On Thursday, Mayor London Breed presented guidelines for how San Francisco will ease out of shelter-in-place over the next few months, to keep slowing down the spread of COVID-19.
"We understand the need of people getting back to work," Mayor Breed said. "The financial health of so many San Francisco residents is in jeopardy."
On June 15, outdoor dining will be allowed to resume at bars and restaurants that serve food. Indoor retail, professional sports games without spectators, and religious services and ceremonies will also be allowed.
A month later, on July 13, hair salons and barbershops, as well as indoor dining, can open. In mid-August, gyms and fitness centers, movie theaters, nail salons and tattoo studios will be allowed back, alongside bars that don't serve food.
Indoor museums, basketball courts, playgrounds, swimming pools, indoor tennis and zoos may reopen in mid-August as well.
Other businesses, like concert venues, live audience sports, night clubs, festivals and hotels (for leisure and tourism) do not have a possible reopening date scheduled at this point.
All dates remain tentative, and progression to the next phase depends on local public health indicators, as well as state guidance.
According to the Chronicle, San Francisco is currently meeting the public health criteria set by six Bay Area counties for reopening, but still needs to expand testing and contact tracing. Free COVID-19 testing is currently available for anyone who lives or works in San Francisco.
The Department of Public Health also issued a new order today that requires San Franciscans to wear a face-covering "on most occasions when they are outside of their homes," including outdoors within 30 feet of any other person.
Previously, the city ordered residents to wear masks when entering an essential business or public facility, on transit and when performing essential work. Now, that requirement is expanded to most situations where people are outside their homes.
Masks don't have to be worn if someone has a documented medical condition that prevents them from wearing one, in a private office where others are not around or likely to come in, when driving in a car alone or with members of the same household, or when outside in a location where nobody is within 30 feet.
"Wearing a mask, or other face covering, is one of the top three things you can do to help us re-open more, and reopen sooner,” said Dr. Grant Colfax, director of the SF Department of Public Health, in a statement. "It is also very important to continue to social distancing and to get tested if you have any symptoms."
Today's press release noted that the current shelter-in-place order no longer has an expiration date, and general social distancing guidelines still remain in place.
2,437 San Francisco residents have tested positive for COVID-19 as of this morning, and 40 have passed away.
For more details on the new guidelines, visit the city's website.
