Disease Prevention and Control, San Francisco Department of Public Health

Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Go To SFCDCP.ORG COVID-19 Page For Health Care Providers

COVID-19 Quick Links for the Public

Information and Guidance for the Public

Getting Tested

San Francisco is providing expanded COVID-19 testing for anyone who lives or works in the city. All essential workers can get tested regardless of symptoms. For anyone else, you must have at least one of the COVID-19 symptoms, such as fever or cough, or had recent contact with someone with COVID-19. Testing is free at various sites throughout the City. You do not need a doctor’s note to schedule a test or need medical insurance to get tested. Appointments are required and can be made online or by phone. Results are available in 1 to 3 days.

Note: A test detects if you have the virus at the time you take the test. It does not test for immunity or if you had the virus in the past. If your test is negative, you must remain cautious as you can still get infected.

  • Body aches
  • Fatigue
  • Nasal congestion or runny nose
  • Chills
  • Fever (100.4° F/38° C)
  • Sore throat
  • Cough
  • Headache
  • Shortness of breath
  • Diarrhea or vomiting
  • Loss of smell or taste
  • Recent close contact with a COVID+ person (only available at SF Health Network sites)

If you have insurance, Contact your insurance provider or one of the following sites to schedule a test.

  • Carbon Health | 415-792-6040
  • Dignity Health GoHealth Urgent Care | 650-448-1455 | gohealthuc.com/bayarea/virtual-visits
  • Kaiser Permanente | 800-464-4000
  • Northeast Medical Services (NEMS) | 415-391-9686
  • One Medical | 415-593-1134
  • UCSF | 415-514-7328

If you DO NOT have health insurance, Call 415-682-1740 to schedule a test at one of the following SF Health Network sites. Available 24 hours a day in most languages

  • Castro Mission Testing Site 3850 17th St. M-F: 8-5pm | S-S: 12-4
  • Maxine Hall Testing Site 1181 Golden Gate Ave. M-F: 8-5pm
  • Southeast Health Center Testing Site 2401 Keith St. M-F: 8-5pm
  • ZSFG Testing Site 1001 Potrero Ave. M-F: 9-6pm
  • Mission Neighborhood Health Center Shotwell Parking Lot 240 Shotwell St. | 415-552-3870 M-F: 8-5pm (Call for appointment)

Or visit sf.gov/citytestsf to get screened and schedule a drive-through or walk-through test at CityTestSF

  • Pier 30/32
  • SOMA at 7th and Brannan

Businesses and Employers

If Someone at the Workplace Tests Positive for COVID-19

General Guidance for Businesses and Employers

Health Screening

Cleaning Recommendations

Frequently Asked Questions About COVID-19

How can people reduce their risk of getting sick and prevent the spread of the coronavirus?

Stay home! San Francisco has issued an order for people to stay at home to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Everyone is required to stay home except to get food, care for a relative or friend, get necessary health care, or go to an essential job.  More info about the stay-at-home order is available here.

Other ways people can protect themselves and their loved ones from COVID-19:

  • Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze.
  • Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. If surfaces are dirty, clean them using detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.
  • Wear a cloth face covering, like a bandanna, or scarf, that covers the nose and mouth, if you must go outside
  • Try alternatives to shaking hands, like an elbow bump or wave.
  • Follow the guidance of public health officials.

When do I need to wear a mask?

You are required to wear a face covering that covers your mouth and nose when shopping, taking transit, or getting healthcare.

You must wear a face covering when you are:

  • Waiting in line to go inside a store
  • Shopping at a store
  • On public transportation (or waiting for it)
  • In a taxi or rideshare vehicle
  • Seeking healthcare
  • Going into facilities allowed to stay open, like government buildings
  • Working an essential job that interacts with the public

You will not be allowed to go into a business or public transportation if you are not wearing a face covering.

You do not need to wear a face covering if you’re driving yourself or with others in your family.

Some people are more vulnerable to developing severe illness due to COVID-19. If you or someone you live with are in one of these groups, everyone in your household is recommended to wear a face covering at home (to the extent possible), if you are around other people.

Staying home is still the best protection

Covering your face does not change the shelter in place order, which requires people to stay home as much as possible and maintain physical distancing by staying 6 feet from others.

Cloth face coverings, when combined with physical distancing and hand washing, may prevent transmission of coronavirus by reducing respiratory droplets.

Why this is a requirement: face coverings protect others

As COVID-19 can be spread by people who are not showing symptoms, cloth face coverings, when combined with physical distancing and hand washing, may prevent the spread of the virus to others when going outside for essential activities. Cloth face coverings must cover your nose and mouth.

Covering your face is about helping others. By covering your face when you go out for essential reasons, you are being a good neighbor and community member.

When a face covering is not required

Face coverings are not required to be worn when:

  • At home
  • In your car alone or if you’re only with members of your household
  • Exercising outdoors, like walking, hiking, bicycling, or running

It’s recommended to have a face covering with you. It should be readily accessible when exercising, even if you’re not wearing it at that moment. There might be times where you cannot avoid being around other people.

Certain groups are not required to wear a face covering

Children

Children under 2 years old must not wear a face covering. They may suffocate.

Children 3 to 12 years old are not required to wear a face covering. If they do, they should be supervised by an adult. Supervision may look different based on the age and maturity of the child. For some children, having a discussion may be enough. For younger children, parents and caretakers should be present during use by the child. Parents and caregivers should use their judgement.

Health and safety reasons

If it will create a safety hazard at work (under established health and safety guidelines) by wearing a face covering, you do not have to wear one.

If you have a physical, intellectual, or developmental disability that prevents you from wearing a face covering, you do not have to wear one.

If you are Deaf and use facial and mouth movements as part of communication, you can remove your mask while communicating.

Anyone who has trouble breathing or is not able to take off a face covering without help, should not wear one. If you have a chronic respiratory condition, you should get documentation from a medical professional.

If you have documentation showing a medical professional has told you not to wear a face covering, you do not have to wear one.

Transportation

The Essential Trip Card program provides increased affordable and accessible transportation options for people with disabilities and older adults.

SF Paratransit provides a variety of additional accessible transit options to help seniors and people with disabilities get around the City safely.

For the latest information on Muni service, see SFMTA’s COVID19 Developments and Response page.

Understanding Facial Covering Requirements

All San Francisco residents are required to wear facial coverings. However, there are some circumstances in which facial coverings may not be required for some people with disabilities.

Please also see the April 17, 2020 Press Release about the current masking recommendation in the Bay Area

How does someone get COVID-19?

The virus that causes COVID-19 is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person, between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet), and via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. Close contact includes being coughed or sneezed on, kissing, sharing food or eating. It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes. This is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads, but we are still learning more about this virus.  People are thought to be most contagious when they are the most symptomatic (the sickest). Spread can occur starting 48 hours before someone shows symptoms.COVID-19 can also be spread by persons who have very mild symptoms of the disease.

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

(Updated 5/22/2020) COVID-19 symptoms include: fever, chills, repeated shaking or shivering, sore throat, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, feeling weak or unusually tired, muscle pain, headache, congested or runny nose, diarrhea, and losing the sense of taste or smell.  Someone with COVID-19 can have just one of these symptoms, or more than one. Some persons with COVID-19 have no symptoms at all.  When symptoms do occur they usually begin about 5 days after exposure to the virus, but may appear as soon as 2 days or up to 14 days after exposure.

How do I get tested for COVID-19?

San Francisco is providing expanded COVID-19 testing for anyone who lives or works in the city. All essential workers can get tested regardless of symptoms. For anyone else, you must have at least one of the COVID-19 symptoms, such as fever or cough, or had recent contact with someone with COVID-19. Testing is free at various sites throughout the City. You do not need a doctor’s note to schedule a test or need medical insurance to get tested. Appointments are required and can be made online or by phone. Results are available in 1 to 3 days.

Note: A test detects if you have the virus at the time you take the test. It does not test for immunity or if you had the virus in the past. If your test is negative, you must remain cautious as you can still get infected.

  • Body aches
  • Fatigue
  • Nasal congestion or runny nose
  • Chills
  • Fever (100.4° F/38° C)
  • Sore throat
  • Cough
  • Headache
  • Shortness of breath
  • Diarrhea or vomiting
  • Loss of smell or taste
  • Recent close contact with a COVID+ person (only available at SF Health Network sites)

If you have insurance, Contact your insurance provider or one of the following sites to schedule a test.

  • Carbon Health | 415-792-6040
  • Dignity Health GoHealth Urgent Care | 650-448-1455 | gohealthuc.com/bayarea/virtual-visits
  • Kaiser Permanente | 800-464-4000
  • Northeast Medical Services (NEMS) | 415-391-9686
  • One Medical | 415-593-1134
  • UCSF | 415-514-7328

If you DO NOT have health insurance, Call 415-682-1740 to schedule a test at one of the following SF Health Network sites. Available 24 hours a day in most languages

  • Castro Mission Testing Site 3850 17th St. M-F: 8-5pm | S-S: 12-4
  • Maxine Hall Testing Site 1181 Golden Gate Ave. M-F: 8-5pm
  • Southeast Health Center Testing Site 2401 Keith St. M-F: 8-5pm
  • ZSFG Testing Site 1001 Potrero Ave. M-F: 9-6pm
  • Mission Neighborhood Health Center Shotwell Parking Lot 240 Shotwell St. | 415-552-3870 M-F: 8-5pm (Call for appointment)

Or visit sf.gov/citytestsf to get screened and schedule a drive-through or walk-through test at CityTestSF

  • Pier 30/32
  • SOMA at 7th and Brannan

 

What does “suspected COVID-19” mean?

Suspected COVID-19 means one of two things:

  • Your medical provider said you have COVID-19, based on your symptoms. You weren’t tested, or your test result was negative, but you were told to go into isolation because you probably have COVID-19
  • OR
  • You developed symptoms that could be COVID-19 – for example a “cold” (runny nose, sneezing, cough) or a flu-like illness (cough, fever, muscle aches) and stayed home; now you are wondering when you can leave isolation or go back to work.

At this time, given sustained community transmission of COVID-19 in San Francisco, anyone who feels ill with cold or flu-like symptoms (such as cough, sore throat, fever, new shortness of breath, etc) is considered to have suspected COVID-19 and should stay at home for at least 7 days since the onset of symptoms AND 72 hours after fever has resolved and other symptoms have improved.

I was diagnosed with COVID-19 or have suspected COVID-19, when can I stop isolating myself at home?

(Updated 5/22/2020)

You can stop home isolation when ALL of the following are true:

  • At least 10 days have passed since your symptoms first appeared
  • At least 3 days (72 hours) have passed since you have had a fever (without taking fever-reducing medication such as Tylenol, Advil, or Aleve)
  • Your other symptoms (for example: cough, shortness of breath, sore throat) started to improve at least 3 days ago

*If you are still coughing at the end of your home isolation, please continue to wear a face covering when you are around others

Please see these resources for more information:

What is the treatment if someone gets sick with novel coronavirus?

(Updated 5/22/2020)  Right now there is no specific treatment that cures COVID-19.  The treatment right now is to take care of the symptoms. Most people with COVID-19 will have mild illness and can get better with the proper home care and without the need to see a provider. Just like with the flu, you should drink plenty of fluids and rest.  Non-prescription drugs such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) won’t cure the disease but they can be used to help improve the symptoms. Your health care provider can advise you about medication to help you feel better while you are sick.  The decision to have someone treated at home or at a hospital is made on a case-by-case basis, depending on how sick you are.

A number of drugs are being studied to see if they can be proven to work.  The antiviral drug remdesivir is being tested in hospitalized patients and has so far shown some benefits.  The antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine has not been shown to be safe or effective in patients with COVID-19.

Is there a vaccine for novel coronavirus?

(Updated 5/22/2020)  Not yet.  Right now there is no vaccine available to protect against novel coronavirus, but several versions of a vaccine are being tested to see if they work to prevent COVID-19 and are safe for humans.

I was a close contact to a case of COVID-19 and was asked to self-quarantine. What should I do?

Please follow the Quarantine Steps that are described in the Home Isolation & Quarantine Guidelines document:  https://www.sfcdcp.org/Home-Isolation-Quarantine-Guidelines

What should I do if I am uninsured and am worried I have COVID-19?

COVID-19 Test Site Information 

You can be tested for COVID-19 if you have at least one of the following:  

  • Body aches  
  • Fatigue  
  • Nasal congestion or runny nose  
  • Chills  
  • Fever (100.4° F/38° C)  
  • Sore throat 
  • Cough  
  • Headache  
  • Shortness of breath  
  • Diarrhea or vomiting  
  • Loss of smell or taste  
  • Recent close contact with a COVID+ person (only available at SF Health Network sites) 

If you have insurance, Contact your insurance provider or one of the following sites to schedule a test.   

  • Carbon Health | 415-792-6040  
  • Dignity Health GoHealth Urgent Care | 650-448-1455 | gohealthuc.com/bayarea/virtual-visits 
  • Kaiser Permanente | 800-464-4000  
  • Northeast Medical Services (NEMS) | 415-391-9686  
  • One Medical | 415-593-1134  
  • UCSF | 415-514-7328  

If you DO NOT have health insurance, Call 415-682-1740 to schedule a test at one of the following SF Health Network sites. Available 24 hours a day in most languages 

  • Castro Mission Testing Site 3850 17th St. M-F: 8-5pm | S-S: 12-4  
  • Maxine Hall Testing Site 1181 Golden Gate Ave. M-F: 8-5pm  
  • Southeast Health Center Testing Site 2401 Keith St. M-F: 8-5pm  
  • ZSFG Testing Site 1001 Potrero Ave. M-F: 9-6pm  
  • Mission Neighborhood Health Center Shotwell Parking Lot 240 Shotwell St. | 415-552-3870 ext. 2217 M-F: 8-5pm (opens May 1, call for appointment)  

Or visit sf.gov/citytestsf to get screened and schedule a test at CityTestSF  

  • Pier 30/32  
  • SOMA at 7th and Brannan  

 

If I am experiencing homelessness and I don’t have a healthcare provider and I’m concerned I might have COVID-19, where can I get healthcare?

You can go to Urgent Care at 50 Ivy Street (also called Whole Person Integrated Care – Urgent Care) during these hours:

  • Monday-Friday 8:30AM – 5:00PM
  • Saturday 9:00AM – 5:00PM

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, seek care at any emergency department.

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

Updated May 20, 2020

SFDPH considers persons in the following groups or with the following conditions to be at higher risk for severe illness if they develop COVID-19 infection.  Except where noted, this list aligns with CDC guidance.

  • Age 60 years and older*
  • Staying in a nursing home or long-term care facility
  • Asthma (moderate-to-severe)
  • Chronic lung disease
  • Diabetes (type 1, type 2, or gestational)
  • Serious heart conditions (including heart failure, coronary artery disease, congenital heart disease, cardiomyopathies, and pulmonary hypertension)
  • Hypertension**
  • Chronic kidney disease being treated with dialysis
  • Severe obesity (body mass index of 40 or greater)
  • Immunocompromised (including cancer treatment, smoking, bone marrow or organ transplantation, immune deficiencies, HIV with a low CD4 cell count or not on HIV treatment, and prolonged use of corticosteroids and other immune weakening medications)
  • Chronic liver disease

Other groups of persons are recommended by CDC to take extra precautions, as emerging data indicate some populations bear disproportionate burden of COVID-19 disease and death, have higher prevalence of underlying conditions, or are experiencing conditions that may facilitate the spread of infection (see https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/other-at-risk-populations.html).

  • People with disabilities
  • People who are pregnant or breastfeeding
  • People experiencing homelessness
  • Racial and ethnic minority groups

*CDC states age 65 years and older.  However, recently published data on COVID-19 mortality in China find a gradient of increasing age associated with increasing fatality ratios. While the CDC currently classifies adults over age 65 years as at high-risk, the SF Department of Public Health bases their classification of over 60 years on the data from the above cited article and evidence of premature aging among other vulnerable populations, including persons experiencing homelessness.

**CDC does not specifically include hypertension, other than pulmonary hypertension.  In a recent published review, hypertension was cited as likely to be an independent risk factor for more severe disease and increased mortality.

What are the criteria to be discharged from a City-sponsored Isolation and Quarantine site?

Every person must meet strict criteria for discharge from an Isolation and Quarantine (I&Q) site.

Those who have COVID-19 are not discharged until their symptoms have been gone for at least 72 hours, and at least 10 days have gone by since the start of their illness.  For those who had a positive test but never had symptoms, they are not discharged until at least 10 days have gone by since their first positive COVID-19 test.

This meets CDC standards.  Based on scientific findings, CDC believes people with COVID-19 are no longer contagious after 10 days.  CDC has stated that “replication-competent virus” (virus that can still cause infection) has not been successfully cultured more than 9 days after the onset of illness, and that models estimate the likelihood of finding infectious virus approaches zero by 10 days after infection.

Those who were in quarantine because they are the close contact of a person with COVID-19, but who never developed COVID-19 symptoms, are not discharged until they have completed the full incubation period without developing symptoms.  That is at least 14 days since their last contact with the person with COVID-19.  This also meets CDC standards.

As an additional precaution, people being discharged are given instructions for how to prevent spread of COVID-19.  This includes wearing a face covering in public (and at home, too, if they are still coughing).  They are also reminded to practice frequent hand washing, maintain social distance of at least 6 feet from others, and not to visit with others even if they reside in the same building.

What is the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) doing to protect our health?

The City and County of San Francisco, led by the Department of Public Health, is working on preventing the virus, containing its spread, and reducing harm in the community. We are focused on the most vulnerable groups, including those over the age of 55, people in congregate living settings, and those with chronic medical conditions. However, every sector has a role to play to ensure community health and safety. The health care system, schools, businesses and individuals can all do their part.

Where can I get more information?

More information about COVID-19 in San Francisco can be found on the following pages:

Sign up for the City’s new alert service for official updates: text COVID19SF to 888-777  

Scroll down to see additional websites at the end of this page.

See also COVID-19 FAQs from the CDC