Disease Prevention and Control, San Francisco Department of Public Health

Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information for the Public

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Go To SFCDCP.ORG COVID-19 Page For Schools
Go To SFCDCP.ORG COVID-19 Page For Health Care Providers
Go To SFCDCP.ORG COVID-19 Page For Businesses, Employers and Employees

COVID-19 Quick Links for the Public

See What's New

Return Safer Together

Capacity restrictions have been lifted. For information on what restrictions may remain, please refer to the Safer Return Together Health Order.  Also, see Frequently Asked Questions for San Francisco’s Safer Return Together Health Order.  For current directives and the list of rescinded directives, visit www.sfdph.org/directives.

Core Guidance During the COVID-19 Pandemic

After June 15, 2021, many of SFDPH’s COVID-19 guidance documents will not be updated unless necessary. All SFDPH COVID-19 guidance documents are clearly marked to indicate the time of the last update. Documents that are no longer applicable will be removed.

Interim Guidance: Core Guidance During the COVID-19 Pandemic (SFDPH) This is a summary of core guidance about COVID-19, how it is spread, and how to prevent it, including concise information about vaccination, contact tracing, and ventilation. This document will continue to be updated even after many I&G documents are retired.

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Information and Guidance

COVID-19 Vaccine Information for Children and Adults

The following resources are prepared for patients and the general public on the COVID-19 Vaccine. You can find relevant information under “Children Under Age 18” and “Adults Aged 18 and Older.” For more information about local COVID-19 vaccine efforts, visit SF.gov COVID-19 vaccine website.

Vaccine Resources for People Under 18

General Overview of COVID-19 Vaccination:

Specific Information about COVID-19 Vaccination Approved for Children:

Getting the Vaccine:

Getting a Booster:

  • Get Your Booster (SF.Gov)
    • Information from San Francisco on who should get boosters, when and where to get them, and which type of booster to get.
  • COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shots (CDC)
    • National guidance on who can and should get a booster; how to choose a booster after being vaccinated in the US and outside the US.
  • Considerations in Choosing a COVID-19 Booster (SFDPH, Retired 1/10/22)

Vaccination Information specifically for San Francisco:

Monitoring Post-Vaccination:

Navigating Life After Being Fully-Vaccinated:

Other Resources:

 

Vaccine Information & Resources for Adults Ages 18 and Older

General Overview of COVID-19 Vaccination:

Special Populations and Vaccination:

Information about Specific COVID-19 Vaccines:

Getting the Vaccine:

Getting a Booster:

Monitoring Post-Vaccination:

Life After Vaccination:

Safer Social Interactions During COVID-19

SF Health Officer Order:

Safer Social Interactions Guidance:

Who is at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19? Which groups need to take extra precautions?

For more information on vaccinated individuals during the pandemic:

Safer Holiday Celebrations During the COVID-19 Pandemic (SFDPH, Retired 7/20/21)

Tips and Frequently Asked Questions for Gatherings (SFDPH, Retired 6/1/2021)

Travel

For more information on traveling during the pandemic:

Isolation (for confirmed positive cases) and Quarantine (for close contacts)

Isolation and Quarantine Guidance (SFDPH)

The following have been consolidated into the SFDPH Isolation and Quarantine Webpage.

  • Home Isolation and Quarantine Instructions (SFDPH,  Retired 7/30/21)
  • Interim Guidance: Ending Isolation or Returning to Work for Those Who Have Confirmed or Suspected COVID-19 (SFDPH, Retired 7/28/21)
  • Guidance on Quarantine Duration for Close Contacts of COVID-19 Cases  (SFDPH, Retired 7/28/21)
  • Frequently Asked Questions for Workers Who Must Isolate or Quarantine Due to COVID-19 (SFDPH, Retired 7/28/21)
  • (BOOKLET VERSION) Caring for yourself and others during COVID-19: Testing, Isolation and Quarantine (SFDPH Retired 7/30/21)

Ventilation Recommendations

Cleaning Recommendations

Facility and/or Business Cleaning Recommendations

Household Cleaning Recommendations

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

PPE recommendations for healthcare workers, see www.sfcdcp.org/hcpPPE

PPE guidance for the general public:

Should the general public wear an N95 respirator or KN95?

Properly fitted N95 respirators (meet NIOSH standard) or KN95 respirators (meet international standard) offer additional protection from the COVID-19 virus which can get past other types of face coverings. Some occupations have regulations that require the use of N95 respirators given the risks involved in the work (e.g., healthcare workers). Even if your occupation doesn’t require or have a standard to use N95 respirators, you may want to consider using an N95 respirator or KN95 respirator for extra protection especially if you are unvaccinated for COVID-19 AND:

  • Must be in a higher risk situation such as being indoors with someone who has COVID-19 or was a close contact of someone with COVID-19
  • Are at higher risk of severe illness if you get COVID-19 due to age or underlying medical conditions (see sfcdcp.org/vulnerable)
  • Must be in higher-risk situations where you can’t practice ideal safety precautions such as if you must be indoors and can’t maintain 6 feet distance or you must be indoors around people who are unmasked. Examples include:
    • Being indoors around unmasked individuals (e.g., dining, personal services where masks are removed, public transit, etc.)
    • Entering indoor settings where people have been unmasked (e.g., dining, hotel room service, janitors, personal services, etc.)
    • Being indoors with exposure to a high volume of masked people throughout the day (high volume grocery store workers, high volume retail workers, transit operators)
    • Being outdoors around unmasked individuals and at least 6 feet of distance is not maintained (e.g., outdoor dining, personal services where masks are removed, etc.)

Please be aware that to work effectively to prevent COVID-19, NIOSH-certified N95 masks should be tightly fitted around your face. An N95 mask is not for everyone, is not designed for children, and will increase the work of breathing, which may make it difficult to wear for long periods of time. If you feel worse wearing an N95 mask, do not wear one.

More Information about Respirators (CDC) – Types of respirators, beware of counterfeit KN95s

How to Properly Put On and Take Off A Disposable Respirator – includes checking the seal

Respirator Medical Evaluations and N95 Fit Testing Resources (SFDPH, Updated 1/21/2021)

Electioneering and Elections

Safer Voting and Ballot Delivery (SFDPH, Retired 4/29/21)

FAQ for Electioneering (SFDPH, Retired 4/29/21)

Congregate Living Settings

Interim Guidance and FAQ: Congregate Housing Where Residents have Private Rooms (SFDPH, Retired 7/20/2021)

COVID-19 FAQs from the CDC and Websites with Additional Information

The Frequently Asked Questions that were listed on this page have been removed. Please see the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) provided by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).  The CDC and California Department of Public Health (CDPH) update their websites often and have the most up-to-date information on all aspects of COVD-19. For information about local resources please visit the SF.GOV and SFDPH pages dedicated to COVID-19. Direct links to the above-mentioned resources are below.