Bay Area health officials report 22% decline in new HIV diagnoses

The San Francisco Department of Public Health (DPH) held a meeting on July 4, 2025, focusing on key health updates and initiatives. The meeting began with a report from Director Colfax, who highlighted a significant 22 percent decline in new HIV diagnoses. However, this positive trend was accompanied by a decrease in average monthly HIV screening tests, likely attributed to the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these challenges, the care retention rate for individuals living with HIV remained high at 92 percent.

Director Colfax emphasized the persistent inequities in healthcare outcomes for marginalized groups, including individuals experiencing homelessness, women, trans women, Black Americans, and persons who inject drugs. The DPH is actively working to address these disparities and aims to achieve the goal of "getting to zero" new HIV infections.

As the back-to-school season approaches, Bay Area Health Officers reaffirmed their support for full in-person schooling, despite the pandemic. The DPH continues to organize community events focused on COVID-19 vaccinations and testing.

The meeting also recognized notable staff achievements, including Veronica Shepherd, who received the Jefferson Award for her contributions to the San Francisco African American faith-based coalition during the pandemic, and Seth Pardo, who was featured for his work on access to gender-affirming healthcare.

Additionally, the DPH announced the appointment of Lisonbee Hawks as the new Director of Communications, bringing two decades of experience in journalism, including a previous role at NASA.

The meeting concluded with an invitation for commissioner questions and comments, followed by a transition to the COVID-19 update segment. There were no public comments during the session. The DPH aims to keep the community informed through regular updates and accessible resources.