As we begin another week in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, we would like to provide you ongoing updates about San Francisco resources and opportunities available to you from the tech community and beyond.
- 31,539 confirmed cases in California
- 1,176 confirmed deaths in California
- 6,314 confirmed cases in the Bay Area
*As of 9:00am PT on 4/20
COVID-19 Updates from the SF Tech Community
UPDATES FROM THE TECH COMMUNITY
Many sf.citi members have taken leadership on developing their own policies and strategies to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus on their employees, customers, and the general public. We’ve listed the most recent tech-driven efforts below.
- Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky pledged $1.5 to create a network of free living accommodations for frontline responders in Los Angeles County. The program will support stays for up to 1,000 workers—primarily doctors, nurses, and others employed at four county-run hospitals.
- AT&T is providing three months of free wireless service to COVID-19 frontline health care workers through its FirstNet network. Nurses and doctors already on a FirstNet plan will automatically receive the three-month service credit on a smartphone or tablet line of service. Starting April 13, new, eligible subscribers can activate a FirstNet Mobile – Responder plan. The best part of all? The Office heartthrob John Krasinski helped deliver the good news.
- Funding Circle was approved by the Small Business Administration (SBA) to provide COVID-19 emergency loans to small businesses through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Funding Circle is granting loans as low as $10,000, operating in 49 states, offering multi-language support, and does not require applicants to have an existing relationship to Funding Circle.
- Intuit Quickbooks is also helping administer COVID-19 emergency loans to small businesses through the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program.
- Google.org is granting GiveDirectly $1 million to conduct direct cash transfers to families in the Bay Area enrolled in food assistance (SNAP). Google CEO, Sundar Pichai, personally committed an additional $1 million. The combined $2 million will help GiveDirectly deliver cash transfers of $1,000 to 2,000 families in need.
- Lyft is launching Essential Deliveries, a new pilot initiative that allows governments, nonprofits, and businesses to request on-demand delivery of food, medical supplies, and other basics.
- Postmates announced a new childcare and family care relief policy to support Postmates workers during the COVID-19 outbreak. Starting Friday, April 21, qualifying Postmates workers can apply to earn a stipend, even if they need to remain at home to take care of a loved one.
More Tech Resources for COVID-19
UPDATES FROM THE CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO
- On April 17, the San Francisco Department of Public Health issued a new public health order requiring people to wear face coverings at essential businesses, in public facilities, on transit, and while performing essential work. The order went into effect at 11:59 pm on April 17, 2020.
- On April 15, Mayor Breed and San Francisco Director of Health, Dr. Grant Colfax, announced a new COVID-19 contract tracing program for Bay Area residents. A partnership between the City of San Francisco, the Department of Public Health, UCSF, and software company Dimagi, the program will use a digitized workflow to identify individuals who have been in contact with COVID-19 patients. Case contacts will then be able to receive daily health check-ups via text message or phone call throughout the 14-day monitoring period. UCSF and the Department of Public Health have conducted training for over 50 people who will support these efforts, while additional training sessions are ongoing.
- On April 13, Mayor Breed announced the San Francisco Food Access Initiative, a citywide effort to expand access to food for those who are COVID-19 positive or awaiting test results. San Francisco residents can find food resource information online or by calling 311. To support this and other food security programs provided by the Human Services Agency, Mayor Breed is using $1 million of Give2SF funds.
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 April 16, Governor Newsom signed an executive order to extend the hours of the Employment Development Department from 8:00am to 8:00pm, seven days a week. The measure aims to help process requests and deliver benefits to the record number of Californians filing for unemployment due to COVID-19.
- On April 16, Governor Newsom also signed an executive order to provide workers in the food sector industry impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic with two weeks of paid sick leave. Furthermore, the order outlines health and safety standards to increase food worker and customer protection.
- On April 15, Governor Newsom announced a $125 million disaster relief fund to help California’s undocumented immigrants affected by COVID-19. California immigrants can also access a comprehensive guide of COVID-19 information and public services available to them.
To stay up to date with all State of California updates, follow the California Department of Health’s updates here.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
- As always, the best way to support San Francisco’s COVID-19 response and relief efforts is by donating to Give2SF. You can make both financial and in-kind contributions, including N-95 and cloth masks, hand sanitizer and disinfectant supplies, face shields, and company-branded bags.
- Companies can purchase personal protective equipment (PPE) through Social Imprints, which can then be donated to local hospitals and nonprofits.
More Ways to Help with COVID-19 Relief
GRATITUDE AMID COVID-19
sf.citi would like to recognize the many courageous San Franciscans holding our City together during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Which other San Francisco heroes need recognition during these challenging times? Let us know by tagging sf.citi on Twitter (@sfciti ) or Instagram ( @sf.citi) and using the hashtag #OneCitySF, or by filling out the form below.
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