Fellow San Franciscans,
Mayor London N. Breed announced the next phases of San Francisco’s reopening. I am cautiously excited to welcome back several quintessential San Francisco businesses over the next few weeks, including hotels, expanded outdoor activities, personal services, and museums. As the state has removed some of the restrictions that have limited San Francisco’s ability to reopen some lower-risk activities, we will continue to see a phased-in reopening.
As we head into a holiday weekend, it remains crucial that we all realize that these developments are dependent on us keeping COVID-19 cases down and our city’s infection rate in check. As a community, we must do everything we can to ensure that the health indicators keep heading in the right direction. The last thing our small businesses need is a third shutdown after another reopening.
There is so much that our city and our residents are doing right. We have one of the highest testing rates of any US city, and one of the lowest mortality rates. We have successfully managed to maintain good hospital capacity and a robust supply of personal protective equipment.
It is imperative that we do not let down our guard. We still have approximately 75 new infections daily and high hospitalization rates. Decisions about re-opening sectors of our economy are not taken lightly, and the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce has advocated actively for clear guidelines that ensure safe operations. We will continue to do everything we can to help our local economy navigate this challenging time period, and we urge all San Franciscans to do their part: Wash your hands, maintain social distance, cover your face, and do not go out if you are sick. I am confident we can emerge from this if we continue to prioritize our residents’ health and stay united.
Rodney Fong
President & CEO
San Francisco Chamber of Commerce