San Francisco health officials report rising COVID cases but hospital capacity stable

Dr. Grant Colfax, San Francisco’s director of public health, told the Health Commission on May 3 that COVID-19 cases in the city have increased in recent weeks to roughly 28 cases per 100,000 residents, up from a low near 8 per 100,000 earlier in March.

“Despite the relatively higher case rate, hospitalizations and particularly ICU numbers have not increased to a degree that we’re concerned about hospital capacity,” Colfax said, reporting 47 people currently hospitalized with COVID and six patients in intensive care. He noted the hospitalized count includes both patients admitted for COVID and people who tested positive incidentally, and that the department does not have a real‑time breakdown of those subcategories.

Colfax said San Francisco’s cumulative COVID case total is about 129,000 and that deaths recorded to date number roughly 862. He warned the official case counts understate total infections because many people test at home and those results are not captured in public reporting.

Vaccination coverage remains high, he said: about 84 percent of residents have completed an initial vaccine series and booster coverage is about 71 percent overall, with higher booster uptake among older adults. “We’re really focused on capacity, including especially ICU capacity,” he said, urging residents who are eligible to get boosters and recommending high‑quality masks (N95/KN95) in higher‑risk settings.

Colfax emphasized early outpatient treatment for high‑risk patients: “Know how to reach a health care provider, especially if you’re at high risk for severe illness,” and encouraged people to seek antiviral therapy if eligible. He also noted city sites and federal programs remain sources for free rapid test kits.

Commissioner Chao asked whether the 47 hospitalized were admitted for COVID versus incidental findings; Colfax replied the total includes both and that ICU counts more reliably reflect COVID‑related severe illness. The department plans to emphasize hospitalization and ICU metrics in future briefings, Colfax said.

The Health Commission took no formal action on the update; slides referenced during the briefing will be posted on the Department of Public Health website.