11.23.2020 | SF Tech Community Update

COVID-19 Latest Report*

• 1,110,745 confirmed cases in California
• 18,726 confirmed deaths in California
• 139,374 confirmed cases in the Bay Area

*As of 9:00am PT on 11/23

COVID-19 Updates from the SF Tech Community

UPDATES FROM THE TECH COMMUNITY

We are sharing the latest COVID-19 resources from the San Francisco tech industry, as well other community-minded initiatives pioneered by sf.citi members.

• Robert Grant, Vice President of Government Affairs for Cruise, was spotlighted on The Political Life podcast. Learn how he transitioned from a career in law to the world of tech policy and is now helping Cruise pave the way for driverless cars.
• At the end of 2019, sf.citi wrote about the ambitious Bay Area housing commitments made by Facebook and Google. Now, the two tech companies are reaffirming their commitment to housing innovation by investing in Vallejo modular housing startup Factory_OS. Factory OS has already built 1,000 housing units in Northern California with production costs about 20–40 percent lower than those of traditional construction.
• Salesforce opened applications for $10,000 grants for San Francisco small businesses. Approximately 200 San Francisco small businesses will receive grants through the program, which Salesforce is running in partnership with Ureeka. Eligible businesses have until November 25 to apply!

UPDATES FROM THE CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO

• On November 20, Mayor Breed announced that the San Francisco Botanical Garden, Conservatory of Flowers, and the Japanese Tea Garden will offer year-round, free admission to low-income families. For free admission, visitors can present an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card for CalFresh or another Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). San Francisco residents who present their Medi-Cal card will also receive free admission.

• On November 19, Mayor Breed issued an executive order to implement Proposition H—a November 2020 ballot measure to streamline the permitting process for San Francisco small businesses—within 30 days. The Mayor’s office will convene a working group of relevant departments to implement the process reforms set out in Proposition H.
• On November 19, Mayor Breed announced the launch of the San Francisco Creative Corps pilot program to support artists and promote public health through art. Part of Mayor Breed’s COVID-19 response and recovery plan, the San Francisco Creative Corps pilot will employ 60 San Francisco artists as Community Health Ambassadors to creatively promote COVID-safe behavior. Artists can apply to be considered for the pilot program here.
• On November 16, Mayor Breed and Director of Health Dr. Grant Colfax announced that the City is adjusting its reopening of businesses and activities due to a continued increase in COVID-19 cases in San Francisco. Beginning November 17, the City paused the reopening of non-essential offices and reduced the maximum capacity of fitness centers and gyms to 10 percent. These measures come as San Francisco was moved into the red tier on California’s tiered COVID-19 system.
• On November 16, Mayor Breed and Director of Health Dr. Grant Colfax today announced a new CityTestSF COVID-19 testing site would open at the Alemany Farmer’s Market on November 17. The CityTestSF site located at Seventh and Brannan Street in San Francsico’s South of Market (SoMa) neighborhood has closed as resources are reallocated to the Alemany Farmer’s Market site.

To stay up to date with all City of San Francisco updates, follow the Mayor’s updates here.

UPDATES FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

• On November 20, Governor Newsom announced the opening of the California Rebuilding Fund to help small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The California Rebuilding Fund is a public-private partnership that drives capital from private, philanthropic, and public sector resources and will offer small businesses loans of up to $100,000. Interested small businesses can complete an initial loan application here.
• On November 19, Governor Newsom announced a limited Stay at Home Order, which requires that non-essential work, movement, and gatherings stop between 10:00pm and 5:00am in counties in the purple tier on the state’s COVID-19 system. Intended to slow the rapid rise in COVID-19 cases across the state—especially in counties with the highest rates of positive cases and hospitalizations—the order went into effect on November 21 and will remain in place until December 21.
• On November 18, Governor Newsom issued an emergency proclamation for Mono County due to the effects of the Mountain View Fire.
• On November 16, Governor Newsom announced plans to direct $62 million in one-time funds from the state’s Disaster Response Emergency Operations Account to continue providing housing to current Project Roomkey participants. The funding is intended to help local governments with Project Roomkey sites and ensure unhoused individuals moved out of hotels do not return to street homeless during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• On November 16, Governor Newsom announced immediate actions today to slow the spread of COVID-19 amid rising case counts. These included slowing reopening in much of the state (94.1 percent of California’s population was placed in the most restrictive tier on the state’s tiered COVID-19 system) and strengthening face covering requirements. Individuals must wear a mask whenever outside their home, with limited exceptions.

To stay up to date with all State of California updates, follow the California Department of Health’s updates here.

SUPPORT OUR SAN FRANCISCO COMMUNITY

Every week, sf.citi will feature a different San Francisco nonprofit and share ways you can support its mission and work.

• Access Institute provides affordable and accessible mental health care to people of all ages in San Francisco while training the next generation of mental health professionals. During the pandemic, Access Institute has developed a list of mental health services and resources specific to COVID-19, including a COVID-19 support group. Want to help Access Institute continue offering low and no-fee psychological services to San Franciscans, especially through the turbulence of COVID-19? Donate here.

Would you like to be featured in a future sf.citi community update? Tell us about your work in San Francisco by emailing jacqueline@sfciti.org.