DPH director: city will lift general public masking orders March 1; OCME finds low levels of xylazine in four overdose deaths
February 21, 2023 | San Francisco City, San Francisco County, California
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Director Colfax presented the director's report and described several public‑health updates for the Commission.
On COVID‑19 policy, Colfax said San Francisco will align with the state on ending the local COVID‑19 public health emergency and certain health orders on Feb. 28. The city’s health officer intends to rescind the broader "Safer Return Together" order but issue two targeted orders affecting hospitals, skilled‑nursing facilities and jails. Under those orders, clinical staff in these settings will still be required to wear masks when interacting with patients or people who are incarcerated; masking requirements for the general public in those settings will end March 1. Colfax noted facilities remain able to set stricter rules if they choose.
Colfax reported the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner used state grant funding to re‑test overdose decedents and found four individuals who died of drug overdoses had low levels of xylazine ("tranq") in their systems. He said xylazine is a non‑opioid veterinary tranquilizer not FDA‑approved for human use and often mixed with fentanyl or heroin; OCME had not yet seen clear xylazine‑related wounds or signs of widespread local injection use, and DPH is monitoring, sharing information with partners and preparing street‑response teams and supportive‑care options.
Colfax also highlighted a series of institutional and workforce notes: Zuckerberg San Francisco General celebrated a 150‑year milestone and The Joint Commission concluded a successful survey of ZSFG’s stroke program; DPH is launching a 2023 employment engagement survey to inform workforce development; and updated local COVID numbers (seven‑day average and hospitalizations) were provided in the director's report.
Commissioners asked for clarifications on masking logic and requested the health officer explain rationale behind requiring staff masking but not general public masking in clinical settings; Colfax offered to return with additional clarifying materials and updated survey timing and methodology details.
The report included no formal Commission action and commissioners raised no objections to moving forward with the described next steps.
On COVID‑19 policy, Colfax said San Francisco will align with the state on ending the local COVID‑19 public health emergency and certain health orders on Feb. 28. The city’s health officer intends to rescind the broader "Safer Return Together" order but issue two targeted orders affecting hospitals, skilled‑nursing facilities and jails. Under those orders, clinical staff in these settings will still be required to wear masks when interacting with patients or people who are incarcerated; masking requirements for the general public in those settings will end March 1. Colfax noted facilities remain able to set stricter rules if they choose.
Colfax reported the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner used state grant funding to re‑test overdose decedents and found four individuals who died of drug overdoses had low levels of xylazine ("tranq") in their systems. He said xylazine is a non‑opioid veterinary tranquilizer not FDA‑approved for human use and often mixed with fentanyl or heroin; OCME had not yet seen clear xylazine‑related wounds or signs of widespread local injection use, and DPH is monitoring, sharing information with partners and preparing street‑response teams and supportive‑care options.
Colfax also highlighted a series of institutional and workforce notes: Zuckerberg San Francisco General celebrated a 150‑year milestone and The Joint Commission concluded a successful survey of ZSFG’s stroke program; DPH is launching a 2023 employment engagement survey to inform workforce development; and updated local COVID numbers (seven‑day average and hospitalizations) were provided in the director's report.
Commissioners asked for clarifications on masking logic and requested the health officer explain rationale behind requiring staff masking but not general public masking in clinical settings; Colfax offered to return with additional clarifying materials and updated survey timing and methodology details.
The report included no formal Commission action and commissioners raised no objections to moving forward with the described next steps.
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