Rise in coronavirus circumstances has slowed, however San Francisco braces for vacation spike

San Francisco’s rise in coronavirus infections and hospitalizations for COVID-19 has slowed, however a brand new spike might happen in mid-January due to vacation gatherings, the town’s public well being director stated Tuesday.

Dr. Grant Colfax, the well being director, stated at a information convention that the town’s hospitals now have loads of out there beds of their intensive care items, though out there ICU mattress area all through the Bay Space has fallen to five.9% of capability.

“We stay in a critical and significant place, however our collective actions are making a distinction,” Colfax stated.

The speed of improve in infections “appears to be slowing,” Colfax stated, however it’s “believable” that the town may “see a pointy improve within the subsequent few weeks.”

Colfax started his remarks by expressing assist for residents of Southern California and the Central Valley, areas he stated had been experiencing “dire” and “catastrophic” pandemic situations.

He stated San Francisco hospitals now have 4 COVID-19 sufferers from exterior the town and should get extra sufferers from different areas experiencing a dearth of intensive care beds.

The state Division of Public Well being is allocating the vaccines to well being suppliers, which then obtain the doses immediately from the vaccine makers, Colfax stated. The vaccines can be distributed in line with priorities established by the state.

San Francisco has not but detected a brand new, doubtlessly extra infectious pressure of the virus that has unfold quickly in Britain and has been present in the US, together with Southern California.

Nonetheless, Colfax stated, he wouldn’t be stunned if the pressure finally is found within the metropolis or elsewhere within the Bay Space.

Town’s Public Well being Division has vaccinated greater than 6,000 individuals to date, principally front-line well being staff at city-run well being amenities, together with Laguna Honda Hospital, one of many largest skilled-nursing amenities within the nation.

By the top of Tuesday, Colfax stated, greater than 90% of the residents at Laguna Honda can have acquired their first dose of the vaccine. Fifteen residents and 34 workers members at Laguna Honda have been recognized with COVID-19.

Town has not discovered itself with any extra of vaccines, Colfax stated.

“Proper now, demand far outweighs the availability,” he stated.

About 80,000 individuals who reside or work in San Francisco can be vaccinated in the course of the first spherical of distribution, he stated.

“Please know,” he added, “we count on that everybody who needs the vaccine will get one finally.”

Mayor London Breed, who additionally spoke on the information convention, emphasised that residents ought to have hope.

“The vaccine is right here,” she stated. “These are tough instances, however there may be gentle on the finish of the tunnel.”