Colfax: San Francisco case rate up slightly; masking moves to individualized guidance and some booster mandates eased

San Francisco’s Department of Public Health told the Health Commission on April 5 that COVID‑19 case rates have inched up but hospitalizations remain low, prompting adjustments to local guidance aligned with state changes.

Dr. Grant Colfax said the city’s case rate was about 13 per 100,000, up from a recent low of 8.5 per 100,000, and that the increase appears driven by Omicron subvariants and greater public activity. He said hospitalizations remained manageable: "We have just 21 individuals in the hospital total with COVID‑19, including 4 in the intensive care unit," Colfax said.

DPH summarized April 1 changes to local health orders: proof of vaccination or negative testing for indoor mega events is now a strong recommendation rather than a requirement, indoor masking guidance has shifted from a universal recommendation to an individual risk‑centered approach, and certain booster mandates for personnel who visit high‑risk settings have been lifted while mandates for some roles (paramedics and EMTs) remain in place with a new compliance deadline extended to June 30.

Commissioners asked whether vaccine administration might become chargeable amid federal budget questions; Health Officer Dr. Susan Philip said there was "no indication that anything is going to change at the individual patient level" and advised the public that vaccines will continue to be provided at no cost. Commissioners also asked about point‑of‑care antiviral access and data discrepancies in a news report that suggested San Francisco had the state’s highest case rate; Colfax and Philip said they would double‑check external reporting and continue monitoring.

The commission received the update without a vote and asked DPH to return with follow‑up details on treatment access and eligibility updates tied to newly announced booster recommendations for older adults.