Omicron: San Francisco's Test Positivity Rate ‘Way, Way Up'

The latest information from UCSF indicates that 1 successful 14 San Franciscans would trial affirmative for COVID-19 close present if everyone was tested.

The steep ascent successful cases astir the state and successful the metropolis has galore worried.

Some San Francisco businesses person made a prime to minimize hazard astatine the disbursal of profits.

The Moby Dick Bar successful San Francisco's Castro would usually beryllium brimming with radical connected a emblematic New Year's Eve, but this twelvemonth doors volition beryllium locked and the barroom empty.

"It's upsetting, but it's not upsetting capable to determine we person to forgo being safe," said Scot Riffe, Moby Dick Bar co-owner.

With Omicron spreading and an worker investigating positive, barroom owners person opted to unopen down conscionable earlier Christmas with nary plans to reopen until aft New Years.

"No substance however harmless we are, it doesn't mean different radical are harmless oregon being harmless extracurricular of our bar," Riffe said.

Even though San Francisco's colonisation is highly vaccinated, cases are rising.

"That trial positivity complaint has gone way, mode up," said Dr. Bob Wachter, UCSF Department of Medicine chair.

While immoderate metropolis businesses are opting to unopen their doors connected New Year's Eve, others are trying their champion to marque it enactment safely.

"I added a HEPA filter successful the mediate of the restaurant," said Porter Anthony, a wide manager for Harvey's, a San Francisco barroom and restaurant.

Anthony said Harvey's precocious reopened aft having to unopen down for a fewer days owed to employees investigating affirmative for COVID. Harvey's volition proceed to enactment unfastened lone if each unit continues to trial negative, Anthony said.

"We're benignant of shooting from the hep and trying to enactment harmless arsenic we can," Anthony said, adding helium has been moving astir the Castro successful hunt of COVID-19 tests for his staff.

Meanwhile, San Francisco connected Tuesday announced the city's overmuch anticipated New Year's fireworks amusement volition beryllium cancelled.

Wachter said helium understands radical are anxious to observe the caller year, but astatine the extremity of the time helium recommends exercising much caution -- astatine slightest until Omicron subsides.

"If your extremity is to effort and not get COVID, you truly can't bash an indoor gathering, peculiarly without investigating and consciousness comfy its wholly safe," Wachter said.