Disease Prevention and Control, San Francisco Department of Public Health

Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information for Businesses, Employers, and Employees

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.

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 Documents that are no longer applicable will be removed.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.

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

Health Officer Orders and Directives

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Information and Guidance Applicable to All Businesses

Required Screening for COVID-19

SFDPH no longer requires that organizations perform on-site pre-entry health checks.  This includes: screening for symptoms of COVID-19, asking about close contact with others who have COVID-19, measuring temperatures, or verifying completion of remote self-screening.  Instead, SFDPH recommends that all individuals monitor themselves for COVID-19 symptoms or exposures, and that employers ask employees to evaluate their own symptoms before reporting to work.  If they have symptoms, individuals should isolate, except to get tested, or seek medical care when necessary.

Organizations may choose to continue on-site health checks or verify remote self-screening and, in some cases, state and other regulatory agencies may require it.  If an organization conducts on-site health checks, it should be done safely, respectfully, and in accordance with applicable privacy and confidentiality laws.  

Scientific Rationale: On-site, pre-entry health checks have limited benefit in preventing the spread of COVID-19, particularly as infections decrease and more people get vaccinated.  Health checks do not identify people who are infected but without symptoms or people with mild symptoms who might not realize they are infected.  As such, they are not a replacement for other protective measures, such as getting vaccinated, using masks, physical distancing, and hand hygiene.  (Updated 8/4/21)

Ventilation Recommendations

  • For Ventilation Guidance, see CDPH Interim Guidance for Ventilation, Filtration, and Air Quality in Indoor Environments
    • FAQs: General Ventilation (SFDPH, Retired 10/8/21)
    • Ventilation for Non-Healthcare Organizations During the COVID-19 Pandemic (SFDPH, Retired 10/8/21)
    • FAQs: Room Air Exchange Rates (“Air Changes per Hour (ACH)”) (SFDPH, Retired 10/8/21)
    • Interim Guidance: Ventilation During the COVID-19 Pandemic (SFDPH, Retired 10/8/21)
    • FAQs: Portable Air Cleaners (SFDPH, Retired 10/8/21)

Cleaning Recommendations

Facility and/or Business Cleaning Recommendations:

Household Cleaning Recommendations:

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Find Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) guidance on the sfcdcp.org public information page at www.sfcdcp.org/ppe.

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

Signage & Printable Resources

You can download flyers and posters about the public health order from the SF.GOV outreach toolkit.

Industry/Sector Specific Guidance

Hotels and Lodging

  • Tips for Staying in Lodging Facilities During COVID-19 (SFDPH, Retired 6/15/2021)

Core Guidance

CDC Guidance:

SF Health Officer Order

Entertainment (Theaters, Festivals and Performances)

  • Interim Guidance: Outdoor Arts and Music Festivals and Performances (SFDPH, Retired 6/15/21)
  • Interim Guidance: Indoor Movie Theaters (SFDPH, Retired 6/15/21)

Core Guidance

CDC Guidance:

SF Health Officer Order

Individuals working with Persons Experiencing Homelessness

Personal Services

  • Tip Sheet for Operating Indoors and Outdoor: Personal Services (SFDPH, Retired 6/1/2021)

Core Guidance

CDC Guidance

SF Health Officer Order

SF Health Officer Directive

  • https://www.sfdph.org/dph/alerts/files/Directive-2020-23-Personal-Services-Outdoors.pdf   Rescinded 6/11/21
  • https://www.sfdph.org/dph/alerts/files/Directive-2020-30-Indoor-Personal-Services.pdf Rescinded 6/11/21

Quick links:

Retail

Tips for Retail Businesses Offering Curbside or In-Store Shopping or Services During COVID-19 (SFDPH, Retired 6/1/21)

Core Guidance

CDC Guidance

SF Health Officer Directive

  • https://www.sfdph.org/dph/alerts/files/Directive-2020-17-Instore-Retail.pdf  Rescinded 6/11/21

SF Health Officer Order