Top city officials returned to San Francisco’s coronavirus emergency operations center at Moscone Center on Wednesday to once more impress upon the public the importance of sheltering in place and leaving home only for essential activities. One person has now died of COVID-19 in San Francisco and as of Wednesday the city had confirmed 172 cases.
“When we look at states all over the country, we know that the early steps we took to not only be prepared, but also to ask people to stay at home, has definitely had an impact on the numbers that we are seeing every single day,” said Mayor London Breed. “Sadly, things are going to get worse, and it’s important that we continue to stay at home because it truly does mean that we save lives as a result.”
Director of Public Health Dr. Grant Colfax said the city has about 1,300 staffed regular beds across all San Francisco hospitals, and about 200 staffed intensive care unit beds. He warned of a surge in cases hitting in less than two weeks that would necessitate 5,000 additional hospital beds and at least 1,500 ventilators.
“Our goal now is to, again, flatten the curve, so fewer people get sick at once. This will reduce the likelihood that our health care system gets overwhelmed,” Colfax said.
A segment from our radio show, “Civic.” Listen daily at 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. on 102.5 FM in San Francisco.