Flu and RSV cases, meanwhile, have already exceeded levels of the previous two years, when masking — and social distancing before it — was not just recommended, but required.
San Francisco public health officials are warning that now's the time to get your bivalent COVID-19 booster and begin masking indoors again.As The City contends with rising coronavirus cases, and a wave of flu and RSV infections that might have already peaked, a top Department of Public Health official on Thursday said they weren't"currently considering reinstating" mask and COVID-19 vaccination requirements.
Although everyone who is at least 6 months old is eligible for the bivalent COVID-19 vaccine booster, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control now only considers a person"up to date" on the coronavirus vaccination series if they've received the latest booster, San Francisco's bivalent booster adoption rates lag far behind those of the first COVID-19 boosters and the initial series.
San Francisco dropped its vaccine mandate for bars, gyms, restaurants and other public indoor spaces in March. The requirement never extended to additional doses, only requiring people to have completed their initial series. Philip said that is because COVID-19 tests and vaccines are more readily available now than previous points of the pandemic,"the requirement to have citywide mandates in that same way is no longer there."
The White House on Thursday reopened its free test-ordering program, allowing every household to get four tests ahead of the holidays. The U.S. Postal Service will begin shipping the tests on Monday, and you can order yours here.
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