As San Francisco continues to strengthen its response to reduce the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), the city is working to provide quarantine locations for individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 and do not need to be hospitalized, as well as individuals who have been exposed to the virus and do not have access to adequate shelter due to homelessness or shared living arrangements. Shared-living situations include SROs, shelters, and Permanent Supportive Housing.
“Our top priority is public health and slowing the spread of COVID-19 in our community,” Mayor London Breed said. “Not everyone in our city has access to housing where they can go if they are infected or are exposed to the virus, and it’s important that we take measures like this to care for our most vulnerable residents, including people who are homeless.”
Temporary isolation housing will include recreational vehicles (RVs), which have been leased and will be staged in the Presidio. The RVs will be placed in various secure locations throughout the city as needed. The city is also in the process of identifying additional locations for auxiliary quarantine housing, including unoccupied residential property. As San Francisco continues to work to secure additional locations, city leaders are asking local hotels to join in identifying vacant hotel rooms for this purpose so that San Francisco can be better prepared to care for all of its residents.
“We are working on many fronts to disrupt the spread of COVID-19 throughout San Francisco, from cancelling large gatherings and encouraging telecommuting, to instructing vulnerable populations to limit their outings,” said Dr. Grant Colfax, San Francisco Director of Health. “By providing quarantine support for people who are experiencing homelessness or who live in SROs or other congregate settings, we can help ensure that those who are exposed to the virus are able to self-isolate.”
The City’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has expanded its operations to prepare for and mitigate the effects of COVID-19. The EOC manages the procurement of supplies and equipment needed to effectively manage the COVID-19 emergency in San Francisco, including securing auxiliary quarantine facilities. The city’s public health system manages the intake and evaluation of COVID-19 exposure and makes recommendations to the EOC regarding who is a candidate for a temporary quarantine housing. The EOC will then coordinate transportation and supplies for the individual to safely and comfortably quarantine.
“Reducing the spread of COVID-19 within our community means mitigating exposure to the virus,” said Mary Ellen Carroll, San Francisco Department of Emergency Management, Executive Director. “Being able to self-isolate or quarantine for at least 14 days is not a viable option for everyone. Many of us live in shared living spaces making the coronavirus spread much more likely. We need to help these individuals by giving them temporary isolated housing while aggressively reducing the spread of the virus in San Francisco.”
On Monday, March 9, Mayor Breed and the Department of Public Health announced new investments and a Public Health Order to protect vulnerable populations who are at risk of becoming ill or dying if they contract COVID-19. This emergency fund and Order will focus on reducing risk of exposure to the virus for the many seniors, homeless individuals, and people with underlying health conditions living in shelters, single-room occupancy hotels, and Permanent Supportive Housing.
Published on March 12, 2020
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