A message from Diana Taylor RN, MS, PhD — BCNA President and a public health researcher, nurse and clinical scientist for 45 years
What else is there to read about but you-know-what? It’s kind of a shame actually. We’re only a quarter of the way through the year and it’s already a slam-dunk what Merriam-Webster’s word of the year will be for 2020: social-distancing (assuming hyphenated words qualify).
You’re no doubt aware that California Governor Gavin Newsom and San Francisco Mayor Breed have extended the shelter-in-place order through Sunday May 3rd. Here are the links to Covid19CA and to SFGov for state and local up-to-date information. Read here for SF order full text. And the SF Board of Supervisors has links to all info on COVID-19 facts, websites, especially on what to watch out for (scams, misinformation). Check out District 3 Supervisor Peskin’s Newsletters starting with March 13 (prevention & preparation), March 22 (Avoiding scams, food resources), March 25 (all about food, open restaurants, grocery delivery, farmers markets), March 28 (Help for small businesses & artists), March 30 (Family & Senior Meals, Schools & More), and March 31 (Tenant & Landlord Eviction Moratorium & Mortgage Relief). The bottom line, if you’re watching the news at all is STAY HOME. If you don’t like taking orders from Sacramento, then listen to the healthcare workers who are risking their lives and those of their family members. STAY HOME. These sources have made some changes to what qualify as “essential services” so give them a read. There are ways to give back during these dark times—you can donate blood due to a nationwide shortage or you can donate $$ to a SF fund.
If you need to take a break from your home cookin’ there are lots of struggling restaurants doing pre-pay take-out and curbside pick-up. SF Chronicle Food Section is all about where to get food—restaurants, bakeries, cafés and is updated regularly. Board member David Albert & Marcy Albert have a long list of nearby restaurants that let will take you around the world without leaving home: Gap year at Nico (French), Z&Y (Chinese), Café Zoetrope (Italian), or good comfort food on the Embarcadero with Pier 23 or Hillstone (where you can sit outside with a view).
Check this link for how to get groceries delivered in SF. And when you run out of your favorite comfort food and need to hit the grocery, take advantage of the special hours and programs for seniors offered by local grocery stores in the Barbary Coast (Safeway, RJ’s Market, Trader Joes). Our board members Bob Harrer (Telegraph Landing), Michele Hennessey (Gateway), and Lee Robbins (170 Pacific Ave) tell us that RJ’s Market on Sansome has well stocked shelves (including TP) with people keeping their distance and Safeway (Jackson St) keeps senior hours (7-9 am), limits entry by number of people, has limited items, but is less crowded than the Marina Safeway. Delivery services are less reliable for groceries than restaurant deliveries.
To wear or not to wear a mask. As of today (4/3/20), the CDC has done an about-face on non-symptomatic people wearing masks in public; recommending the use of simple, fabric face masks. At first, we were all worried that if everyone wore masks there wouldn’t be enough for the first responders and healthcare workers. Given the way everybody behaved over toilet paper, they were probably right. It’s evolved to a more nuanced position of, don’t use up the N95s that we don’t know how to wear correctly anyway; those are for the healthcare workers. In light of new evidence (25% of people with COVID19 are asymptomatic), CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores, pharmacies) especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. Here are some instructions for different types of masks, whether you sew or not. If you do know your way around a sewing machine, this mask posted by Kaiser is top-o-the-line.
Another neighbor with a microbiology background wrote to us about the importance of knowing when and how to clean surfaces in your house, when you receive packages, etc. Here’s what the CDC has to say. Then, what do once you have groceries back home? Check out this article about food handling: right here.
These are unprecedented and scary times. Take things one day at a time. If all else fails hit the puppy cam!! Or send us your favorite website! Here’s mine!
Please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.
This message is not a complete or comprehensive list of all services available to individuals or businesses during the COVID-19 epidemic. Please refer to your local, state, and federal government resources and representatives for additional information.