One Dose)
San Francisco Population who have Completed a Vaccine Series: 51% (66% Received At Least One Dose)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

May 12th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 26 or 3.0 per 100k (As of 5/4/2021)
16 or Older San Francisco Population who have Completed a Vaccine Series: 57% (75% Received At Least One Dose)
San Francisco Population who have Completed a Vaccine Series: 50% (66% Received At Least One Dose)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

May 12th, 2021 - Updated SFDPH Schools Quick Guide for Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19
This document now focuses on the specific actions that a school or program should take when people have COVID-19 symptoms, exposure, or a positive COVID-19 test.
Summary of Changes from the 12/28/2020 Version:

Clarifies that vaccinated students or staff do not need to quarantine after close contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case.
Clarified that a negative test is not needed to return after confirmed COVID-19.

SFDPH Schools Quick Guide for Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19 - Updated May 10th, 2021
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/files/ig/COVID-19-QuickGuide-Suspected-Confirmed-COVID-Schools-Childcares-Programs.pdf

May 11th, 2021 - SFDPH Vaccination Signup Opens For Families and Youth Ages 12+

Update May 12th: Appointments now available at the City College Vaccination Site

City College Vaccination Site Operated by SF/UCSF - Pfizer Vaccine
Appointments: https://www.primarybio.com/r/ccsf-public

SFDPH vaccination signup message for Families of Youth Ages 12 +.

It’s your turn to get vaccinated!

Soon, anyone 12 and older is now eligible to get vaccinated in San Francisco. We encourage everyone in your family to get vaccinated. If you are interested, you just have to make sure to register each person separately with this Eventbrite.
We are encouraging all eligible San Franciscans to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Protect yourself, protect your family. Thank you for doing your part to protect our community and to help San Francisco reopen.

With Gratitude,
The San Francisco Department of Public Health

¡Es tu turno de vacunarte!

Pronto, cualquier persona 12 años o mayor ahora es elegible para vacunarse en San Francisco.
Animamos a todos los miembros de su familia a vacunarse. Si está interesado, solo debe registrar a cada persona individualmente en este Eventbrite.
Recomendamos que todos los residentes de San Francisco elegibles para vacunarse, lo hagan lo más pronto posible. Protéjase y proteja a su familia. Gracias por hacer su parte para proteger a nuestra comunidad y ayudar a reabrir San Francisco.

Con gratitud,
El Departamento de Salud Pública de San Francisco

SFDPH Family and Youth Ages 12+ Vaccination Signup - City College Vaccination Site Operated by SF/UCSF - Pfizer Vaccine
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/vaccine-contact-list-lista-de-contactos-de-vacunas-tickets-153341298953

May 11th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 24 or 2.8 per 100k (As of 5/3/2021)
16 or Older San Francisco Population who have Completed a Vaccine Series: 56% (75% Received At Least One Dose)
San Francisco Population who have Completed a Vaccine Series: 50% (65% Received At Least One Dose)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

May 10th, 2021 - SFDPH Youth Vaccination Virtual Town Hall - Save The Date - Wednesday, May 12th, 7-8 PM
The San Francisco Department of Public Health's Department of Children Youth and Their Families is hosting a virtual town hall meeting on youth vaccinations.

Featured speakers include:

Dr. Susan Philip – Health Officer and Acting Director of Population Health Division, SF Dept. of Public Health
Dr. Lillian Brown – Assistant Professor of Medicine at UCSF - HIV, Infectious Diseases, and Global Medicine
Dr. Lee Atkinson-McEvoy – UCSF Division Chair of Pediatrics

Register for the Zoom event below.

Save the Date!
Who: Parents and Caregivers in San Francisco
What: Youth Vaccination Town Hall featuring Dr. Susan Philip, Health Officer of San Francisco
When: Wednesday, May 12th from 7-8pm
Where: Register at https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_LVs1nhGSQaegLZHrULz0aw
Why: To provide information to parents and caregivers on vaccines for children ages 12 and older

¡Reserva la fecha!
Quién: Padres y Cuidadores en San Francisco
Qué: Reunión de la vacunación juvenil con la Dra. Susan Philip, Oficial de Salud de San Francisco
Cuándo: MIÉRCOLES, 12 DE MAYO DE 7-8 PM
Dónde: Regístrese en https://zoom.us/webinar/register/wn_lvs1nhgsqaeglzhrulz0aw
¿Por qué: proporcionar información a los padres y cuidadores en vacunas para niños de 12 años en adelante.

May 10th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 26 or 3.0 per 100k (As of 5/2/2021)
16 or Older San Francisco Population who have Completed a Vaccine Series: 56% (74% Received At Least One Dose)
San Francisco Population who have Completed a Vaccine Series: 49% (65% Received At Least One Dose)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

May 9th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 27 or 3.1 per 100k (As of 5/1/2021)
16 or Older San Francisco Population who have Completed a Vaccine Series: 55% (74% Received At Least One Dose)
San Francisco Population who have Completed a Vaccine Series: 48% (65% Received At Least One Dose)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

May 8th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 27 or 3.1 per 100k (As of 4/30/2021)
16 or Older San Francisco Population who have Completed a Vaccine Series: 54% (74% Received At Least One Dose)
San Francisco Population who have Completed a Vaccine Series: 47% (65% Received At Least One Dose)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

May 8th, 2021 - Notes On Indoor Private Social Gatherings
Prompted by community questions around Indoor Private Social Gatherings, here are some notes to help navigate social interactions. These notes are informed by, and based on, the recently published CDC scientific brief and SFPDH gathering guidance.

When considering holding an indoor private social gathering in your home, please make plans to implement mitigation strategies consistent with current science. Open windows and doors (while maintaining fall safety and security), and decrease virus concentration through air changes and air purification. Aerosols containing virus remain in the air for some time. Mitigate virus transmission by creating a well-ventilated indoor environment with characteristics closer to those of outdoor environments, which provide vastly lower risk exposure levels.

For added context, at school, we spend a significant amount of our time together outdoors and ventilate indoor spaces to change classroom air with great frequency. We open windows and doors to increase outdoor airflow, and the school campus is located in a naturally breezy area at the top of a hill. Airflow from outdoor air (with its low viral viability) for classrooms is best, and the air quality in each classroom is further supplemented by two high-filtration air purifiers. Common areas have the same high-quality air purifiers. Although we achieve our air quality goals through proper ventilation, we also have air quality monitors, measuring carbon-dioxide concentration (human exhalation), to further monitor air change and ventilation efficiency in classrooms. Following SFDPH guidance, layered mitigation measures are in place, including universal mask wearing, that help support our school in maintaining safety for teachers and students.

This level of mitigation is difficult to achieve when hosting an indoor private social gathering in the home environment. Supporting even a small gathering of people, requires planning, restricted guest capacity, guest notification of safety protocols (including face mask requirements), and often establishing environmental expectations with guests to support the fresh outdoor air required to reduce transmission risk.

Although a planned indoor private social gathering is unlikely to include comparable controls necessary for school operations, reminding guests to dress warmly, wear a sweater, that it's cool indoors, which rooms to use or not use, or to bring a jacket - we're eating outdoors, etc., may help set expectations and improve adherence to safety protocols that reduce risk.

Further, making arrangements for indoor private social gatherings without mask wearing requires knowledge of each participant's vaccination status, under current SFDPH guidance.

Playdates: Indoor Playdates with face masks are permitted. Children attending elementary school are not currently eligible for vaccination; therefore, unmasked playdates, including children from different households, are not permitted. Guidance for Indoor Private Social Gatherings restricts unmasked unvaccinated low risk individual participants to a single household. Outdoor Gathering Guidance requires wearing face masks when physical distancing (6 feet) between households cannot be maintained.

SFDPH Indoor Private Social Gatherings Guidance and Face Masks:
https://www.sfcdcp.org/infectious-diseases-a-to-z/coronavirus-2019-novel-coronavirus/#gatherings

Capacity limit up to 50% of facility (Max. 50 people) and face mask required for unvaccinated individuals.

Gatherings involving multiple households can include unmasked fully vaccinated individuals with: (1) unmasked fully vaccinated individuals OR (2) unmasked unvaccinated low risk individuals from a single household.

CDC Gathering Guidance (provided as complementary to SFDPH gathering guidance)
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated.html
If you’ve been fully vaccinated:

You can gather indoors with fully vaccinated people without wearing a mask or staying 6 feet apart.
You can gather indoors with unvaccinated people of any age from one other household (for example, visiting with relatives who all live together) without masks or staying 6 feet apart, unless any of those people or anyone they live with has an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19.

More information on current science and indoor private social gatherings is available below. See the following Community Engagement updates:

May 8th, 2021, CDC Scientific Brief: SARS-CoV-2 Transmission.
May 7th, 2021, Gathering Guidance Updates May 6th, 2021

May 8th, 2021 - CDC Scientific Brief: SARS-CoV-2 Transmission, May 7th, 2021
Excerpts from the CDC scientific brief on SARS-CoV-2 transmission published on May 7th, 2021.
"The risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection varies according to the amount of virus to which a person is exposed.
...Once infectious droplets and particles are exhaled, they move outward from the source. The risk for infection decreases with increasing distance from the source and increasing time after exhalation.

Two principal processes determine the amount of virus to which a person is exposed in the air or by touching a surface contaminated by virus:

Decreasing concentration of virus in the air as larger and heavier respiratory droplets containing virus fall to the ground or other surfaces under the force of gravity and the very fine droplets and aerosol particles that remain in the airstream progressively mix with, and become diluted within, the growing volume and streams of air they encounter. This mixing is not necessarily uniform and can be influenced by thermal layering and initial jetting of exhalations.
Progressive loss of viral viability and infectiousness over time influenced by environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, and ultraviolet radiation (e.g., sunlight)."

"Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from inhalation of virus in the air farther than six feet from an infectious source can occur.

...Per published reports, factors that increase the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection under these circumstances include:

Enclosed spaces with inadequate ventilation or air handling within which the concentration of exhaled respiratory fluids, especially very fine droplets and aerosol particles, can build-up in the air space.
Increased exhalation of respiratory fluids if the infectious person is engaged in physical exertion or raises their voice (e.g., exercising, shouting, singing).
Prolonged exposure to these conditions, typically more than 15 minutes."

May 7th, 2021 - Gathering Guidance Updated May 6th, 2021
Note: This updated SFDPH general public health guidance is shared for community awareness. School operations follow specific SFDPH schools guidance.

Indoor Small Gatherings
Affected Groups: Small Gatherings (small groups that are non-private settings e.g. Adult Day Programs, Community Centers for Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities, religious exercise)

Capacity limit up to 50% of facility (Max. 50 people) and face mask required.
Eating or drinking allowed (see indoor dinning).

Indoor Private Social Gatherings (Private Homes)
Affected Groups: Private Social Gatherings (in private settings, primary residences, or setting not involving a business or facility staff, includes religious exercise)
a. Capacity limit up to 50% of facility (Max. 50 people) and face mask required for unvaccinated individuals.
b. Gatherings involving multiple households can include unmasked fully vaccinated individuals with:

unmasked fully vaccinated individuals or
unmasked unvaccinated low risk individuals from a single household.

Outdoor Small Gatherings
Affected Groups: Small Gatherings (e.g. receptions, gatherings at a park)
A maximum of 75 people may gather outdoors, and eating is allowed. Masking: Masks should be kept-on hand and do not need to be worn unless:

Physical distancing from others cannot be maintained, 6 feet distancing recommended.
If present at a crowded (over 300 people) event or setting, regardless of distancing.
Going indoors for any reason.
Personnel are required to wear a well-fitted mask when interacting with the public.
If you’re unvaccinated you are urged to wear masks.

Gathering Guidance Effective May 6th, 2021
https://www.sfcdcp.org/infectious-diseases-a-to-z/coronavirus-2019-novel-coronavirus/#gatherings

May 7th, 2021 - Parents and Guardians: Complete Daily Student Health Checks Before Leaving For School
Beginning Monday, May 10th, 2021, as recommended by SFDPH, the school will suspend school administered health screens and temperature checks for students arriving at school.

Parents and Guardians must continue to check your child each day before they leave home for school, completing the Daily COVID-19 Symptom and Exposure Check, as linked and described below. Do not send a student to school when “even a little bit” sick.

Parents and Guardians:

must report absences, including absences due to general illness to: attendance@goldenbridgesschool.org
must report COVID-19 symptom(s) and exposure identified in the daily health check of their child to: healthandsafety@goldenbridgesschool.org
If symptoms and/or exposure are not identified in the health check, no reporting is required.

Parents and Guardians: Daily COVID-19 Symptom and Exposure Check
Check your child each day before they leave home.

1. Has your child had any symptoms listed below that are NEW or DIFFERENT from usual?

Fever (100.4°F/38°C or higher)
Cough
Severe headache
Sore throat
Loss of taste or smell that started in the last 10 days (Children may say that food “tastes bad” or “tastes funny.”)
Difficulty breathing
Vomiting or diarrhea

If your child DOES have any of the symptoms above:

Keep them home from school
Contact your child’s doctor and ask for a COVID-19 test for your child.
Tell your child’s school or program that your child is sick by emailing healthandsafety@goldenbrdgesschool.org

2. Was your child in close contact to someone with COVID-19 in the last 10 days?
Skip this question if your child was fully vaccinated for COVID19 at least 2 weeks ago or if your child had a positive COVID19 test in the last 3 months. See sfcdcp.org/quarantineaftervaccination for details.

Answer YES if your child was

In the same cohort/pod as someone with COVID-19, or
Within 6 feet of someone with COVID-19 for a total of 15 minutes or more over the course of a day, even if both people were wearing masks

People with COVID-19 are contagious starting 2 days before they begin to have symptoms until 10 days after their symptoms started. People who test positive without any symptoms are contagious from 2 days before until 10 days after their positive test.

If your child had close contact during this time, your child could be infected. Keep them at home for 10 days after their last close contact, and follow the Home Quarantine Instructions for Children and Youth.

If your child continues to have close contact with someone who has COVID19 (for example, a parent or caregiver), your child must quarantine for 10 days after the person with COVID19 is no longer contagious. In most cases, this is a total of 20 days after the person with COVID19 first developed symptoms (if they never had symptoms, 20 days after their positive test)

SFDPH Guidance - Updated May 6th, 2021
Strategies to prevent the spread of COVID-19
Prevent COVID-19 from entering the school

Because many people with COVID-19 don’t have any symptoms, asking people about symptoms when they arrive at school is not very effective in keeping COVID-19 out of school. It is more important to instruct people to stay home if they are sick.

Tell staff and students to check for COVID-19 symptoms and exposure before they arrive.

Give staff and families of students the symptoms and exposure questions to review before they arrive at each day. Schools do not have to confirm that the students were checked or collect the responses to the questions.
- Staff, Contractors, Volunteers: SFDPH Personnel Screening Form
- Parents or other adult visitors: SFDPH Screening Form for Non-Personnel
- Students: For Parents and Guardians: Daily COVID-19 Symptom and Exposure Check, at sfcdcp.org/school
The symptom list for checking students is shorter than for adults. This because some symptoms are so common in children that they are not helpful in determining if a child likely to have COVID-19. Other symptoms are much less common in children with COVID-19 than adults.
SFDPH does not recommend temperature checks at schools.

May 7th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 25 or 2.8 per 100k (As of 4/29/2021)
16 or Older San Francisco Population who have Completed a Vaccine Series: 52% (74% Received At Least One Dose)
San Francisco Population who have Completed a Vaccine Series: 46% (65% Received At Least One Dose)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/getvaccinated

May 6th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 25 or 2.8 per 100k (As of 4/28/2021)
16 or Older San Francisco Population who have Completed a Vaccine Series: 51% (73% Received At Least One Dose)
San Francisco Population who have Completed a Vaccine Series: 45% (64% Received At Least One Dose)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

May 5th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 23 or 2.7 per 100k (As of 4/27/2021)
16 or Older San Francisco Population who have Completed a Vaccine Series: 50% (73% Received At Least One Dose)
San Francisco Population who have Completed a Vaccine Series: 64% (44% Received At Least One Dose)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

May 4th, 2021 - SFDPH To Issue Updated Guidance Effective Thursday, May 6th
Note: This SFDPH update is general public health guidance and shared for community awareness. Schools follow different guidance.

"San Francisco health officials continue to emphasize the need for masking in indoor public spaces where the vaccination status of other people is unknown and in instances where social distancing cannot be easily maintained. The health order will prioritize the expansion of outdoor activities and encourage businesses to have outdoor options wherever possible. Everyone, including unvaccinated older adults and other unvaccinated people with chronic conditions or compromised immune systems and those who live with them, are urged to get vaccinated if they have not done so already." - Office of the Mayor Press Release

Activities to Resume Thursday, May 6, 2021
The following activities may be reopened:
Indoor bars, breweries and wineries (without meals)

Open to 25% capacity up to 100 people.
Must follow indoor dining rules, including sitting at tables of up to eight people to drink.

Indoor family entertainment

Unopened activities including ice and roller skating, arcades, golf and playground may open to 50% capacity.
Other activities already opened such as mini-golf, pool halls, and bowling alleys may expand to 50% capacity (removing any testing or vaccination requirements).

Saunas, steam rooms, and indoor hot tubs

Open to 25% capacity.

Buffets and self-serve food

Allowed for takeaway consumption.
Allowed for on-site consumption following indoor dining guidelines.

Outdoor community sporting events

Up to 500 pre-registered participants per hour, and 1,500 total, can participate in outdoor events like runs, walks, marathons, and other endurance events, and up to 3,000 participants total if all show proof of vaccination or negative test.
Participants must be California residents or, if from out-of-state, must be fully vaccinated.
All participants must be screened for COVID-19 prior to event.
Spectators are allowed following outdoor gathering guidelines.
Non-alcohol concessions are allowed in designated food area.
Live entertainment or festival areas are not allowed at this time.
Events with over 500 participants must have an approved Health and Safety plan.

The following activities may expand their operating capacity:
Outdoor small gatherings (including social gatherings)

May expand to 75 participants, even if food and beverages are consumed.
Facial coverings may be removed as long as 6 ft of distance maintained between participants (unvaccinated people are encouraged to wear facial coverings).

Indoor small gatherings

May expand to 50% capacity up to 50 people, with face coverings (unless everyone is fully vaccinated or there is one unvaccinated household that is low-risk).

Offices

May expand to 50% capacity, not counting fully vaccinated personnel.

Indoor dining

The 3 households per table limit is lifted. Up to 8 people allowed per table. 
The cap of 200 patrons is lifted, 50% capacity requirements remain.

Outdoor dining

Guests may remove facial coverings once they are seated for the duration of their visit, unless they go inside for any reason.

Outdoor bars

Guests may remove facial coverings once they are seated for the duration of their visit, unless they go inside for any reason.

Indoor Retail

In-store cafes or restaurants may resume following indoor dining guidelines. 
Common areas, including in shopping malls, may reopen.

Indoor movie theaters

May expand capacity to up to 500 people, 50% capacity requirements remain. 
Concessions may be available to groups of 8 eating in their seats, with no household limit.

Live performances with fewer than 200 patrons or that are incidental to the showing of a motion pictures, like a talk by the film director, are allowed. Other live performances follow live audience performance venue guidelines.

Outdoor gyms and fitness

Face coverings may be removed as long as 6 ft of distance maintained between participants.

Indoor gyms and fitness

May expand to 50% capacity.

Classes may expand to 50% capacity up to 200 people. 
Cardio and aerobic exercise and fitness classes can occur with people 6 ft apart if one of the DPH ventilation measures is implemented.

Outdoor arts, music and theater festivals (without assigned seating)

May expand to up to 100 people.

Outdoor live audience seated performance venues

May expand to 67% capacity, subject to physical distancing requirements.
Sections reserved for fully vaccinated guests may be 6 ft from other sections.
Any events in which food and beverages are served may host fewer than 300 people without requiring proof of vaccine or negative test.

Indoor live audience seated performance venues

May expand to 50% capacity subject to physical distancing requirements.

Sections reserved for fully vaccinated guests may be 6 ft from other sections.
Any events of up to 300 people or those that take up less than 25% of the venue capacity do not require an approved health and safety plan or proof of vaccination or negative test as long as face covering are worn at all times. 
Any events in which food and beverages are served may host fewer than 200 people without requiring proof of vaccine or negative test.

Outdoor conventions, meetings, and receptions

May expand to 200 people, not including fully vaccinated personnel, and up to 400 if all attendees provide proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test.

Face coverings may be removed as long as 6 ft of distance maintained between participants from different households.
If event is comprised of fully vaccinated participants (and negative test for any children 2-16), distancing is not required, though facial covering are.

Indoor conventions, meetings, and receptions

May expand to 200 people, not including fully vaccinated personnel, with all attendees provide proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test. 
If event is comprised of fully vaccinated participants (and negative test for any children 2-16), distancing is not required, though masks continue to be required.

Indoor swimming pools

May expand to 50% capacity.

Outdoor youth sports, recreation, and dance

Fully vaccinated youth may participate in drop-in classes or a la carte fitness programs. Guest participants and “walk ons” are not allowed.

Indoor adult and youth sports, recreation, and dance

Indoor ice hockey, water polo, and wrestling may resume.
Indoor athletic recreational facilities expanded to 50% capacity up to 200 people.
Participants in low contact sports are only required to maintain 6 ft of distance.
Participants in organized and supervised swimming and diving, water polo and wrestling or marital arts programs may remove facial coverings with safety protocols including regular testing, posting a COVID-19 prevention plan, etc. in place.
Requirements about the number of leagues or activities participants engage in are lifted (though recommendations to limit participation to two activities, and one if high–contact, remain)
Fully vaccinated youth may participate in drop-in classes or a la carte fitness programs. Guest participants and “walk ons” in youth and adult contexts are not allowed.

Adult day programs and senior community centers

May expand to 50% indoor capacity up to 50 people. 
Food and beverage is allowed following indoor dining guidance.

Adult Education, Vocational Education, and Institutions of Higher Education

Outdoor classes may increase to 75 students.

The indoor lecture cap of 200 students lifted, 50% capacity requirements remain.
Studying in indoor communal spaces is allowed following library guidelines.
Student housing may expand to more than one student per unit.

Film or media production, live streaming, or broadcasting

Expanded to up to 100 people outdoors in a single location with safety protocols in place and up to 300 people with proof of vaccination or negative test.

Remains 50 people indoors in a single location with safety protocols in place and up to 200 people indoors with proof of vaccination or negative test.

San Francisco’s reopening updates will be available online Thursday, May 6, at SF.gov/reopening.

May 4th, 2021 - New CA State Tier Assignment for San Francisco County: Yellow - Minimal Tier
"The San Francisco Department of Public Health intends to issue final health and safety guidelines to reopen activities allowed under the yellow tier of the State’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy, with some additional local restrictions, effective as of 8:00am Thursday, May 6, 2021. The City will post the revised Health Order with detailed requirements to its webpage by the end of the day Wednesday May 5, 2021." - Office of the Mayor Press Release

Blueprint for a Safer Economy
Current San Francisco County Metrics (https://covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy/)
2.9 New COVID-19 case per day per 100k
1.8 Adjusted case rate for tier assignment
0.6% Positivity rate (7-day Average)
1.1% Health equity quartile positivity rate

Beyond the Blueprint
"We have made significant progress against COVID-19. We’ve administered 20 million vaccines and case rates and hospitalizations have stabilized. As a result, California is preparing to move beyond the Blueprint for a Safer Economy.

On June 15, California will fully reopen its economy across the state if:

There is enough vaccine supply for Californians 16 years and older to be vaccinated
Hospitalizations rates remain stable and low, especially among fully vaccinated Californians

Common sense health measures, including wearing masks will continue. Testing and vaccination requirements will remain for some businesses and industries.

Learn more about moving beyond the Blueprint for a Safer Economy." -CDPH

Office of the Mayor Press Release
https://sfmayor.org/article/san-francisco-reopens-and-expands-businesses-and-activities-it-moves-states-yellow-tier

May 4th, 2021 - SFDPH Updated Mask Wearing Guidance for Vaccinated Individuals
“These changes mean fully vaccinated and unvaccinated people can forgo mask-wearing while engaging in outdoor activities such as walking, running, hiking or biking alone or with members of the same household. And, you will no longer need to pull up your mask when simply passing others by on a sidewalk or trail as the transient passing of people is not a risk of transmission. For anyone who is fully vaccinated, a face covering will no longer be required outdoors unless a more specific rule requires it, such as at a large sporting event. For people who are not fully vaccinated, a face covering must be worn if physical distancing cannot be maintained. For example, if you are not fully vaccinated and stop to have a prolonged conversation, or you are walking on a crowded sidewalk passing many people, you will want to put that mask on. And for now, everyone, including fully vaccinated and unvaccinated people, must still wear a face covering at large events or crowded settings outdoors. In San Francisco, this means any event or location with 300 or more people.”

“Because their risk level is significantly lower, vaccinated people now have more latitude and do not need to wear a mask for most outdoor activities other than those that are crowded. After we reach the state’s yellow tier, fully vaccinated people can also dine outdoors at a restaurant with friends from multiple households without masks. We anticipate that will begin on May 6 along with some other industry-specific changes. As before, fully vaccinated people do not need to wear a mask while attending small private gatherings indoors with fully vaccinated family and friends or with one unvaccinated household that is low risk for COVID-19.”
“We all still need to keep our masks handy as they should be worn outside if you are unvaccinated and cannot easily maintain 6-feet distance; in settings where other rules still require masking outdoors; as soon as you go inside to most business settings; or in large group settings such as outdoor music festivals or sporting events, including in fully vaccinated sections. When it comes to unvaccinated youth over the age of two, they should keep their masks on while interacting with other youth from different households in outdoor settings such as the park or at school recess.”

“While you may be able to walk to a destination without one, you’ll need to put your mask on when you enter an indoor public space such as a store, restaurant, gym, salon, or movie theater—any place where the vaccination status of other people is unknown. The federal masking requirements for public transportation will still apply, so you will need to wear your mask while waiting for and while riding public transit. We also urge vaccinated residents to wear masks when visiting indoors with unvaccinated people who are at increased risk for severe COVID-19 or unvaccinated people from multiple households. Remember, choosing outdoor over indoor gatherings and activities is your safest bet.” - San Francisco Health Officer

SFDPH When to Wear Masks
sf.gov/masks
San Francisco Health Officer Statement
https://bit.ly/3xHxpVb

May 4th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 26 or 2.9 per 100k (As of 4/26/2021)
16 or Older San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 72% (49% Completed Vaccinations)
San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 63% (43% Completed Vaccinations)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

May 3rd, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 24 or 2.8 per 100k (As of 4/25/2021)
16 or Older San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 72% (49% Completed Vaccinations)
San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 63% (43% Completed Vaccinations)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

April 30th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 27 or 3.1 per 100k (As of 4/22/2021)
16 or Older San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 71% (47% Completed Vaccinations)
San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 63% (41% Completed Vaccinations)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

April 29th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 29 or 3.4 per 100k (As of 4/21/2021)
16 or Older San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 70% (46% Completed Vaccinations)
San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 62% (40% Completed Vaccinations)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

April 28th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 33 or 3.7 per 100k (As of 4/20/2021)
16 or Older San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 70% (45% Completed Vaccinations)
San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 61% (40% Completed Vaccinations)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

April 27th, 2021 - CDC Updates Choosing Safer Activities Guidance
Note: This CDC update is general public health guidance and shared for community awareness. Schools follow different guidance.

If you are fully vaccinated, you can start doing many things that you had stopped doing because of the pandemic.
When choosing safer activities, consider how COVID-19 is spreading in your community, the number of people participating in the activity, and the location of the activity.
Outdoor visits and activities are safer than indoor activities, and fully vaccinated people can participate in some indoor events safely, without much risk.

CDC - Choosing Safer Activities
www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/participate-in-activities.html

April 27th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 32 or 3.8 per 100k (As of 4/19/2021)
16 or Older San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 69% (45% Completed Vaccinations)
San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 61% (40% Completed Vaccinations)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

April 26th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 33 or 3.8 per 100k (As of 4/18/2021)
16 or Older San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 69% (45% Completed Vaccinations)
San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 61% (39% Completed Vaccinations)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

April 24th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 34 or 3.9 per 100k (As of 4/16/2021)
16 or Older San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 68% (44% Fully Vaccinated)
San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 60% (39% Fully Vaccinated)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco
Searching for a Vaccination Appointment? Moscone Center is currently showing good appointment availability for the Pfizer vaccine.
https://myturn.ca.gov

April 23nd, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 34 or 3.9 per 100k (As of 4/15/2021)
16 or Older San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 67% (43% Fully Vaccinated)
San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 59% (38% Fully Vaccinated)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco
Searching for a Vaccination Appointment? Moscone Center is currently showing good appointment availability for the Pfizer vaccine.
https://myturn.ca.gov

April 22nd, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 32 or 3.7 per 100k (As of 4/14/2021)
16 or Older San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 66% (42% Fully Vaccinated)
San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 58% (37% Fully Vaccinated)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

April 21st, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 33 or 3.8 per 100k (As of 4/13/2021)
16 or Older San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 65% (42% Fully Vaccinated)
San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 57% (37% Fully Vaccinated)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

April 20th, 2021 - Mayor London Breed Statement on George Floyd Murder
Mayor London N. Breed issued the following statement regarding the guilty verdict issued today in the trial of Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd.
“This verdict does not bring back the life of George Floyd. It can’t replace the years of his life that were robbed from him, nor the life experiences and memories that would have been made with his friends and family. What this verdict does reflect is that the tide is turning in this country, although still too slowly, toward accountability and justice.

Almost eleven months ago, the world watched as Officer Derek Chauvin kept his knee on the back of George Floyd’s neck. He kept it there for eight minutes and 46 seconds, but it felt like an eternity. The systemic injustice from hundreds of years of racism and mistreatment of Black Americans was put into plain view on video, and the country and the world erupted in protest.

While we’re now months removed from the height of those protests, the need for action is as critical as ever. This is about more than prosecuting the officer who killed George Floyd, though that is an important step. It’s about fundamentally restructuring how policing is done to move away from the use of excessive force. It’s about shifting responses to non-violent calls away from an automatic police response to something better equipped to handle the situation. It’s about reinvesting in communities in which years of systematic disinvestment has made it nearly impossible for people to thrive. It’s about changing who we are as a country.

That’s what we’re trying to do in San Francisco. Our Street Crisis Response Teams, consisting of paramedics and behavioral health specialists, are now often the first responders to non-violent 911 calls relating to mental health and substance use. Our Dream Keeper Initiative is redirecting $120 million to improve the lives of Black youth and their families through investments in everything from housing, to healthcare, to workforce training and guaranteed income. And our sustained, multi-year efforts to reform our police department has resulted in a 57% reduction in instances of use of force and a 45% decrease in officer involved shootings since 2016.

While this tragedy can never be undone, what we can do is finally make real change in the name of George Floyd. Nothing we can do will bring him back, but we can do the work to prevent others from facing his fate in the future. That is the work we need to do. It’s ongoing, it’s challenging, but if we are committed we can make a real and lasting difference in this country.”

April 19th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 35 or 4.1 per 100k (As of 4/11/2021)
16 or Older San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 63% (41% Fully Vaccinated)
San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 56% (36% Fully Vaccinated)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

April 17th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 34 or 3.9 per 100k (As of 4/9/2021)
16 or Older San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 62% (40% Fully Vaccinated)
San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 54% (35% Fully Vaccinated)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

April 16th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 33 or 3.8 per 100k (As of 4/8/2021)
16 or Older San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 61% (39% Fully Vaccinated)
San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 53% (35% Fully Vaccinated)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

April 15th, 2021 - Updated Gathering Guidance
"Small outdoor social gatherings are expanded to allow up to 50 people when face coverings are worn at all times – 25 if attendees are eating or drinking...While still strongly discouraged, small indoor social gatherings are expanded to up to the lesser of 25% capacity or 25 people with face coverings on at all times and distancing and ventilation measures encouraged. Special rules and allowances apply to small indoor gatherings involving fully vaccinated individuals." -SFDPH

Outdoor Gatherings

Up to 50 people may gather outdoors, if wearing masks, physically distanced between households, and no eating or drinking is allowed.
Up to 25 people may gather outdoors, if wearing masks, physically distanced between households, and eating and drinking are involved.

Small Private Indoor Gatherings with Face Coverings (SFDPH still strongly discourages indoor gatherings)

The gathering is limited to number of people (up to 25) who can safely maintain physical distance of at least six feet between Households.
Every person must wear a Face Covering at all times during the gathering.
No food or beverages may be consumed during the gathering.
Physical distance of six feet from other people not in the same Household should be maintained during the gathering.
Indoor areas should maximize ventilation whenever possible, including by opening windows and external doors to improve airflow in the area of the gathering.
If anyone planning to attend the gathering has any symptom of COVID-19, they should not participate in the gathering, and others from the same Household should consider avoiding the gathering. A list of COVID-19 symptoms is available online at www.sfcdcp.org/covid19symptoms.
Such gatherings that do not involve fully vaccinated people are strongly discouraged at this time and should occur instead outdoors to the greatest extent possible in accordance with the outdoor gathering rules.

Small Private Indoor Gatherings with People Who Are Fully Vaccinated* for COVID-19
Small Private Indoor Gatherings with fully vaccinated people where some individuals may potentially remove Face Coverings may occur. The specific situations that would allow for the removal of Face Coverings are outlined by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) at: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated-guidance.html.

Fully vaccinated* people can:

Spend time with other fully vaccinated people, including indoors, without wearing masks or physical distancing.
Spend time with unvaccinated people from a single household who are at low risk for severe COVID-19 disease indoors without wearing masks or physical distancing.
Refrain from quarantine and testing following a known exposure if asymptomatic (outside the workplace setting).

*For the purposes of this guidance, people are considered fully vaccinated for COVID-19 ≥2 weeks after they have received the second dose in a 2-dose series (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna), or ≥2 weeks after they have received a single-dose vaccine (Johnson and Johnson (J&J)/Janssen ). -CDC

SFDPH Table of Permitted Activities
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/alerts/Business-and-Activities-Table.pdf
CADPH Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People
https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/COVID-19-Public-Health-Recommendations-for-Fully-Vaccinated-People.aspx

April 15th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 35 or 4.0 per 100k (As of 4/7/2021)
16 or Older San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 60% (38% Fully Vaccinated)
San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 52% (34% Fully Vaccinated)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

April 13th, 2021 - People 16 and Older Are Now Eligible to Receive the COVID-19 Vaccine in San Francisco
"Mayor London N. Breed, Director of Health Dr. Grant Colfax, and Director of the Department of Emergency Management Mary Ellen Carroll today announced that in accordance with state and federal guidance, all people age 16 and over in San Francisco are now eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Those newly eligible people age 16 and over should visit SF.gov/getvaccinated to learn about options for receiving the vaccine and to find links to schedule appointments at different vaccination sites." - Office of the Mayor

Mayor's Office Press Release
https://sfmayor.org/article/people-16-and-older-are-now-eligible-receive-covid-19-vaccine-san-francisco

April 13th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 35 or 4.0 per 100k (As of 4/5/2021)
16 or Older San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 58% (36% Fully Vaccinated)
San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 51% (32% Fully Vaccinated)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

April 12th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 34 or 3.9 per 100k (As of 4/4/2021)
16 or Older San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 57% (36% Fully Vaccinated)
San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 50% (31% Fully Vaccinated)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

April 10th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 35 or 4.0 per 100k (As of 4/2/2021)
16 or Older San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 54% (34% Fully Vaccinated)
San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 47% (30% Fully Vaccinated)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

April 9th, 2021 - Expanded Vaccine Eligibility in High Impact Neighborhoods
Drop--in vaccines for everyone 16+ living in the 94124, 94134, 94107, 94110, 94112, 94102, 94103 & 94130 zip codes.

Drop-in daily from 9am-3pm, no appointment needed:

April 9th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 37 or 4.3 per 100k (As of 4/1/2021)
16 or Older San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 54% (34% Fully Vaccinated)
San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 47% (30% Fully Vaccinated)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

April 8th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 37 or 4.3 per 100k (As of 4/1/2021)
16 or Older San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 53% (33% Fully Vaccinated)
San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 46% (29% Fully Vaccinated)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

April 7th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 37 or 4.2 per 100k (As of 3/30/2021)
16 or Older San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 51% (31% Fully Vaccinated)
San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 45% (27% Fully Vaccinated)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

April 6th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 38 or 4.3 per 100k (As of 3/29/2021)
16 or Older San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 50% (30% Fully Vaccinated)
San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 44% (26% Fully Vaccinated)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

April 5th, 2021 - Updated California Department of Public Health Travel Advisory
"CDPH and the CDC recommend delaying travel until persons are fully vaccinated, because travel increases the chance of getting and spreading COVID-19. Travel threatens to exacerbate community spread within and beyond California —particularly because travel itself (especially the use of shared conveyances in air, bus, or rail travel) can increase a person's chance of spreading and getting COVID-19, including Sars-CoV2 variants of concern.

With over 18 million vaccine doses administered statewide, vaccines have made a difference and overall disease trends have improved dramatically over the past ten weeks. Case rates, test positivity, transmission rate, hospitalizations and ICU admissions have all declined since the winter surge. While we have made great progress, many states and countries are experiencing increasing levels of transmission, and it is imperative that California continue to take steps necessary to curb the spread of COVID-19 and contain new sources of infection until we can achieve higher levels of vaccination in California and beyond. The State is issuing the following recommendations, which supersede the Travel Advisory issued on April 1, 2021:

All travelers arriving in or returning to California from other states or countries should follow CDC travel guidance.
All travelers who test positive or develop symptoms of COVID-19 should isolate and follow public health recommendations.
Fully vaccinated travelers:
- are less likely to get and spread COVID-19, and can travel safely within the United States and California
- should follow CDC travel guidance, and are not required to test or quarantine before or after travel unless they have symptoms concerning for COVID-19 disease.

Non-Essential Travel of unvaccinated persons [i]

Except in connection with essential travel[ii], Californians should avoid non-essential travel outside of California, to other states or countries unless they are fully vaccinated. Avoiding travel reduces the risk of virus transmission, including by reducing the risk that new sources of infection and, potentially, new virus strains will be introduced to California.
Non-essential travelers from other states or countries, are strongly discouraged from entering California, and should adhere to the quarantine procedures set forth below.
Non-essential travelers who are not fully vaccinated should get tested with a viral test 1-3 days before travel, and get tested 3-5 days upon arrival to their destination. They should stay home and self-quarantine for a full 7 days after travel, even if their test is negative.
Non-essential travelers who are not fully vaccinated and don't get tested should stay home and self-quarantine for 10 days after travel.

A Local Health Officer may determine if and when the situation within the Local Health Officer's jurisdiction warrants measures that are more restrictive than this statewide advisory, and retains authority to implement such measures.

CDPH will update these recommendations as more people are vaccinated, as rates of COVID-19 change, and as additional scientific evidence becomes available.

i "Non-essential travel" includes travel that is considered tourism or recreational in nature.
ii "Essential travel" is travel associated with the operation, maintenance, or usage of critical infrastructure or otherwise required or expressly authorized by law (including other applicable state and local public health directives), including work and study, critical infrastructure support, economic services and supply chains, health, immediate medical care, and safety and security. Persons who routinely cross state or country borders for essential travel do not need to quarantine." -CDPH

California Department of Public Health - Travel Advisory - Updated April 2nd, 2021
https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/Travel-Advisory.aspx

Children under the age of 16 are not eligible for COVID-19 vaccines and must follow the guidance for unvaccinated persons.

April 5th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 36 or 4.1 per 100k (As of 3/28/2021)
Over-16 San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 49% (29% Fully Vaccinated)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

April 3rd, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 37 or 4.2 per 100k (As of 3/26/2021)
Over-16 San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 47% (26% Fully Vaccinated)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

April 2nd, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 37 or 4.3 per 100k (As of 3/25/2021)
Over-16 San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 47% (26% Fully Vaccinated)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

April 1st, 2021 - Updated California Department of Public Health Travel Advisory
"Persons arriving in California from other states or Californians returning from other states or countries could introduce new sources of infection (potentially including new variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus) to California. Intra-state travel, likewise, threatens to exacerbate community spread within California —particularly because travel itself (especially the use of shared conveyances in air, bus, or rail travel) can increase a person's chance of spreading and getting COVID-19. Postponing travel and staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.
With 18 million vaccine doses administered statewide, vaccines have made a difference and overall disease trends have improved dramatically over the past ten weeks. Case rates, test positivity, transmission rate, hospitalizations and ICU admissions have all declined since the winter surge.
It is imperative that California continue to take steps necessary to curb the spread of COVID-19 and contain new sources of infection until we can achieve higher levels of vaccination in California and beyond. The State is issuing the following recommendations, which supersede the Travel Advisory issued on January 6, 2021 and shall apply prospectively from April 1, 2021:

All travelers arriving in or returning to California from other states or countries should follow CDC travel guidance.
All travelers should get tested with a viral test 1-3 days before travel.
All travelers who test positive or develop symptoms of COVID-19 should isolate and follow public health recommendations.

Non-Essential Travel [i]

Except in connection with essential travel[ii], Californians should avoid non-essential travel outside of California, to other states or countries. Avoiding travel reduces the risk of virus transmission, including by reducing the risk that new sources of infection and, potentially, new virus strains will be introduced to California.
Non-essential travelers from other states or countries, regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status, are strongly discouraged from entering California, and should adhere to the quarantine procedures set forth below.
Non-essential travelers should get tested 3-5 days upon arrival into California and stay home and self-quarantine for a full 7 days after travel, even if their test is negative.
Non-essential travelers who don't get tested should stay home and self-quarantine for 10 days after travel.

A Local Health Officer may determine if and when the situation within the Local Health Officer's jurisdiction warrants measures that are more restrictive than this statewide advisory, and retains authority to implement such measures.

i "Non-essential travel" includes travel that is considered tourism or recreational in nature.
ii "Essential travel" is travel associated with the operation, maintenance, or usage of critical infrastructure or otherwise required or expressly authorized by law (including other applicable state and local public health directives), including work and study, critical infrastructure support, economic services and supply chains, health, immediate medical care, and safety and security. Persons who routinely cross state or country borders for essential travel do not need to quarantine." -CDPH
California Department of Public Health - Travel Advisory - Updated April 1st, 2021
https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/Travel-Advisory.aspx

April 1st, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 35 or 4.0 per 100k (As of 3/24/2021)
Over-16 San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 46% (25% Fully Vaccinated)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

March 31st, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 33 or 3.8 per 100k (As of 3/23/2021)
Over-16 San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 44% (24% Fully Vaccinated)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

March 30th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 31 or 3.6 per 100k (As of 3/22/2021)
Over-16 San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 44% (24% Fully Vaccinated)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

March 29th, 2021 - CDC finds mRNA Vaccines Effective in Real-World Conditions
"What is already known about this topic? Messenger RNA (mRNA) COVID-19 vaccines have been shown to be effective in preventing symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection in randomized placebo-controlled Phase III trials.
What is added by this report? Prospective cohorts of 3,950 health care personnel, first responders, and other essential and frontline workers completed weekly SARS-CoV-2 testing for 13 consecutive weeks. Under real-world conditions, mRNA vaccine effectiveness of full immunization (≥14 days after second dose) was 90% against SARS-CoV-2 infections regardless of symptom status; vaccine effectiveness of partial immunization (≥14 days after first dose but before second dose) was 80%.
What are the implications for public health practice? Authorized mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are effective for preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection in real-world conditions. COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for all eligible persons."

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)

March 29th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 31 or 3.6 per 100k (As of 3/21/2021)
Over-16 San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 44% (23% Fully Vaccinated)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

March 27th, 2021 - Current Public Health Trends and Golden Bridges School
At Golden Bridges School, we are grateful for so much continued prioritization of health and safety as a community, including:

staying home when sick
thoughtful and preventative symptoms exclusions, quarantines, and follow-up COVID-19 testing
hundreds of faculty and staff asymptomatic COVID-19 surveillance tests
following the frequently updated public health guidance, including getting vaccinated when eligible

Working in close partnership with the San Francisco Department of Public Health, layered COVID-19 mitigation measures continue to prove effective in San Francisco, and in-school transmissions are rare. Golden Bridges School has not experienced a stable group quarantine, in-school transmission or known COVID-19 case. Regardless of the relative safety of our school, many of us have witnessed and experienced discomfort, health concerns, trauma, and profound loss during these challenging times.

Together, with tremendous efforts, we have centered the wellbeing of our students and children. Having weathered so much as a community, we welcome the progress in the areas of health and safety we are seeing this Spring.

As you may have read on this page, San Francisco community transmission has significantly decreased, priority vaccinations have been available to educators since February 24th, community vaccination rates are increasing, and the state has moved our county to the Orange Moderate Tier, supporting cautiously expanded social and gathering opportunities. Wednesday, California announced that everyone 16 or older will be eligible for vaccination starting April 15th.

Responsive to the encouraging public health trends, in the coming week, Golden Bridges School will be announcing our plans for an expanded instructional day for our grades programs. There is much to look forward to this Spring!

March 27th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 29 or 3.3 per 100k (As of 3/19/2021)
Over-16 San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 43% (22% Fully Vaccinated)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

March 26th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 29 or 3.3 per 100k (As of 3/18/2021)
Over-16 San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 42% (22% Fully Vaccinated)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

March 23rd, 2021 - New Gathering Guidance Based on Orange - Moderate Tier
"With the move into the orange tier, San Francisco is expanding the number of people able to participate in outdoor gatherings to 25. Following CDC guidelines, the City has also announced guidelines to resume indoor small gatherings in residences for up to 12 people of up to three households. Outdoor activities remain safer than indoor activities and groups are encouraged to continue gathering outdoors whenever possible, particularly if they include unvaccinated individuals." -San Francisco Mayor's Office

Indoor Gatherings

Up to 12 people from 3 households may gather in a private residence, with face coverings and with ventilation measures and distancing urged. Such gatherings are discouraged unless they are gatherings with vaccinated individuals consistent with CDC guidelines*. If possible gatherings should take place outdoors.

Outdoor gatherings

Small outdoor gatherings may increase to up to 25 people from three households.
Outdoor gatherings that involve food and drink may continue with 6 people from three households.

*For the purposes of this guidance, people are considered fully vaccinated for COVID-19 ≥2 weeks after they have received the second dose in a 2-dose series (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna), or ≥2 weeks after they have received a single-dose vaccine (Johnson and Johnson (J&J)/Janssen ). -CDC

SFDPH Table of Permitted Activities Based on the Orange Tier Assignment
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/alerts/Business-and-Activities-Table.pdf

March 23rd, 2021 - New CA State Tier Assignment for San Francisco County: Orange - Moderate Tier
Current San Francisco County Metrics (https://covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy/)
3.2 New COVID-19 case per day per 100k
1.7 Adjusted case rate for tier assignment
0.8% Positivity rate (7-day Average)
1.4% Health equity quartile positivity rate

Requirements to move to Yellow - Minimal Tier
A county must remain in a tier for a minimum of three weeks before being able to advance to a less restrictive tier.
Adjusted case rate: Less than 1.0 Daily new case (per 100k)
Positivity rate: Less than 2.0% Positive tests - Currently Achieving
Health equity quartile positivity rate: Less than 2.2% Positive tests - Currently Achieving

Office of the Mayor Press Release
https://sfmayor.org/article/san-francisco-reopens-and-expands-businesses-and-activities-it-moves-states-orange-tier

March 23rd, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 31 or 3.6 per 100k (As of 3/15/2021)
Over-16 San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 37% (18% Fully Vaccinated)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

March 22nd, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 31 or 3.6 per 100k (As of 3/14/2021)
Over-16 San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 37% (18% Fully Vaccinated)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

March 21st, 2021 - Updated SFDPH Guidance for Schools
Today the SPFDH issued significantly updated guidance for schools based on current science and community transmission levels.

"Since the start of the COVID-19 epidemic, our understanding of COVID-19 has increased tremendously. We now know that precautions such as universal face coverings and cohorting effectively decrease the risk of COVID-19 transmission. By coordinating and layering effective interventions, schools can reduce the risk of COVID-19 enough to reopen safely for staff and students.

The recommendations below are based on the best science available at this time and the current degree of COVID-19 transmission in San Francisco. They are subject to change as new knowledge emerges and local community transmission changes." -SFDPH

Excerpts from updated March 21st Schools Guidance

Students can participate in no more than 2 extracurricular cohorts, in addition to their stable instructional group at school. This is true even if the programs are on different days of the week. For example, a child may not attend both an afterschool program MWF, a Tues-Thurs art class, and a Saturday youth sports program.

Extracurricular activities that only include students from the same instructional group do not count toward this limit. For example, if a high school cohorts students by grade, an afterschool drama club that combines students from different grades would count toward this limit, but a 9th grade drama club would not.

Students who play indoor moderate- or high-contact sports must NOT participate in a 2nd extracurricular cohort at the same time. Indoor high-contact sports like basketball and hockey are higher risk for spread of COVID-19, and have been associated with outbreaks in youth.

For example, a student who plays indoor basketball must not participate in any other extracurricular cohorts. However, they may continue to participate in sports, dance and exercise activities that are part of their in-person classes at school.
For a list of moderate- and high-contact sports, see https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/outdoor-indoor-recreational-sports.aspx

In the classroom, students must be seated at least 3 feet apart.

Students may move about the classroom to obtain supplies, turn in work, or to go to another part of the classroom, even if they pass within 3 feet of another student while moving from one place to another. For example, students may leave their desks to be part of a reading group on a classroom rug.
Physical movement and activity in the classroom are still allowed. For example, “air writing” and other movement designed to help children learn letters, or distinguish left from right; clapping hands or stomping feet, standing, stretching, meditation, and doing the “hokey pokey” to recorded music are all acceptable activities.

Students and staff may play a wind instrument (i.e. woodwind or brass), cheer, chant, or sing when all of the following conditions are met:

Outdoor only
Physical distancing of at least 6 feet from others in the group
Physical distancing of at least 12 feet away from an audience or any observers
Wearing a face mask or using an instrument cover (for instruments) when within 12 feet of others.
Face masks and/or instrument covers are strongly encouraged at all distances.
Instrument covers should be made of materials similar to those required for face coverings.
To cover their nose, musicians may wear a face covering with a mouth-slit in addition to, but not in place of, an instrument cover.
No more than 25 people per group. This limit does not apply to people in the group who play percussion, string, or other non-wind instruments.

Reopening TK-12 Schools for In-Person, On-Site Instruction: Interim Guidance for School Year 2020-2021, March 21, 2021
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/alerts/covid-guidance/2020-33-Guidance-TK12-Schools.pdf

March 21st, 2021 - Current CDPH Travel Advisory
This is the California Department of Public Health Travel Advisory that is currently in effect.

Excerpt from CDPH Travel Advisory
Non-Essential Travel
1. Except in connection with essential travel, Californians should avoid non-essential travel to any part of California more than 120 miles from one's place of residence, or to other states or countries. Avoiding travel reduces the risk of virus transmission, including by reducing the risk that new sources of infection and, potentially, new virus strains will be introduced to California.

2. Non-essential travelers from other states or countries are strongly discouraged from entering California, and should adhere to the quarantine procedures set forth in Paragraph 3.

Quarantine Post-Travel
3. All persons arriving in or returning to California from other states or countries, should self-quarantine for 10 days after arrival, except as necessary to meet urgent critical healthcare staffing needs or to otherwise engage in emergency response. Additionally, this recommendation does not apply to individuals who routinely cross state or country borders for essential travel.

California Department of Public Health - Travel Advisory - Updated January 6th, 2021
https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/Travel-Advisory.aspx

March 19th, 2021 - SFDPH Update on School Physical Distancing Guidance and San Francisco Schools COVID-19 Data
The San Francisco Health Officer issued a statement around updating physical distancing guidance and COVID-19 transmission levels in San Francisco school settings.
"Today's announcement from the CDC stating that students can safely return to the classroom at 3 feet apart (as opposed to 6 feet apart) is great news and follows the scientific evidence."
"Since last September, my office has approved 114 schools for grades TK-12 for in-person learning for over 16,800 students and nearly 3,000 staff. We have seen minimal cases of in-school transmission and outbreaks due to COVID-19 as a result of these schools reopening in San Francisco. Please see our public dashboard for more information. Meanwhile, these students have received the significant and proven health benefits of in-person learning, supporting their physical, mental, and socio-emotional health." -San Francisco Health Officer

San Francisco Health Officer Statement
San Francisco Schools COVID-19 Data

March 19th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 32 or 3.7 per 100k (As of 3/11/2021)
Over-16 San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 36% (17% Fully Vaccinated)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

March 18th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 31 or 3.6 per 100k (As of 3/9/2021)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

March 17th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 33 or 3.8 per 100k (As of 3/9/2021)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

March 16th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 34 or 4.0 per 100k (As of 3/8/2021)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

March 15th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 36 or 4.1 per 100k (As of 3/7/2021)
Note: The numbers have been plateauing for a few days.
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

March 13th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 36 or 4.1 per 100k (As of 3/5/2021)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

March 11th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 40 or 4.6 per 100k (As of 3/3/2021)
Over-16 San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 26% (12% Fully Vaccinated)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

March 10th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 42 or 4.9 per 100k (As of 3/2/2021)
Over-16 San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 26% (12% Fully Vaccinated)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

March 9th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 47 or 5.4 per 100k (As of 3/1/2021)
Over-16 San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 25% (12% Fully Vaccinated)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

March 8th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 52 or 6.0 per 100k (As of 2/28/2021)
Over-16 San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 25% (12% Fully Vaccinated)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

March 6th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 56 or 6.5 per 100k (As of 2/26/2021)
Over-16 San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 24% (11% Fully Vaccinated)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

March 5th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day: 58 or 6.6 per 100k (As of 2/25/2021)
Over-16 San Francisco Population who have Received At Least One Dose of Vaccine: 23% (11% Fully Vaccinated)
COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

March 4th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day is 62 or 7.1 per 100k (As of 2/24/2021)

COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

March 3rd, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day is 65 (As of 2/23/2021)

COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

March 2nd, 2021 - New CA State Tier Assignment for San Francisco County: Red - Substantial Tier
Current San Francisco County Metrics (https://covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy/)
8.2 New COVID-19 case per day per 100k
6.3 Adjusted case rate for tier assignment
2.4% Positivity rate (7-day Average)
3.7% Health equity quartile positivity rate

Requirements to move to Orange - Moderate Tier
Adjusted case rate: 1.0 – 3.9 Daily new cases (per 100k)
Positivity rate: 2.0 – 4.9% Positive tests - Currently Achieving
Health equity quartile positivity rate: 2.2 – 5.2% Positive tests - Currently Achieving

Office of the Mayor Press Release
https://sfmayor.org/article/san-francisco-reopens-some-businesses-and-activities-it-moves-states-red-tier

March 2nd, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day is 67 (As of 2/22/2021)

COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

March 1st, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day is 65 (As of 2/21/2021)

COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

February 28th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day is 66 (As of 2/20/2021)

COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

February 27th, 2021 - COVID-19 Guidelines for Post-Vaccination Symptoms
SFDPH (and Santa Clara County Department of Public Health): Flowchart showing how to respond to symptoms that develop post-vaccination.

COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

February 27th, 2021 - Outdoor Youth Sports to Return to San Francisco with Safety Precautions
"Rec and Park to offer field space for “mini” spring season for soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, flag football and more." - SFDPH

SFDPH Press Release
http://www.goldenbridgesschool.org/uploads/1/1/6/0/116073159/02.26.21_youth_sports_rec_park_health_order.pdf

COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

February 27th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day is 67 (As of 2/19/2021)

COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

February 26th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day is 71 (As of 2/18/2021)

COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

February 25th, 2021 - Interim Guidance on Quarantine for COVID-19 Vaccinated IndividualsSome vaccinated people do not need to Many people who have been vaccinated for COVID-19 do not have to quarantine after close contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19.
If all of the following are true, you do not need to quarantine after exposure to a COVID-19 case:

You were fully vaccinated for COVID-19 at least two weeks before the exposure, AND
Your last COVID-19 vaccine was within the last 3 months, AND
You have no COVID-19 symptoms since the exposure (see www.sfcdcp.org/covid19symptoms), AND
You are not healthcare personnel, a hospitalized patient, or a resident in a healthcare setting.

Guidance: www.sfcdcp.org/quarantineaftervaccination

February 25th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day is 74 (As of 2/17/2021)

COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

February 24th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day is 79 (As of 2/16/2021)

COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

February 23rd, 2021 - San Francisco Lifts Mandatory Travel Quarantine for Travel Within CA
SFDPH sent out a press release this afternoon, both:

discouraging non-essential travel outside of the state or 120 miles away from home
lifting the mandatory 10-day travel quarantine for travel outside of the Bay Area (without leaving the state)

Note: CA State still requires a 10-day travel quarantine for people arriving or returning to California from other states or countries.

View Full Press Release Here

February 23rd, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day is 82 (As of 2/15/2021)

COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

February 22nd, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day is 89 (As of 2/14/2021)

COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

February 21st, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day is 92 (As of 2/13/2021)

COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

February 20th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day is 97 (As of 2/12/2021)

COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in San Francisco
https://sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-sites-san-francisco

February 19th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day is 104 (As of 2/11/2021)

February 18th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day is 113 (As of 2/10/2021)

February 17th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day is 125 (As of 2/9/2021)

February 16th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day is 128 (As of 2/8/2021)

Sign up to get vaccination notifications: https://sf.gov/get-notified-when-its-your-turn-covid-19-vaccine
COVID-19 Administered Vaccinations in San Francisco: https://data.sfgov.org/stories/s/COVID-19-Vaccinations/a49y-jeyc

Drop-in Vaccination Sites: "Drop-ins at Zuckerberg San Francisco General and Southeast Health Center are still open during the Moscone and CCSF pause. Please let your friends, neighbors, family and loved ones 65 and over who live in 94107, 94110, 94112, 94124, and 94134 know!" -SFDPH

CA State Tier Assignment for San Francisco County: Purple - Widespread
Current County Metrics (https://covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy/)
14.7 New COVID-19 case per day per 100k
8.9 Adjusted case rate for tier assignment
2.6% Positivity rate (7-day Average)
5.4% Health equity quartile positivity rate

Requirements to move to Red - Substantial tier
Adjusted case rate: 4.0 – 7.0 Daily new cases (per 100k)
Positivity rate: 5.0 – 8.0% Positive tests
Health equity quartile positivity rate: 5.3 – 8.0% Positive tests

February 15th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day is 136 (As of 2/7/2021)

Sign up to get vaccination notifications: https://sf.gov/get-notified-when-its-your-turn-covid-19-vaccine
COVID-19 Administered Vaccinations in San Francisco: https://data.sfgov.org/stories/s/COVID-19-Vaccinations/a49y-jeyc

February 14th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day is 139 (As of 2/6/2021)

Sign up to get vaccination notifications: https://sf.gov/get-notified-when-its-your-turn-covid-19-vaccine
COVID-19 Administered Vaccinations in San Francisco: https://data.sfgov.org/stories/s/COVID-19-Vaccinations/a49y-jeyc

February 13th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day is 146 (As of 2/5/2021)

Sign up to get vaccination notifications: https://sf.gov/get-notified-when-its-your-turn-covid-19-vaccine
COVID-19 Administered Vaccinations in San Francisco: https://data.sfgov.org/stories/s/COVID-19-Vaccinations/a49y-jeyc

February 12th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day is 147 (As of 2/4/2021)

Sign up to get vaccination notifications: https://sf.gov/get-notified-when-its-your-turn-covid-19-vaccine
COVID-19 Administered Vaccinations in San Francisco: https://data.sfgov.org/stories/s/COVID-19-Vaccinations/a49y-jeyc

February 12th, 2021 - Update Guidance for Close Contact Quarantines if Fully Vaccinated
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/files/ig/COVID-19-QuickGuide-Suspected-Confirmed-COVID-Schools-Childcares-Programs.pdf
"People who were fully vaccinated for COVID-19 within the last 90 days do not have to quarantine after close contact to COVID-19 if all of the following are true:

They were fully vaccinated for COVID-19 at least 2 weeks before the exposure
Their last COVID-19 vaccine was within the last 90 days
They have had no COVID-19 symptoms since the exposure
People who have symptoms should get tested, stay at home while waiting for the result, and consult their doctor. The doctor will decide if they need to quarantine even if their test is negative, since people can test negative early in infection. The school or program may require a doctor’s note or documentation of COVID-19 vaccination.
People who were only partly vaccinated, or finished their COVID-19 vaccines less than 2 weeks before the close contact should follow the usual guidelines for returning to school/work." -SFDPH

February 11th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day is 143 (As of 2/3/2021)

Sign up to get vaccination notifications: https://sf.gov/get-notified-when-its-your-turn-covid-19-vaccine
COVID-19 Administered Vaccinations in San Francisco: https://data.sfgov.org/stories/s/COVID-19-Vaccinations/a49y-jeyc

February 10th, 2021 - SFDPH Update on Vaccination Eligibility
The City and County of San Francisco is currently vaccinating healthcare workers and people ages 65 and older.
"Starting on February 24, San Francisco will move to Phase 1B, Tier 1 of the state’s population prioritization plan and begin vaccinating people who work in education and childcare, emergency services, and food and agriculture sectors, while continuing to vaccinate healthcare workers and people 65 and older as supply allows. Please see the Mayor's press release for more details." - SFDPH
If you are eligible, sign up for an appointment to get a COVID-19 vaccine." - SFDPH

More Information

February 10th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day is 134 (As of 2/2/2021)

Sign up to get vaccination notifications: https://sf.gov/get-notified-when-its-your-turn-covid-19-vaccine
COVID-19 Administered Vaccinations in San Francisco: https://data.sfgov.org/stories/s/COVID-19-Vaccinations/a49y-jeyc

February 9th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-Day Average of New Cases per Day is 135 (As of 2/1/2021)

Sign up to get vaccination notifications: https://sf.gov/get-notified-when-its-your-turn-covid-19-vaccine
COVID-19 Administered Vaccinations in San Francisco: https://data.sfgov.org/stories/s/COVID-19-Vaccinations/a49y-jeyc

February 7th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-Day Average of New Cases per Day is 143 (As of 1/30/2021)

Sign up to get vaccination notifications: https://sf.gov/get-notified-when-its-your-turn-covid-19-vaccine
COVID-19 Administered Vaccinations in San Francisco: https://data.sfgov.org/stories/s/COVID-19-Vaccinations/a49y-jeyc

February 6th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-Day Average of New Cases per Day is 137 (As of 1/29/2021)

Sign up to get vaccination notifications: https://sf.gov/get-notified-when-its-your-turn-covid-19-vaccine
COVID-19 Administered Vaccinations in San Francisco: https://data.sfgov.org/stories/s/COVID-19-Vaccinations/a49y-jeyc

February 5th, 2021 - SFDPH Super Bowl Statement
"Even though our beloved 49ers missed the playoffs this year, San Francisco still has a lot riding on the big game this Sunday. COVID-19 remains widespread in our city and we must continue to take precautions. If we each do our part, we can help prevent making Super Bowl Sunday a Super-spreader event.

Celebrate by watching the game at home with people you already live with
- Avoid indoor gatherings with people outside of your household
Limit outdoor gatherings to no more than 12 people from 3 different households
- Maintain proper social distancing as much as possible
Remember to wear a face covering if you leave home
- Face coverings may be removed briefly outdoors only while eating or drinking.
- Do not remove face coverings when outside your home and indoors.
Keep the celebration local
- Avoid any non-essential travel
- If travel outside the Bay Area is unavoidable, follow the mandatory quarantine when returning
If visiting a local restaurant to enjoy outdoor dining on game day, follow local guidance
- Wear a face covering except when putting food or drink in your mouth
- Limit your table to a max of 6 people from no more than 2 households
- Stay 6 feet apart from anyone outside your household
- Older Adults, those with health risks, and members of their household are urged not to participate in outdoor dining

No matter who you’re rooting for in the Super Bowl, let’s stay safe and support our “home team” -- our family, friends, and neighbors." - SFDPH

For more information on safe ways to celebrate, visit: sf.gov/holidaysathome

For the latest local guidance on gatherings, social interactions, and holidays, visit: www.sfcdcp.org/safersocial

February 5th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-Day Average of New Cases per Day is 146 (As of 1/28/2021)

Sign up to get vaccination notifications: https://sf.gov/get-notified-when-its-your-turn-covid-19-vaccine
COVID-19 Administered Vaccinations in San Francisco: https://data.sfgov.org/stories/s/COVID-19-Vaccinations/a49y-jeyc

February 4th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-Day Average of New Cases per Day is 153 (As of 1/27/2021)

Sign up to get vaccination notifications: https://sf.gov/get-notified-when-its-your-turn-covid-19-vaccine
COVID-19 Administered Vaccinations in San Francisco: https://data.sfgov.org/stories/s/COVID-19-Vaccinations/a49y-jeyc

February 3rd, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-Day Average of New Cases per Day is 165 (As of 2/3/2021)

Sign up to get vaccination notifications: https://sf.gov/get-notified-when-its-your-turn-covid-19-vaccine

January 31st, 2021 - 10-day Travel Quarantine Remains In Effect
The Health Officer Travel Order (https://www.sfcdcp.org/travel):

requires mandatory quarantine of 10 days for anyone traveling, moving, or returning to San Francisco from anywhere outside the 10-county Bay Area Bay Area region
strongly discourages any non-essential travel within the 10-county Bay Area region.

This includes travel outside the following counties: San Mateo, Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, Solano, Sonoma, Napa, Marin and Santa Cruz.

If a student or staff member participates in travel, that student or staff member will need to self-quarantine for 10 days, starting from the day of return. Please contact your child’s teacher AND send an email to attendance if you are supporting community safety with a 10-day self-quarantine.

January 31st, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-Day Average of New Cases per Day is 174 (As of 1/23/2021)

Sign up to get vaccination notifications: https://sf.gov/get-notified-when-its-your-turn-covid-19-vaccine

January 30th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-Day Average of New Cases per Day is 179 (As of 1/22/2021)

Sign up to get vaccination notifications: https://sf.gov/get-notified-when-its-your-turn-covid-19-vaccine

January 29th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-Day Average of New Cases per Day is 192 (As of 1/21/2021)

Sign up to get vaccination notifications: https://sf.gov/get-notified-when-its-your-turn-covid-19-vaccine

January 28th, 2021 - Permitted Activities Based on the Purple Tier Assignment
"In alignment with the State’s recommendations, San Francisco is reopening at the State’s Purple Tier starting January 28, 2021. The decision to reopen balances the public health risks of COVID-19 transmission with the public health risks of economic and mental health stress. COVID-19 case rates are twice as high now as they were the last time San Francisco opened at the State’s Purple Tier. This means twice as many people walking around San Francisco have COVID-19 than the last time we reopened. Most COVID-19 infections are caused by people who have no symptoms of illness. We also have the added risk of new virus variants and mutations in the community, and it is unclear whether these variants will be more contagious and/or more deadly. The opening of sectors does not signify that these activities are “safe.” We have made our best efforts to make these activities and sectors safer for workers and the public. However, this requires that everyone do their part to make these activities as safe as possible, including wearing masks that covers your mouth and nose especially when talking, avoiding indoor settings to the extent possible, maintaining at least 6 feet distance from those you don’t live with, avoiding get-togethers and gatherings to the extent possible, getting tested and isolating if you are ill, and complying with additional health protocols required of open businesses." - SFDPH

SFDPH Table of Permitted Activities Based on the Purple Tier Assignment
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/alerts/Business-and-Activities-Table.pdf

January 28th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-Day Average of New Cases per Day is 202 (As of 1/20/2021)

Sign up to get vaccination notifications: https://sf.gov/get-notified-when-its-your-turn-covid-19-vaccine

January 27th, 2021 - Updated Guidance Transitioning to the Purple Tier - Widespread
"San Francisco will maintain its mandatory local travel quarantine. San Francisco will continue requiring travelers from outside of the Bay Area to quarantine for 10 days" - San Francisco Mayor's Office

"SFDPH - Activities to Resume Thursday, January 28
The following activities may be reopened/allowed to resume:

Personal Services. Indoor and outdoor personal services establishments, including hair and nail salons, barbers, tattoo, piercing, and massage services may reopen, but facial coverings are required to be worn at all times. Services that would necessitate the removal of facial coverings are not allowed at this point.
Outdoor Dining. Outdoor dining may resume. It is limited to up to 6 people total from up to two households at a table. Per State requirements, barriers between tables can no longer serve as an alternative to distancing tables 6 feet or more. Live entertainment is allowed except for singing or brass or wind instruments.
Outdoor Museums and Zoos. Outdoor operations for museums and zoos may resume, though zoos are capped at 50% capacity not including personnel. Concessions are allowed under the guidance of retail or outdoor dining according to the type of concessions.
Outdoor Family Entertainment Centers. Family entertainment such as skate parks, batting cages, miniature golf, kart racing, and laser tag or paintball may resume outdoor operations. Roller and ice skating rinks may operate at 25% capacity. Concessions are allowed under the guidance of retail or outdoor dining according to the type of concessions.
Open Air Boats and Busses. Open air boats and busses may operate outdoor operations of up to 12 passengers or physically distanced groups of 12, if social distancing can be maintained between groups. Concessions are allowed under the guidance of retail or outdoor dining according to the type of concessions.
Small Gatherings. Members of up to 3 households with a maximum of 12 people total may gather outdoors if social distance can be maintained and no food or drink is being consumed. If food or drink is being consumed, only members from two households of up to 6 people total is allowed.
Indoor Fitness. 1:1 personal training is allowed to resume indoors with no more than 3 people, including the customer, the trainer and a support staff.
Indoor Funerals. Indoor funerals may take place with up to 12 people.

The following activities may expand their operating capacity:

Grocery Stores. Standalone grocery stores may operate at 50% customer capacity, not including personnel, up from 35%.
Retail. All retail including low-contact retail services such as dog groomers, shoe, electronics and similar repair services may operate at 25% customer capacity, not including personnel, up from 20%. For enclosed shopping malls, any common areas and food courts must remain closed.
Hotels and Lodging. Hotels and lodging may accept reservations for tourist use from in-state and out of state guests. Out of Bay Area guests are required to quarantine for 10 days and must make a reservation for 10 days or longer in order to do so. Indoor gyms, meeting rooms, ballrooms and dining must remain closed, though outdoor dining can resume and room service can continue.
Outdoor Fitness. Removes the 12-person cap on outdoor fitness so long as social distancing can be met, and increases the fitness class cap to 25.
Youth sports. Youth sports without spectators are allowed if it is part of a childcare or out of school time (OST) program or part of an organized and supervised youth sports program. Additionally, low-contact youth sports that are allowed by the state in the purple tier may resume such as dancing, biking, no-contact martial arts, lawn bowling, or bocce ball. Distancing and face coverings must be in place at all times.
Outdoor Recreation. Up to 12 people from up to three households may engage in recreational activities that allow social distancing, including low-contact sports such as hiking, biking, dancing, and including those that share equipment such as balls and Frisbees.
Golf and Tennis. Expands to allow foursomes for golf, but limits to one household per cart and requires staggered tee times. Expands to allow doubles for tennis limited to members from no more than three households. Pickleball remains limited to singles per State requirements.
Outdoor Religious and Political Gatherings. Removes the 200-person cap to allow religious and political activities to take place unrestricted as long as social distancing can be maintained." - San Francisco Mayor's Office

Source: https://sfmayor.org/article/san-francisco-reopen-some-activities-response-state-lifting-regional-stay-home-order

January 27th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-Day Average of New Cases per Day is 217 (As of 1/19/2021)

Sign up to get vaccination notifications: https://sf.gov/get-notified-when-its-your-turn-covid-19-vaccine

January 26th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-Day Average of New Cases per Day is 230 (As of 1/18/2021)

Sign up to get vaccination notifications: https://sf.gov/get-notified-when-its-your-turn-covid-19-vaccine

January 24th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-Day Average of New Cases per Day is 261 (As of 1/16/2021)

Sign up to get vaccination notifications: https://sf.gov/get-notified-when-its-your-turn-covid-19-vaccine

January 23rd, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-Day Average of New Cases per Day is 266 (As of 1/15/2021)

Sign up to get vaccination notifications: https://sf.gov/get-notified-when-its-your-turn-covid-19-vaccine

January 22nd, 2021 - COVID-19 Data for San Francisco Schools (data through end of 2020)
"San Francisco tracks COVID-19 data in schools as a part of our plan for safer reopening. We are committed to tracking this data for students and staff to ensure they can return to in-person learning as safely as possible.

As of December 31, 2020, there have been fewer than 5 known instances of in-school transmission of COVID-19 in San Francisco. In-school transmission is where someone contracts COVID-19 from another student or staff member while at school. We share case, transmission, and outbreak counts once there are five or more occurrences in accordance with our data sharing and privacy policies.

The dashboard below includes data through December 31 on school enrollment and COVID-19 cases within San Francisco schools (grades TK-12). Read the data notes in the dashboard for more information." -SFDPH
SFGOV Data: https://data.sfgov.org/stories/s/COVID-19-Cases-in-Schools/qimr-5nm7/

January 21th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-Day Average of New Cases per Day is 276 (As of 1/14/2021)

Sign up to get vaccination notifications: https://sf.gov/get-notified-when-its-your-turn-covid-19-vaccine

January 21th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-Day Average of New Cases per Day is 299 (As of 1/13/2021)

Sign up to get vaccination notifications: https://sf.gov/get-notified-when-its-your-turn-covid-19-vaccine

January 20th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-Day Average of New Cases per Day is 309 (As of 1/12/2021)

Sign up to get vaccination notifications: https://sf.gov/get-notified-when-its-your-turn-covid-19-vaccine

January 19th, 2021 - Mayor London N. Breed - Virtual Press Conference
https://youtu.be/ig_mP7kfGD4

As of today, San Francisco has received a total of 102k vaccine doses and administered 45k doses (vaccinations). San Francisco has 210k people (requiring a total 420k doses) in the Phase 1A priority group (healthcare workers, long-term care residents, and people ages 65 and older). Currently, the city is working through Phase 1A. Phase 1B - Tier 1, the next priority group consists of:

Individuals 65 and older
Those at risk of exposure at work in the following sectors:
- Education and childcare
- Emergency services
- Food and agriculture

San Francisco launched a new vaccine distribution tracking dashboard where you can "track the number of people who live in San Francisco who have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine and the number of doses administered within San Francisco to anyone." - SFDPH
COVID-19 Vaccinations Dashboard or https://data.sfgov.org/stories/s/COVID-19-Vaccinations/a49y-jeyc

Sign up to get vaccination notifications: https://sf.gov/get-notified-when-its-your-turn-covid-19-vaccine

January 19th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-Day Average of New Cases per Day is 333 (As of 1/11/2021).

January 18th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-Day Average of New Cases per Day is 354 (As of 1/10/2021).

January 16th, 2021 - SFDPH COVID-19 Vaccine: Myth vs Fact
https://sf.gov/sites/default/files/2021-01/Myth-vs-Fact-Flyer-011221-CCC.pdf

January 16th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-Day Average of New Cases per Day is 369 (As of 1/8/2021).

January 15th, 2021 - SF GOV: Sign up to get vaccination notifications, starting January 19th
https://sf.gov/get-notified-when-its-your-turn-covid-19-vaccine

"Sign up to get notifications, starting January 19. You can get notifications for yourself or for other people.
We will ask you:

An email address or phone number for texting
Your age
Which sector you work in
If you have certain health conditions

Your place on the State vaccine priority list depends on your work, your age, and if you have certain health conditions.
You’ll be able to sign up for notifications starting on Tuesday, January 19, 2021. You may not get a notification for months, because vaccines are in limited supply. It depends on when we get doses from the state and federal government." - SF GOV

January 15th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-Day Average of New Cases per Day is 325 (As of 1/7/2021).

January 14th, 2021 - SFDPH School Team Updates on School Openings
On Tuesday, San Francisco schools offering in-person instruction and School COVID-19 Liaisons attended our regular support meeting with the SFDPH schools team and, in the course of the meeting and as part of their ongoing support, they highlighted some key information which is shared below...

SFDPH Speaking about San Francisco In-school Transmission (edited/summarized for brevity)
"We can...say...for the first time that there are less than five documented incidents of in-school transmission…So, the vast majority of all of these cases that have come to schools have come from outside of the community and then [were] brought into the school. It is not spreading inside of the school and that is a credit to all of you [schools] for adhering to all of the prevention and mitigation measures and showing that we can reduce the risk in schools, and that is why we keep moving forward with letting schools stay open because of data like this. So, a big thank you to all of you for all the hard work you're doing." - SFDPH

San Francisco K-12 Schools and Learning Hubs Open for Indoor In-person Learning by December 1st, 2020

San Francisco K-12 Schools and Learning Hubs Cohorts Quarantined September through December 15th

San Francisco K-12 Schools and Learning Hubs Total Cases September through December 15th

January 14th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-day Average of New Cases per Day is 303 (As of 1/6/2021).

January 11th, 2021 - Update from SFDPH around Vaccines and Current Case Surge
Today's update from SFDPH: "We are receiving many inquiries related to the COVID-19 vaccination...Below are general talking points about the vaccine. We will release more information as we get it from the State. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Vaccine in general

Vaccine has arrived but we must remain vigilant
Vaccine remains in limited quantity and healthcare workers are top priority for getting vaccinated.
The state of California determines who gets the vaccine when and how.
There is a lot of unknowns and we are doing the best we can to vaccinate as many people as fast as possible.
Each healthcare provider will get vaccines from the state. Each healthcare provider will likely vaccinate their patients.
Once we have vaccinated frontline workers, most people will receive the vaccine from their healthcare providers.
We are working with healthcare providers to administer vaccine as soon as possible. We are not saving vaccine in reserve.

Vaccine and Surge

The vaccine is here and it is being administered, but it will not have much of an impact on this current surge or any post-December holiday surge we may experience in the coming weeks.
We are still in a dangerous position with the virus, but our collective actions are making a difference.
While our infection rate is twice what it was during March, we can still make a difference by supporting each other and continuing to make good choices that we know slow the spread of the virus, such as wearing a mask over your nose and mouth when you go outside.
We also must wait until mid-to-late January to see the overall impacts of these pivotal holiday weeks, when many people have gathered, giving this highly infectious virus a possible foothold.
While our case rate seems to be slowing, the hospital capacity remains a concern across the region and the state.
By staying home and not gathering since December, we have been able to prevent hundreds of hospitalizations and save more than 400 lives.
Due to current ICU bed capacity, we will likely remain in the State stay at home order through the end of January." - SFDPH

January 11th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-Day Average of New Cases per Day is 302 (As of 1/4/2021).

January 11th, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-Day Average of New Cases per Day is 279 (As of 1/3/2021).

January 3rd, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-Day Average of New Cases per Day is 226 (As of 12/27/2020). The case increase amplified by travel and gatherings occurring in late November is just starting to decline. Please be vigilant, as we can anticipate another case increase through January, exacerbated by travel and gatherings in late December.

January 3rd, 2021 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-Day Average of New Cases per Day is 219 (As of 12/26/2020). The case increase amplified by travel and gatherings occurring in late November is just starting to decline. Please be vigilant, as we can anticipate another case increase through January, exacerbated by travel and gatherings in late December.

December 31st, 2020 - SFDPH Travel Quarantine and Local Stay Home Orders Extended
"As cases surge and regional ICU bed availability continues to fall, San Francisco extends requirement that those traveling into San Francisco from outside of the Bay Area quarantine for 10 days and extends the local Stay Safer at Home order." - SFDPH

Press Release: https://sf.gov/news/travel-quarantine-and-local-stay-home-orders-extended
Travel Order: https://www.sfdph.org/dph/alerts/files/Order-C19-17-Surge-Related-Travel-Quarantine.pdf

December 23rd 2020 - Updated SFDPH Isolation and Quarantine Guidance
Guidance around caring for yourself and others during COVID-19, including Home Isolation and Quarantine Instructions:

https://www.sfdph.org/dph/alerts/covid-guidance/Guidance-Isolation-and-Quarantine.pdf

"If you had close contact with someone who has COVID-19, you may be infected. You could spread the infection to others, even before you develop symptoms or test positive. If you are quarantining for travel reasons, you will need to follow these same instructions." - SFDPH

December 23rd, 2020 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-Day Average of New Cases per Day is 283 (As of 12/15/2020).

December 21st, 2020 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-Day Average of New Cases per Day is 269 (As of 12/13/2020).

December 19th, 2020 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-Day Average of New Cases per Day is 259 (As of 12/11/2020).

December 17th, 2020 - SFDPH Guidance Updates: Quarantine Shortened to 10 days and Mandatory Travel Quarantine
SFDPH has requested that we share the following information with our community.

SFDPH Updated Guidance:
"Shorten COVID-19 quarantine to 10 days. SFDPH has updated its guidance on quarantine duration for close contacts of COVID-19 cases to align with recent changes by the CDC and the CDPH. Most people who have had close contact with someone with COVID-19 may end their quarantine after day 10 if they do not develop symptoms during this time. SFDPH strongly recommends that close contacts without symptoms get tested on or after day 6 of quarantine. Because there is a small chance that close contacts may still be infected, they should continue to wear a face mask and stay at least 6 feet away from others until day 14. Given the higher risk and impact of transmission in high risk congregate living settings, people who live in dormitories must quarantine for 14 days after their last close contact with a person with COVID-19."

"Mandatory Travel quarantine. SF issued a mandatory quarantine of 10 days on anyone traveling, moving, or returning to San Francisco from anywhere outside the Bay Area. Limited exceptions apply to people who are traveling for certain critical activities. The new order also strongly discourages any non-essential travel within the 10-county Bay Area region. The travel order becomes effective at 12:01 a.m. on December 18, 2020 and will remain in effect until 12:01 a.m. on January 4, 2021 and may be extended as necessary if the surge continues."

City and County of San Francisco Announces Health Order Discouraging Unnecessary Travel and Implementing Mandatory Quarantine (PDF)

Guidance on Quarantine Duration for Close Contacts of COVID-19 Cases - Updated December 16, 2020 (PDF)

December 17th, 2020 - Updated Travel and Gathering Guidance, Including Mandatory Quarantine

We are leaving school for Winter Break in the context of San Francisco’s highest COVID-19 average daily case count and the state’s upcoming assignment of San Francisco to the Widespread - Purple Tier, effective 12/17/2020 at 11:59 p.m.
For the health and safety of our community, please:

Do not travel*
Do not gather with people you do not normally live with, including family members.*
Wear face coverings, maintain required 6-foot social distancing, practice good hand hygiene*

Please be reminded that SFDPH issued a Shelter in Place Order on December 9th and, yesterday, published a supporting Frequently Asked Questions document for COVID-19 health orders, placing specific and mandatory conditions on travel and gatherings.
If you are considering any form of gathering and/or travel during the Winter Break, please read the Frequently Asked Questions and Shelter in Place documents in full, so that you are in compliance with the mandatory health orders as required to return to school.
If a student or staff member participates in travel or gatherings that intentionally or unintentionally included activities out of compliance with the guidance, that student or staff member will need to self-quarantine for 10 days, starting from the day following the last exposure / activity. Although SFDPH recommends testing 4-7 days after returning from travel outside of the select ten Bay Area counties listed below, SFDPH does not currently support testing as a means to reduce the length of quarantine.
Please contact your child’s teacher AND send an email to attendance if you are supporting community safety with a 10-day self-quarantine. Please contact our Health and Safety Team if you experienced a known exposure to a COVID-19 case requiring you to quarantine.
The school and Golden Bridges School Health and Safety Norms and Community Pledge require adherence to SFDPH guidance. Additional details around guidance are updated on this Community Engagement page as they become available. Select excerpts from the travel portion of the FAQ available below.
* Detailed explanation available in the Shelter In Place Order and supporting FAQs:

As always, we are ready and available to support any questions.Thank you for supporting the health and safety of our community and taking the required actions to support student and teacher safety!

Excerpts from the FAQ:
NEW TRAVEL QUARANTINE ORDER EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 18, 2020
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/alerts/coronavirus-FAQ.asp (added 12/16/2020)
What does the new travel order do?
It requires anyone traveling, moving, or returning to San Francisco from outside the 10- county Bay Area to quarantine for 10 days to limit the spread of the coronavirus. Some limited exemptions apply. It also strongly discourages any non-essential travel within that Bay Area region.
When does San Francisco’s new travel order take effect?
It takes effect on Friday, December 18 at 12:01 a.m.
When does the order end?
The travel quarantine will remain in effect until 12:01 a.m. on January 4, 2021, and may be extended as necessary if the surge continues.
Who is required to quarantine under the new travel order?
Anyone who in the 10 days before arriving in San Francisco spent any time outside of the 10 Bay Area counties and stays in San Francisco for at least 24 hours, including returning residents, people moving to the City, and visitors, unless specifically exempted by the health order.
There are exemptions for medical professionals, first responders, official government purposes, essential infrastructure work, and others, including any travel required by a court order, like transferring custody of children.
What are the 10 Bay Area counties that someone could travel through and not be required to quarantine upon arriving in San Francisco?
San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, Solano, Sonoma, Napa, and Marin
Why is San Francisco doing this?
COVID-19 cases are surging in San Francisco and across the country. Our hospitals are close to being overwhelmed. The Bay Area region is now subject to the state’s regional stay at home order because our intensive care units are filling up. We need to take steps now to control the spread of the virus and save lives. The virus is most easily transmitted when people are in close proximity to each other. Isolating people who have been traveling and in contact with others is one way to help manage the spread of the virus.
Under the Order, all people should stay home as much as possible to prevent the spread of COVID-19. You may leave your residence to engage in any business or activity allowed under the Order, but whenever you go out, you must: (1) comply with the social distancing requirements—including the requirement to maintain at least six feet of physical distance from people outside of your household; (2) wear a face covering as required in the Face Covering Order, unless expressly exempted from the requirement in that order; and (3) avoid gatherings of any size with people from other households except as expressly allowed Appendix C-2 of the Order.
If you have a fever, cough, sore throat, difficulty breathing, or other COVID-19 symptoms that are not explained by another known condition, you may have COVID-19 and must avoid all interactions with people outside your household. If you live in the City and have any COVID-19 symptoms, you can schedule a free COVID-19 test at https://sf.gov/find-out-how-get-tested-coronavirus.

December 17th, 2020 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-Day Average of New Cases per Day is 246 (As of 12/10/2020).

December 16th, 2020 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-Day Average of New Cases per Day is 237 (As of 12/8/2020).

December 12th, 2020 - Guidance for Small Outdoor Gatherings and Outdoor Activities Updated
"Except as expressly provided below or elsewhere in this Order, gathering with people from other Households is prohibited at all times. Outdoor gatherings away from home with people from the same Household are limited to 12 people total or 6 people if eating or drinking.

Two people from different Households may meet outdoors as long as they maintain at least six feet of physical distance and wear face coverings at all times except when eating or drinking (subject to the limited exceptions in Health Officer Order No. C19- 12c)." - Order Of The Health Officer No. C19-07q

COVID-19 Restrictions: Comparison Chart (Highlighted for Changes)

December 12th, 2020 - SFDPH Social Media Updates
SFDPH shared Tomás J. Aragón's (former SF Health Officer and recently appointed head of CDPH) social media post:
"SARS-CoV-2 is airborne (small aerosol) transmissible. What are we not doing that we need to do?"
The post included a supporting story and video on aerosolization published by the The Washington Post.

SFDPH Social Media Updates

December 12th, 2020 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-Day Average of New Cases per Day is 229 (As of 12/4/2020).

December 11, 2020 - California's exposure notification system CA Notify now available for your phone
"Once you activate CA Notify, it does all the work. All you do is keep your Bluetooth on. You will only receive alerts if you were in close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19. Your privacy is protected as your identity is not known and your location is not tracked."
More information available here: https://canotify.ca.gov

December 11th, 2020 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-Day Average of New Cases per Day is 212 (As of 12/3/2020).

December 9th, 2020 - Playgrounds to Reopen December 10th After an Amendment of Statewide Order
"Playgrounds will officially reopen December 10, 2020, after an amendment of the statewide order that closed them Sunday.

San Francisco remains under the regional stay at home order. This means you can visit a playground, but only with members of your own household. Everyone over 2 must wear a mask at all times, practice social distancing, and comply with capacity limits. This is not a time to schedule playdates or meet others at the playground.

This decision reflects that playgrounds are essential spaces for children with established benefits to their physical and mental health. Allowing for their use is comparable to the health order allowing park usage for adults to get exercise and fresh air.

They will remain open for use with capacity limits, hand sanitizing stations, and requirements for masks and social distancing.

Follow the rules to stay safe!
• Do not visit a playground with anyone not in your household. Do not arrange playdates.
• Limit visits to 30 minutes when others are present.
• Visitors of all ages must stay 6 feet away from non-household members.
• Everyone 2 and older must wear masks.
• Do not eat or drink at the playground.
• If it’s crowded, come back later or choose a different playground.
• Clean your hands before and after playing.
• Adults must actively supervise children at all times. Children 2 and under must be within arm’s reach.
• To maximize the number of children who can play, only one adult may accompany each child." - San Francisco Recreation and Parks

December 9th, 2020 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-Day Average of New Cases per Day is 163 (As of 12/1/2020). San Francisco is experiencing our highest number of new cases per day seen during the pandemic. Please note the preliminary (may be updated) daily new case reporting from December 1st indicating a new daily high of 301 cases.

December 8th, 2020 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-Day Average of New Cases per Day is 146 (As of 11/30/2020). San Francisco is experiencing our highest number of new cases per day seen during the pandemic. Please note the preliminary (may be updated) daily new case reporting from December 1st indicating a new daily high of 297 cases.

December 8th, 2020 - Winter Solstice Spiral
Maintaining access to this important experience, and in the context of increased community transmission, our beloved Winter Solstice Spiral, originally planned for the Farm and John McLaren Park, will transition to an on-campus, school-day activity. Students will participate in this experience with their teacher, and within their stable cohort. Our mitigation efforts, including our closed campus, restrict parent, guardian, and caregiver participation, but we will share additional details and information to facilitate participation from home on your own schedule.

We look forward to being together again in health next year.

December 7th, 2020 - SFDPH Gatherings Guidance
Small Outdoor Gatherings - RESTRICTED as of Sunday, December 06, 2020

Total Capacity Limit with only members of the same Household, no eating or drinking (maximum 12 people if away from the home)
No Small Outdoor Gatherings from 10pm-5am

Outdoor Meal Gatherings (with Meal) - RESTRICTED as of Sunday, December 06, 2020

Outdoor Meal Gatherings with only members of the same Household (maximum 6 people if away from the home)
No Outdoor Meal Gatherings from 10pm-5am

December 5th, 2020 - Stay Safer at Home Order - December 6th through January 3rd
Stay Safer at Home (Order Of The Health Officer No. C19-07p) becomes effective at 10:00 p.m. on December 6, 2020, and will continue, as updated, to be in effect until 12:01 a.m. on January 4, 2021, or until it is extended, rescinded, superseded, or amended in writing by the Health Officer.

School Expectations
The Stay Safer at Home Order is designed to protect San Francisco and neighboring communities, to increase safety for all, and specifically looks to "...keep our schools open and continue to reopen those that are not yet providing in-person education..."

The school and Golden Bridges School Health and Safety Norms and Community Pledge require adherence to SFDPH guidance, including when gathering and when traveling outside of San Francisco County, which, if non-essential travel as of 10 p.m. on December 6th, necessitates a 14-day self-quarantine.

Stay Safer at Home Order of The Health Officer No. C19-07p
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/alerts/files/C19-07-Shelter-in-Place-Health-Order.pdf

Summary of Changes to Order
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/alerts/files/C19-07-Summary-of-Changes.pdf

Perspective from the Health Officer of the City and County of San Francisco (as included in the Order)
"We are going to have to live with the threat of the virus for months to come. And for us to be able to keep our schools open and continue to reopen those that are not yet providing in-person education, as well as re-open and expand business and other activities and promote the recovery of our economy, we are all going to have to take responsibility to act safely, including wearing face coverings, keeping at least six feet from others who are not in our household, washing our hands frequently, conducting activities outdoors rather than indoors where possible and avoiding gatherings. We are all in this together, and each of us is going to have to make sacrifices for the good of the community as a whole, including for our most vulnerable members."

Summary from The SFDPH Schools Team
"San Francisco is in the midst of a third surge of the COVID-19 virus. To contain this surge as much as possible, the Stay Safer at Home Health Order has been updated with further restrictions. Effective 10pm Sunday December 6th, the following changes will go into effect as it related to youth and educational programs:

Childcare and PreK: No change. These programs are not affected by the additional restrictions.
Out of School Time (OST) Programs: No change. These programs are not affected by the additional restrictions.
Playgrounds: Outdoor public playgrounds must temporarily close. Indoor playgrounds remain closed.
TK-12 Schools: No change. Schools are currently open may continue to provide in-person instruction. This includes those that received an elementary school waiver or reopened while SF was in a less restrictive tier. This also includes schools approved for either indoor or outdoor instruction. All schools that have not yet reopened may continue to serve small cohorts of vulnerable children and youth in person. SF will continue the reopening application process for schools not yet approved to open, including site visits.
Youth sports: This is allowed outdoors only if they are (1) part of an out of school time program, or (2) part of an organized and supervised youth sports program with distancing and face coverings at all times for the supervisors and participants, and provided no competitions can take place and there can be no spectators. Indoor youth sports are not allowed at this time.
Travel: Given the current surge, everyone is strongly encouraged not to travel, especially for recreational or non-essential purposes, and anyone who travels is strongly encouraged to quarantine on return to or arrival in the County. All individuals are required to comply with any travel-related orders—including any requirements for mandatory quarantine and isolation—that are issued by the State of California or the San Francisco Department of Public Health."

Excerpts from Order and Summary of Changes to Order
Please review the Order (or Summary) itself for additional details.

Order requires all residents in the County to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission by staying in their residences to the extent possible and minimizing trips and activities outside the home.
Allows people to engage in listed activities, including, for example, working for or going to the businesses listed and certain governmental and essential infrastructure activities, as well as engaging in essential activities, outdoor activities, certain additional activities, and travel related to those activities
RESTRICTED. Small Outdoor Gatherings. Only members of the same household may gather indoors or outdoors. Outdoor gatherings of the same household, when outside their home, are limited to 12 people. Household members must wear face coverings. Indoor and outdoor social gatherings with other households are prohibited.
RESTRICTED. Small Outdoor Meal Gatherings. Only members of the same household may gather outdoors outside the home (with not more than six people) where face coverings are removed to consume food or beverages. A household with more than six people, such as eight could break into two groups of four, separated by at least six feet, to take face coverings off to eat or drink.
SUSPENDED. Outdoor Playgrounds. Outdoor public playgrounds must temporarily close. Indoor playgrounds remain closed.
SUSPENDED. Outdoor Museums, Zoos and Aquariums. Outdoor museums, zoos and aquariums must temporarily close to the public. Indoor facilities were already required to be closed at this time. (Like parks and beaches, outdoor botanical gardens and historic sites may remain open.)

Please note the Stay Safer at Home Order of The Health Officer No. C19-07p was published on December 4th and related (linked) guidance and tip sheets, from as recent as November 29th, are still being updated (and may be out of date). "Where a conflict exists between this Order and any state public health order related to the COVID- 19 pandemic, the most restrictive provision (i.e., the more protective of public health) controls." As always, please contact the Health and Safety Team if questions.

December 5th, 2020 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-Day Average of New Cases per Day is 122 (As of 11/27/2020). This data includes reduced testing and reporting numbers from the holiday period. Please note the preliminary (may be updated) daily new case reporting from November 30th indicating a new daily high of 246 cases.

December 4th, 2020 - San Francisco Announces Stay at Home Order
San Francisco to Join Bay Area Counties to Preemptively Adopt California's Regional Stay at Home Order in an Effort to Contain COVID-19 Surge.

As of 10 p.m. on Sunday, December 6, San Francisco will close all personal services, outdoor dining, public outdoor playgrounds, outdoor museums, zoos and aquariums, drive-in theaters, and open-air tour busses and boats. Small outdoor gatherings, must limit themselves to members of 1 household with a maximum number of 12 people (down from up to three households or no more than 25 people). Face coverings must remain on at all times and no eating or drinking is allowed.

December 2nd, 2020 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-Day Average of New Cases per Day is 148 (As of 11/24/2020). San Francisco is experiencing our highest number of new cases per day seen during the pandemic.

December 1st, 2020 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-Day Average of New Cases per Day is 140 (As of 11/23/2020). San Francisco is experiencing our highest number of new cases per day seen during the pandemic.

November 30th, 2020 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-Day Average of New Cases per Day is 139 (As of 11/22/2020). San Francisco is experiencing our highest number of new cases per day seen during the pandemic.

November 29th, 2020 - Returning to School after November Break
We are retuning to school in the context of San Francisco’s highest COVID-19 average daily case count and the state’s recent assignment of San Francisco to the Widespread - Purple Tier.

In the context of this new tier, the SFDPH advises that: "All schools – TK-12 – that are already open for in-person learning may continue to offer indoor instruction.”

Please be reminded that before the break the SFDPH issued a Travel Advisory placing specific conditions on travel and gatherings over this past week. If a student or staff member participated in travel or gatherings that intentionally or unintentionally included higher-risk activities, that student or staff member will need to self-quarantine for 14-days, starting from the day following the last exposure/higher-risk activity. The SFDPH does not support testing as a means to reduce the length of quarantine.

Please contact your child’s teacher AND send an email to attendance if you are supporting community safety with a 14-day self-quarantine. Please contact our Health and Safety Team if you experienced a known exposure to a COVID-19 case requiring you to quarantine.

The school and Golden Bridges School Health and Safety Norms and Community Pledge require adherence to SFDPH guidance. Additional details around guidance and higher-risk activities that require quarantine are available in the Travel Advisory and on our Community Engagement page below.

November 29th, 2020 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-Day Average of New Cases per Day is 138 (As of 11/21/2020). San Francisco is experiencing our highest number of new cases per day seen during the pandemic.

SFDPH Summary of Updated Guidance

November 28th, 2020 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-Day Average of New Cases per Day is 137 (As of 11/20/2020). San Francisco is experiencing our highest number of new cases per day seen during the pandemic.

Stay home as much as possible. Avoid gatherings. Wear face coverings. Gathering inside with people outside of your household is not allowed. Gathering for more than 2 hours is not allowed.

Participation in Higher-Risk Activities Over the November Break Requires a 14-day Self-Quarantine

San Francisco was assigned by the state to the most restrictive reopening tier (Widespread - Purple) according to California’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy. This was due to an aggressive surge in COVID-19 cases. Daily cases have nearly quadrupled in the past month.

Office of the Mayor of San Francisco Press Release
"All schools – TK-12 -- that are already open for in-person learning may continue to offer indoor instruction. Under the Purple tier, TK-6 schools that have not yet opened, may apply for a waiver from the Health Officer to open for indoor in-person instruction."

Stay Safer at Home Order Of The Health Officer No. C19-07o

November 27th, 2020 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-Day Average of New Cases per Day is 130 (As of 11/19/2020). This represents a 3-month high and the individual daily new case numbers now exceed our previous highest peak seen during the pandemic.

Stay home as much as possible. Avoid gatherings. Wear face coverings. Gathering inside with people outside of your household is not allowed. Gathering for more than 2 hours is not allowed.

Participation in Higher-Risk Activities Requires a 14-day Self-Quarantine

November 26th, 2020 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-Day Average of New Cases per Day is 125 (As of 11/18/2020). This represents a 3-month high and the individual daily new case numbers now exceed our previous highest peak seen during the pandemic.

Stay home as much as possible. Avoid gatherings. Wear face coverings. Gathering inside with people outside of your household is not allowed. Gathering for more than 2 hours is not allowed.

Participation in Higher-Risk Activities Requires a 14-day Self-Quarantine

November 25th, 2020 - COVID-19 Symptom Reporting Reminder
Please continue to report ALL student and staff COVID-19 matters to the GBS Health and Safety Team, including:

COVID-19 Symptoms*, including those that are similar to common illnesses AND are new or not explained by another condition
Close Contact† with someone who was diagnosed with COVID-19 or had a test confirming they have the virus while they were contagious‡
COVID-19 Cases to the GBS Health and Safety Team. Abbie and Adam will then guide you through the required next steps for a return to school and share appropriate COVID-19 Advisories with the class cohort and community.

Abbie and Adam will then guide you through the required next steps for a return to school and share appropriate COVID-19 Advisories with the class cohort and community.

* COVID-19 Symptoms for Students and School-Based Adults.

† "Close Contact" means you had any of the following types of contact with the person with COVID-19 (regardless of whether you or the person with COVID-19 were masked) while they were contagious‡:

Were within 6 feet of them for a total of 15 minutes or more in a 24 hour period
Lived or stayed overnight with them
Were their intimate sex partner, including only kissing
Took care of them or they took care of you
Had direct contact with their body fluids or secretions (e.g., they coughed or sneezed on you or you shared eating or drinking utensils with them)

‡ Contagious Period: People with COVID-19 are considered contagious starting 48 hours before their symptoms began until 1) at least 10 days have passed since their symptoms began, 2) they haven’t had a fever for at least 24 hours AND 3) their symptom have improved. If the person with COVID-19 never had symptoms, they are considered contagious starting 48 hours before their positive COVID-19 test was collected until 10 days after they were tested.

November 25th, 2020 - Critical Covid-19 Advisory Notification Update
We are retiring/suspending the General Reported Symptom Advisory notification email commonly sent to class cohorts when a symptom is reported. The similarity between COVID-19 symptoms and symptoms of common illnesses leads to extraneous class cohort notifications and may lead to potential notification fatigue. As designed, this interim notification served our community in taking our first gradual steps towards a return to in-person instruction and has now been suspended.

Critical COVID-19 Advisories, along with other significant health and safety updates shared through the GBS Weekly Newsletter, community emails, and these Community Engagement updates, are required reading, and efficiency in our communications honors this important investment of time.

November 25th, 2020 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-Day Average of New Cases per Day is 114 (As of 11/17/2020). This represents a 3-month high and the individual daily new case numbers now exceed our previous highest peak seen during the pandemic.

Stay home as much as possible. Avoid gatherings. Wear face coverings. Gathering inside with people outside of your household is not allowed. Gathering for more than 2 hours is not allowed.

Participation in Higher-Risk Activities Requires a 14-day Self-Quarantine

November 24th, 2020 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-Day Average of New Cases per Day is 110 (As of 11/16/2020). This represents a 3-month high and the individual daily new case numbers now exceed our previous highest peak seen during the pandemic.

November 23rd, 2020 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-Day Average of New Cases per Day is 105 (As of 11/15/2020). This represents a 3-month high and the individual daily new case numbers now look to match our highest peak transmission rate over the Summer.

November 22nd, 2020 - Reminder: Stay at Home.
Stay home as much as possible. Avoid gatherings. Wear face coverings. Gathering inside with people outside of your household is not allowed. Gathering for more than 2 hours is not allowed.

Participation in Higher-Risk Activities Requires a 14-day Self-Quarantine
If ALL of these conditions are met at ALL times, you do not engage in higher risk activities, AND you do not travel outside of California you may be able to avoid the need to quarantine:

Wear a face mask and stay 6 feet of away from people you do not live with*, including family members.
Avoid spending time indoors with people you don't normally live with*, including family members, to the extent possible. The risk of getting COVID-19 is generally much greater indoors that outdoors because the virus that causes COVID-19 can travel in the air more than 6 feet and collects indoors and in enclosed spaces. If you must spend time indoors, choose a larger room that is well-ventilated or where windows and doors can be opened, and wear a face mask at all times. See more at www.sfcdcp.org/indoorrisk.
Try to limit the number of people you interact with*. For example, if you are traveling to see family, avoid in-person interactions with neighbors or friends.
Don't share vehicles with 􏰓people you don’t live with*. Vehicles are small enclosed spaces where COVID-19 can spread easily between people. If you must share a vehicle, try to ride with the same people each time, make sure everyone wears a face mask, open windows, and maximize outdoor air circulation as much as you can.
Avoid or limit holiday meals or gathering with people you don’t normally liv􏰈e with*, including family members. Eating and drinking together is higher-risk because people must take off their masks to eat or drink, are more likely to touch their mouths while eating, often sit within 6 feet of each other, and talk while eating, creating more respiratory droplets. If you do have a holiday dinner or gathering, it is safer for people in different households to sit outdoors at least 6 feet apart and to wear masks when they are not actively eating or drinking (such as when talking).” - SFDPH

For added clarity, this means your child (student) will need to self-quarantine for 14-days, starting from last exposure/higher-risk activity IF your family:

Does not wear face masks AND stay 6 feet away from people you do not live with*, including family members.
Spends time indoors with people you don't normally live with*, including family members, unless the area is large, well-ventilated, and face masks are worn at all times.
Shares vehicles with people you do not live with*, unless you ride with the same people each time, make sure everyone wears a face mask, open windows, and maximize outdoor air circulation as much as you can.
Eats indoors with people you don't normally live with*.
Eats within 6 feet of people you don't normally live with*.
Eats outdoors with people you don't normally live with*, BUT does not wear masks when not actively eating and drinking (including when talking during meals).

The SFDPH does not support testing as a means to reduce the length of quarantine.

* For the purposes of applying the Travel Advisory guidance to your specific family structure, please consider guardians, and corresponding households, as people the child (student) normally lives with.

November 22nd, 2020 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-Day Average of New Cases per Day is 99 (As of 11/14/2020). This represents a 3-month high and the individual daily new case numbers are getting closer to our highest average transmission rate over the Summer.

November 21st, 2020 - Current San Francisco COVID-19 Cases
Current San Francisco 7-Day Average of New Cases per Day is 98 (As of 11/13/2020)

November 20th, 2020 - Golden Bridges School Gratitude and Plea

Dear Families,

THANK YOU so much for the incredible amount of work, care, and flexibility that has gone into making a return to in-person school possible. We are incredibly grateful that we have been able to support a healthy community and a joyous reunion for so many. As parents, we have had to adjust our hopes, plans, routines, and expectations constantly over the past eight months. We can finally and confidently, open our doors each day to receive the children.

The work is not over though. We are asking you to please continue to maintain your high level of health and safety vigilance. Each of our personal decisions has the chance to affect the whole.

We are asking everyone to continue to stay informed, follow the guidance, and hunker down so that we can continue to safely, and joyously, be together for the three weeks between November and Winter break.

The attached SFDPH Travel Advisory guidance is comprehensive and everyone should read it. Adherence to the guidance is required by the school. In the briefest of terms... What do families and teachers and staff need to know and do to support the health of the community in the coming days and weeks?

Avoid non-essential travel. If you travel outside the Bay Area but remain in California you are required to self-quarantine for 14 days, starting upon your return, unless your activities meet specific conditions. Refer to SFDPH Travel Advisory guidance for further details. Non-essential travel outside of California requires a 14-day quarantine, starting upon your return.

Stay at Home. Stay home as much as possible. Avoid gatherings. Wear face coverings. Gathering inside with people outside of your household is not allowed. Gathering for more than 2 hours is not allowed.

Any increased risks taken by our community of families, teachers, and staff, are then shared with all of the children, parents, caregivers, and especially, our teachers.

A decision to move forward with non-essential travel must be thoughtfully considered. There are many implications to discretionary travel during the school year when it causes an interruption to planned instruction. Please partner with your child’s teacher for suggestions on keeping up with studies.

Every day our teachers are rising to the challenge - using new tools, modalities, and locations - teaching in classrooms, over distance, and in the weather outdoors, often all in the same day. They are holding our community of children with a clear demonstration of their protection of, and profound love for, their students.

Our role as parents, guardians, and caregivers is to support the work of these amazing teachers by reducing risk at every turn and taking actions to prevent unnecessary individual student or stable cohort transitions between in-person instruction and distance learning.

Please feel free to reach out with any questions about plans, and how they may or may not affect your child’s attendance. And reach out always with any doubts or confusion. We are here to support one another through these new challenges. We are in this together.

Our deep gratitude to all of you,
Abbie Coburn and Adam Marquart
GBS Health and Safety Team, and fellow parents

SFDPH Travel Advisory
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/alerts/covid-guidance/COVID-Travel-Advisory.pdf

CDPH Travel Advisory
https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/Travel-Advisory.aspx

Association of Bay Area Health Officials Winter Holiday Recommendations (Gatherings)
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/alerts/covid-guidance/ABAHO-Winter-Holiday-Recommendations.pdf

SFDPH Risk of Being Indoors or in Enclosed Spaces During the COVID-19 Pandemic
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/files/ig/COVID-19-Guidance-Indoor-Risk.pdf

SFDPH Shelter in Place Health Order
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/alerts/files/C19-07-Shelter-in-Place-Health-Order.pdf
"Staying Safer At Home Is The Best Way To Control Risk. All people are strongly reminded that continuing to stay home as much as possible is the best way to prevent the risk of COVID-19 transmission, and therefore minimizing trips and activities outside the home helps reduce risk to individuals and the community. All activities that involve contact with people from different Households increase the risk of transmission of COVID-19. Accordingly, all individuals currently living within the County are for the time being ordered to stay in their place of Residence to the extent possible."

November 10th, 2020 - SFDPH Travel Advisory & Bay Area Region's Holiday Recommendations
SFDPH: "We are experiencing an increase of COVID-19 both locally and also throughout many parts of the country. At the same time, we are also approaching the holiday season, a time when many people typically travel and spend time with family and loved ones.

As a reminder, non-essential travel outside of the bay area, including holiday travel is not recommended. However, if you do choose to travel or host people who are traveling, SFDPH’s new Travel Advisory covers how to plan ahead, reduce your risk, and when to quarantine: https://www.sfdph.org/dph/alerts/covid-guidance/COVID-Travel-Advisory.pdf

Additionally, please see the Bay Area Region’s Recommendations for Staying Safe from COVID-19 During the Holidays: https://www.sfdph.org/dph/alerts/covid-guidance/ABAHO-Winter-Holiday-Recommendations.pdf.

Remember, that the safest gathering is one that is:

small (no more than 3 households)
short (limit to 2 hours)
stable (do not participate in multiple gatherings with different households) AND
outdoors, with face coverings and distance"

DOC COVID-19 School/Childcare Team
San Francisco Department of Public Health

October 29th, 2020 - FAQ for Return to In-Person Instruction
There are many details to share and many questions to answer. Please refer to the attached FAQ to address many of these details.

Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade will begin on Tuesday, November 3.
3rd, 4th, and 5th/6th grades will begin on Tuesday, November 17.
Dandelion will continue with in-person instruction as scheduled.

October 26th, 2020 - Golden Bridges School Approved to Resume In-Person Instruction
We received SFDPH approval to resume in-person instruction. Schedules and start dates by class will be shared in the coming days. Please review our GBS Health and Safety Norms and Community Pledge; these are the essential actions that each of us must take to create a safer environment for our students, teachers, and families.

October 17th, 2020 - Golden Bridges School COVID-19 Advisory Descriptions and Sample Content
As we return to in-person instruction, we will continue to share COVID-19 advisories, supported by direct communication with parents and staff when further, or time-sensitive, action is required. Advance review of COVID-19 Advisory descriptions and sample content will provide meaningful context and further support preparations for a timely and planned response to the receipt of an actual COVID-19 Advisory.

October 15th, 2020 - Golden Bridges School Plan to Resume In-Person Instruction
Golden Bridges School has submitted our application and plan to resume in-person instruction. We are anticipating a return to in-person instruction in early November, starting with Kindergarten and lower grades, and adding upper grades in the following weeks. We will share the return to in-person instruction start date for each class once the timeline is confirmed.

October 15th, 2020 - Health and Safety Norms and Community Pledge
In preparation for expanded in-person instruction, we have made significant updates to our Health and Safety Norms and added a Community Pledge, representing our shared understanding of what COVID-19 preventive behaviors and practices are expected in order to attend in-person instruction and support the health of our students, teachers, and greater Golden Bridges School community.

September 20th, 2020 - Perpectives
In-Person Instruction Parent, Guardian and Caregiver Perspectives
Note: Over 50% of students represented by respondent perspectives collected between 9/10-9/20/2020

September 20th, 2020 - San Francisco COVID-19 Case Rate Current Trend
SFDPH Key Public Health Indicator: Case Rate
SFDPH Key Public Health Indicators: ALL

September 10th, 2020 - Town Hall - Recordings

Town Hall Video Recording
Town Hall Audio-Only Recording
Perspectives - Family Readiness for In-Person Instruction

September 9th, 2020 - Town Hall - In-Person Instruction Process Update

Agenda / Discussion Points
This evening we are going to provide an In-Person Instruction Process Update followed by Community Discussion and Q & A.

Wednesday, 6 pm - 7 pm (link shared in Google Classroom > Classwork Section)

In-Person Instruction Process Update (approximately 20 minutes)

CA State Guidance, in order to return to in-person instruction

The state introduced new guidance and transitioned from the CA County Monitoring List to the Blueprint for a Safer Economy (a tiered system) on August 27th.
Our San Francisco County current tier status: Substantial (Red), since August 27th
As early as next week, SFDPH will likely start approving school applications/plans to resume in-person instruction.

SFDPH Guidance, in order to resume in-person instruction

All TK-12 schools will have to submit a Letter of Interest (LOI) to SFDPH followed by an application/plan for Health Officer review and approval before re-opening for in-person instruction. (GBS has completed that process.)
SFDPH is now accepting applications for TK-8 grades with their assumption that San Francisco will stay in the CA State Substantial Red tier or below for this week.
SFDPH monitored Key Public Health Indicators
As part of school reopening, SFDPH will be conducting on site, in person site assessments. “Please follow the TK-12 school guidelines (below) and prepare your school as if it was to open very soon. When you are ready, please contact the SFDPH to schedule a site assessment.” - SFDPH and SFDPH School Guidance
SFDPH School Quick Guide Suspected-Confirmed COVID-19 (How the SFDPH/school partnership responds to a suspected-confirmed COVID-19 case in our community)

Our School Plans

Golden Bridges School Health and Safety Plan
Golden Bridges School Community Health and Safety Norms
Continuity of Education will be supported through distance learning, regardless of availability of in-person instruction.
Through our hiking program, we have now had our first early experiences to help us start to understand how our teachers, students, and families respond to the availability of, and the safety requirements for, in-person instruction.

Examples of in-person instruction phases/steps

Distance Learning (e.g. Main Lesson, Subject Classes) with supporting In-Person Hikes (our current practice)
Distance Learning (e.g. Main Lesson, Subject Classes) with supporting Outdoor In-Person Instruction (may include hikes, but also class content)
On Campus, In-Classroom, In-Person Instruction (and Distance Learning option) with supporting Outdoor In-Person Instruction

As faculty and staff we are meeting to understand the readiness of our personnel for the increased risk that comes with in-person instruction. Teachers want to provide in-person instruction, but, like you, they also have their own individual and family risk factors to take into consideration.

As a community, we need to continue this important conversation, develop a better understanding of the questions that come up for our families and how best to support needs. Any progress we make towards in-person instruction, we need to make together.

Community Discussion and Q & A

We would now like to open up this forum for perspectives and questions that you would like to share with our community.

We have invited the support of Dr. Scott Layne, M.D., a physician-scientist, infectious disease specialist, and former professor of epidemiology, to support us with any scientific questions. Adam will be supporting all school process and policy related questions, including the required process for a return to in-person instruction.

There is much to discuss and learn, and, at times, questions will require further research, but we will do our best to support your questions and work towards the answers we need as a community. Again, Continuity of Education will be supported through distance learning, regardless of availability of in-person instruction.

End

September 4th - Health and Safety Update

Distance Learning and optional Outdoor Hiking
COVID-19 Exposure Response
In-Person Education Next Steps and Town Hall Meeting Wednesday, September 9, 6-7

August 29th, 2020 - SFDPH Sent Out School Requested Waiver Applications for In-Person Instruction
Today, we received an application and the Board of Trustees and Steering Committee will begin a process of review, including continued monitoring and assessment of operational readiness and key public health indicators, consistent with our Health and Safety Plan. Teacher, staff and student safety will continue to be our first consideration, and if or when we move forward with the waiver application process, it will be after consultation with teachers, staff and parents. We will facilitate and continue community discussion when more information is available. At all times, we will prioritize and support Continuity of Education for our students not attending in-person instruction.

August 28th, 2020 - CA State Blueprint for a Safer Economy (Updating/Replacing CA County Monitoring List)
"California has a blueprint for reducing COVID-19 in the state with revised criteria for loosening and tightening restrictions on activities... Every county in California is assigned to a tier based on its rate of new cases and positivity. At a minimum, counties must remain in a tier for at least 3 weeks before moving forward. Data is reviewed weekly and tiers are updated on Tuesdays. To move forward, a county must meet the next tier’s criteria for two consecutive weeks. If a county’s metrics worsen for two consecutive weeks, it will be assigned a more restrictive tier. Public health officials are constantly monitoring data and can step in if necessary." - https://covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy/

Status updates can be found using this link and entering County: San Francisco / Activity: Schools

Status on August 29, 2020
County: San Francisco
Tier: Substantial (Red)
Activity: Schools
Closed for in-person instruction. Can open for in-person instruction if county remains in this tier for two weeks.
(Note: Although in-person, our GBS outdoor hiking physical education program operates under SFDPH distance learning guidance, not the in-person school guidance referenced above, and is not affected by this change.)

August 27th, 2020 - In-Person Learning Process Update
We submitted a Letter of Intent, so that we can receive a waiver application, when SFDPH makes applications available and determines it is safe for the community for schools to return to in-person instruction. Once we receive the application, we will review the requirements and make further considerations around whether to proceed with a waiver process. Teacher, staff and student safety will continue to be our first consideration. Through the order of the San Francisco Health Officer or a SFDPH approved CA State waiver, the SFDPH determines when schools may return to in-person instruction. At all times, we will prioritize and support continuity of education for our students not attending in-person instruction.

August 26th, 2020 - Weekly Community Engagement Call - Recorded Meeting Available Here
Steering Committee hosts our final summer Q&A responding to clarifying questions that come up for your family around guidance in communications previously shared.

Week of August 24th Newsletter
Back-to-School Updates, including the important topics of: Back-to-School Night, Back-to-School Forms, Distance Learning and Hiking, In-Person Learning (update), Health and Safety (update), Air Quality Responsiveness, Staffing Updates, and so much more.

August 19th, 2020 - CDPH County Monitoring List Updated
As of today, San Francisco County is currently on day one of meeting the threshold for removal from the county monitoring list. Counties must meet the required public health data threshold for 14 days to be removed from the county monitoring list (watch list). Schools may be able to offer in-person instruction once their county is off the monitoring list and, in our case, the SFDPH authorizes a return to in-person instruction. Update: August 20th and 21st, San Francisco County did not meet the public health and data threshold and remains on the county monitoring list.

August 19th, 2020 - Weekly Community Engagement Call - No Community Questions
Steering Committee supports clarifying questions that may come up for your family around guidance in communications previously shared. Please join us for our weekly meetings, Wednesdays, 9:30am-10:30am, if you have questions or if you are interested in hearing the questions of others. Link for future meetings available here.

August 12th, 2020 - Weekly Community Engagement Call - Recorded Meeting Available Here
Steering Committee supports clarifying questions that may come up for your family around guidance in communications previously shared. Please join us for our weekly meetings, Wednesdays, 9:30am-10:30am, if you have questions or if you are interested in hearing the questions of others. Link for future meetings available here.

August 10th, 2020 - SFDPH: Reopening TK-12 Schools for In-Person, On-Site Instruction Preliminary Guidance
Updated Guidance for 2020-2012 School Year

August 8th, 2020 - Golden Bridges School - Staying Connected
School Plans for Fall 2020

August 5th, 2020 - Weekly Community Engagement Call - Recorded Meeting Available Here
Steering Committee supports clarifying questions that may come up for your family around guidance in communications previously shared. Please join us for our weekly meeings, Wednesdays, 9:30am-10:30am, if you have questions or if you are interested in hearing the questions of others. Link for future meetings available here.

August 3rd, 2020 - CDPH: COVID-19 and Reopening In-Person Learning Elementary Education Waiver Process

"The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) developed the COVID-19 and Reopening In-Person Learning Framework to support school communities as they decide when and how to implement in-person instruction for the 2020-21 school year. This framework permitted schools and school districts to reopen for in-person instruction at any time if they are located in a local health jurisdiction (LHJ) [San Francisco County] that has not been on the county monitoring list within the prior 14 days. If the LHJ [San Francisco County] has been on the monitoring list within the last 14 days, the school must conduct distance learning only, until their LHJ has been off the monitoring list for at least 14 days. The framework authorized local health officers (LHO) [San Francisco Deptartment of Public Health (SFDPH)] to grant a waiver of this criteria, in order for elementary schools to open for in-person instruction under specified conditions." -CDPH
CDPH placed San Francisco County on the county monitoring list on July 17th. San Francisco County remains on the list today.
SFDPH will inform schools when they have a waiver process in place. SFDPH is not soliciting or accepting waiver applications at this time.

July 23rd, 2020 CDC Issues Statement: The Importance of Reopening America’s Schools this Fall - July 23rd, 2020

July 18th, 2020 - Golden Bridges School - Staying Connected
The Steering Committee, Board, and Faculty have been more active than in past summers as we attempt to forge a new path in understanding what a Golden Bridges School education will look like in the Fall, making ready both distance learning and our new campus for where the path may lead us as we start the school year.

July 17th, 2020 - California Department of Public Health Announces New Guidance for Safely Reopening
The California Department of Public Health has released new guidance for the safe re-opening of in-person learning at schools. Schools may open if they are in a county that has been off the County Monitoring List for 14 days and follow strict health and safety requirements, including masks, symptoms checks, and switching back to distance learning when required. Learn more about the requirements for safe in-person learning at schools. San Francisco County was added to the California State County Monitoring List on July 17, 2020.

July 17th, 2020 - San Francisco Announces Next Steps on Controlling Spread of COVID-19 and Continuing Pause on Reopening
“We are living with COVID, and we all need to do our part to take basic steps to get this virus under control immediately,” said Mayor London Breed. “If we want our schools to reopen, if we want our small businesses to be able to operate, we all need to do the basics: limit our gatherings, cover your face in public, and wash your hands. We also know that we need to see more testing if we are going to identify cases quickly. This requires the entire healthcare system to expand access so when people need a test, they can get one. San Francisco has flattened the curve before, and we can do it again.” San Francisco County was added to the California State County Monitoring List on July 17, 2020.

July 8th, 2020 - SFDPH Preliminary Reopening Guidance for Schools
School summer subcommittee work will include supporting communication and community awareness around this guidance as well as operational implementation through updated policy and procedure. Community updates planned for mid-July (preliminary update) and again in early August (comprehensive update / orientation).

Previous Updates
July 24th, 2020 - Golden Bridges School - Staying Connected
June 19th, 2020 - Golden Bridges School - Summer Updates 2020
June 12th, 2020 - GBS End of Year All-School Assembly
June 3rd, 2020 - GBS Town Hall Meeting - Letter, Audio, and Video Recordings
June 1st, 2020 - A Message of Solidarity
May 15th, 2020 - Golden Bridges School - Call for Help
May 6th, 2020 - GBS Town Hall Meeting - Audio and Video Recordings
April 29th, 2020 - Golden Bridges School - Spring Updates 2020
April 24th, 2020 - Golden Bridges School - Staying Connected
April 11th, 2020 - Golden Bridges School - Staying Connected
April 3rd, 2020 - Golden Bridges School - Staying Connected
March 27th, 2020 - Golden Bridges School Parent and Guardian Guide for Google Classroom
March 25th, 2020 - Golden Bridges School - Staying Connected
March 23rd, 2020 - Golden Bridges School - Plant a Party Pause
March 14th, 2020 - How to be Golden Bridges School During a School Closure
Weekly Newsletters are sent directly to families and are not listed here.

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