Connections eBulletin: May 4, 2020

COVID-19 Testing Now Available to All Essential Workers

Mayor London N. Breed and Director of Health Dr. Grant Colfax today announced that all essential workers in San Francisco will now be eligible for COVID-19 testing, regardless of symptoms or exposure. The expanded testing criteria is another step toward the City’s goal of universal access to testing for all San Franciscans. The expansion to asymptomatic essential workers is citywide and effective today, and applies to all testing conducted at CityTestSF and the Department of Public Health (DPH) community test sites.

The new policy expands COVID-19 testing to include any essential workers, including health care workers, first responders, grocery clerks, construction workers, drivers, childcare workers and others who continue to leave their homes each day to serve San Francisco during the Stay Home Order. These essential workers interact daily with other people and cannot easily maintain social distance by staying home. Any essential or frontline worker can now be tested, regardless of symptoms or exposure. You can decide when you want to test, but it is important  to test immediately when you feel ill, or have symptoms, or if you believe you have been exposed to COVID-19.

Additionally, testing continues to be available for anyone living in San Francisco who either has one symptom or has been exposed to a confirmed case of COVID-19.

This test is easy, fast, and free. Results are available within  24 to 48 hours. Appointments for City employees, city contract health care workers, and first responders will be reserved if appointments become unavailable.

This test detects the virus at the time of the test only.  It does not test for immunity, or if you had the virus in the past.  If you test negative for the virus, you must remain cautious because you can still get the virus.   If you have already been tested and received a negative result, but still have symptoms or believe you have been exposed, please get retested.  It is possible you contracted the virus after being tested.

The expansion puts San Francisco squarely on the path to universal access to testing. Any person living in San Francisco is already eligible for testing if they have one COVID-19 symptom, such as fever, cough, sore throat, or have been in contact with someone with confirmed COVID-19. The City also announced last Friday that all residents and workers in skilled nursing facilities in San Francisco will be required to be tested.

Essential workers can get tested for free at one of the two CityTestSF sites at the Embarcadero and in SoMa. These two sites have the capacity to test 1,500 people per day, and are operated in partnership with Color, Carbon Health, and One Medical. The Department of Public Health’s community test sites also are providing free tests at Southeast Health Center in the Bayview, Castro-Mission Health Center in the Castro, Maxine Hall Health Center in the Western Addition, and Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital in the Mission. Appointments for tests are still necessary at all sites in order to ensure social distancing and reduce the number of people waiting for a test at any given time.

For more information about COVID-19 testing, contact your primary health care provider, call 311, or visit SF.gov/GetTestedSF.

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City’s Health Service System Info on Worry and Anxiety

One in five American adults suffer from mental illness in any given year. There are many ways you or someone you know could be impacted by a mental health issue.  In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, SFHSS Well-Being is elevating the conversation on mental health. Each week during the month of May HSS will focus on one area of mental health and provide resources and tools, help you recognize the signs of mental illness, and identify how you can get help for yourself or someone you love.

Worry and Anxiety: Take a Self Assessment Test Today

1. Are Your Worry Days a Sign of Anxiety?
2. What’s Your Anxiety Superpower?

1. Make a list of ten things you have control over during the disruption of life right now. They can be as simple as, “Choosing what I want to eat.” Take time to appreciate these 10 areas of control. Make this a daily practice.
2. When you start to worry – get active and engage in some exercise.
3. When you start to feel anxious note where in your body you are feeling it, acknowledge the feeling and take time out for 5 – 10 slow deep breaths.
4. Engage in a guided meditation specific to anxiety.

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California State Parks’ PORTS Home Learning Program

A great resource for teachers, care providers and parents whose children are learning from home: California State Parks is now broadcasting its PORTS Home Learning Programs from locations across California. Students learning from home will be able to access precious natural resources and cultural heritage from the comfort of their own home. See the program calendar below to register for these FREE K-12 programs. Space is limited, so sign up today!

https://www.ports-ca.us/

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Health and Safety Tips for Working at Home

The following are links shared by our Health and Safety team to help keep you healthy during the COVID-19 situation:

BBC article on why Zoom calls are exhausting

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20200421-why-zoom-video-chats-are-so-exhausting

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/burnout/art-20046642

https://www.forbes.com/sites/learnvest/2013/04/01/10-signs-youre-burning-out-and-what-to-do-about-it/#1eee36d1625b

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/high-octane-women/201311/the-tell-tale-signs-burnout-do-you-have-them

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Lynda Trainings for RPD Staff