The City’s Current Number of Positive Cases and Purple-tier Status
San Francisco got placed in the country’s purple tier on Saturday, the most restrictive level out of California’s COVID-19 ranking system. As worse as it sounds, the municipality faces another concerning sign as the pandemic makes things even worse in San Francisco than before.
In a series of tweets on her official Twitter account, Mayor London Breed announced the latest updates concerning San Francisco’s stance in battling the coronavirus. According to Breed, there were 768 recorded cases on November 16, a lot higher than October 12’s 217 diagnosed number of patients. Moreover, Breed addressed that the city is averaging new cases daily with 118. That count is also a lot worse compared to November’s first week total of 73 every day.
Since the end of October, San Francisco’s prices for hospitalization have gotten higher than before. According to city health director Dr. Grant Colfax, he has observed that in the last four weeks, there was an increase of at least 265% in the total number of San Franciscans who received their positive test results of being infected by COVID-19. Due to the previously mentioned data report, Colfax stated that they should become more careful in handling the coronavirus and remember that this pandemic only ever happens after one hundred years.
In an official statement released by Colfax, he noted that the current COVID-19 case counts in the state contradict that of San Francisco’s previous experiences. Moreover, Grant reminded the public to stay cautious when outside their houses for safety from the virus.
Which Establishments Would Close and What Institutions Remain Open?
Due to being placed in California’s purple tier, the following establishments would stop operations starting on Sunday by noontime:
First, indoor worship services would remain closed. Any religious gathering, regardless of the number of attendees, is still prohibited. The city encouraged spiritual staff that activities like Sunday mass continue through online live broadcasts.
Second, sightseeing establishments like zoos, aquariums, and indoor museums should halt operations in the meantime. This rule is also applicable regardless of the number of people attempting to visit one of the three places for visitors’ and the staffs’ safety concerns.
Third, indoor fitness centers and gyms would close their doors to regular patrons, ensuring the safety of those who go to the previously mentioned places to keep themselves in shape.
Fourth, entertainment spots like amusement parks would have to cancel their reopening schedules. Additionally, stand-alone outside rides like the Ferris wheels, train rides, and carousels would remain closed until further notice.
Meanwhile, several institutions would remain open despite the city’s current purple-tier status. Skate parks, outdoor playgrounds, batting cages, and mini-gold would resume operations for locals to go to and relax. At 50% capacity, grocery stores stay open to cater to residents’ everyday needs and emergencies. Non-essential shops, meanwhile, need to reduce their customer volume by 25 to prevent congestion. Schools that reopened before San Francisco got placed in its present tier can continue their opening schedules for their returning students and teachers. Meanwhile, Other educational institutions that haven’t opened yet would stay closed and are not subject to recommence physical learning anytime soon.
San Francisco’s Curfew Regulations and the State’s COVID Ranking System
On Monday at 10 p.m., the “limited stay home order” would also include San Francisco in its jurisdiction together with the country’s other districts. Every day, the legislation forbids households, either inside or outside, to interact with each other from 10 p.m. to 5 p.m. During the said hours, non-essential businesses should also remain closed. According to Breed, the curfew would last until December 21 of this year. In case the city’s conditions fail to deteriorate, the previously mentioned restricted hours would extend longer than the scheduled deadline.
For a county to return to a less-restrictive rank, a district must spend at least three weeks straight staying in the same tier. The state’s rules imposed such a condition.
