Latest updates:
These S.F. neighborhoods are still below the 50% vaccination mark: At least 79% of San Francisco residents have gotten one or more doses of a COVID-19 vaccine but residents in some neighborhoods are still lagging on getting their shots. Only 45% of people in the city’s Lakeshore district and 49% of those who live on Treasure Island have received their first vaccine dose, according to data published Friday by the city. That number climbs to 58% in the Presidio and 59% in the Lone Mountain/USF neighborhood, but both still fall well below the city average. In both the Marina and Haight-Ashbury, 67% of residents have received a vaccine, compared to 95% of those who live in the Financial District/South Beach, 91% in Bayview and 90% in Mission Bay.
Oldest restaurant in Fisherman’s Wharf faces eviction: Castagnola’s, the oldest continuously running dining establishment on San Francisco’s famous wharf, is facing eviction after falling $300,000 behind on rent during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Port of San Francisco is suing the restaurant, which has been shuttered since shelter-in-place orders first hit in March 2020, for over $300,000 in unpaid rent, according to a lawsuit filed this week in San Francisco Superior Court. Castagnola’s, which is located at the intersection of Jefferson and Jones, claims to have invented the Dungeness crab cocktail.
CDC will not change its definition of “fully vaccinated” despite boosters: Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said that despite the new recommendations for a third vaccine dose, or booster shot, for some Americans who received the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, the definition of “fully vaccinated” will remain the same. “We are not changing the definition right now of fully vaccinated,” she said during a White House COVID-19 briefing on Friday. “I think we need to have more experience with our third shot and have more people eligible and recommended to receive it before we change that definition.” The CDC currently considers individuals fully vaccinated 14 days after receiving the second dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine.
Warriors forward banned from home games until vaccinated: Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins, who has declined to get vaccinated against the coronavirus, according to NBA sources, will not be able to play in the team’s home games at Chase Center until he receives his shots, according to San Francisco health department policy. The city states that vaccination requirements apply to all “patrons and staff at large indoor events with 1,000 people or more because so many people will be gathered together in an indoor space,” including performers and athletes. San Francisco does not accept negative test results in place of proof of vaccination, even with a medical or religious exemption.
75% of eligible Americans vaccinated against COVID-19: The United States hit a new vaccination milestone on Friday as 75% of eligible Americans, ages 12 and older, have received at least one dose of a vaccine, the White House’s COVID-19 data director Cyrus Shahpar said in a Twitter post. “Let’s add more!,” he said.
California approves CDC booster recommendations: The Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup on Friday endorsed the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations for booster doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. The Workgroup provided its confirmation to the governors of California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington today recommending third doses of the vaccine for people 65 and older, people living in a long-term care facility, and people 50-64 with underlying medical conditions. The group also said people ages 18-64 who received the Pfizer vaccine may also receive a booster dose of the Pfizer vaccine after six months if they are high-risk for virus transmission. “Vaccines are how we end this pandemic,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement. “With today’s Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup recommendation, California is ready to go on day one to begin administering Pfizer-BioNTech boosters to eligible Californians, in addition to our continued work in reaching those who remain unvaccinated to protect communities. Vaccines save lives, and boosters are a critical next step towards better protecting Californians from COVID-19.”
Federal contractors must be vaccinated by Dec. 8: The White House said Friday that federal contractors must get fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Dec. 8. The announcement from the Office of Management and Budget will affect millions of workers. It follows an executive order signed by President Biden in September that mandated vaccinations for federal contractors. “All covered contractor employees must be fully vaccinated by the first day of the period of performance on a newly awarded covered contract,” the guidance says.
New vax requirement at City College of San Francisco: Beginning Nov. 8, CCSF will require everyone who enters its buildings to be vaccinated against the coronavirus. Those exempted from the shots will have to show a negative COVID test. Vaccination will also be required to register for spring semester classes, with sign-ups beginning on Nov. 29. Students and employees can begin uploading vaccination status on Oct. 1.
A new daily pill to treat COVID? Scientists are working on it: The pharmaceutical company Merck is working on an oral antiviral treatment called molnupiravir that could revolutionize the treatment of COVID-19. The company is currently in phase 3 of a trial of the daily pill originally developed to treat the flu, in the hopes that it could also prove to be effective against the coronavirus. The company plans to seek emergency use authorization for the treatment in the U.S. by the end of the year, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has already put in a purchase order for 1.7 million doses. Pfizer is reported to be working on an oral antiviral treatment option as well. The one antiviral drug currently approved to treat COVID is remdesivir, which is given intravenously to patients who are hospitalized.
Mask requirements in schools significantly cut COVID transmission, studies show: Universal masking in K-12 schools effectively stops the spread of the coronavirus and minimizes disruptions to in-person education, according to three separate studies published Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The agency’s researchers found that school districts without a universal masking policy in place at the start of the school year were 3.5 times more likely to have COVID-19 outbreak — and counties without masking requirements saw the number of pediatric COVID-19 cases increase nearly twice as quickly since schools reopened. The CDC recommends a multi-layered strategy to mitigating outbreaks in schools, including universal masking, vaccination, testing and physical distancing.
Walgreens and CVS to make boosters available today: Walgreens announced on Friday morning that its stores are now offering a third Pfizer shot to anyone eligible based on guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The company said in a statement that those who qualify can walk into any Walgreens location offering the shot, or schedule an appointment online. CVS announced its pharmacies will be ready to deliver additional doses “later today.” In a statement, the company said, “We are reviewing the CDC guidance and will be ready to provide the booster dose at CVS Pharmacy and select MinuteClinic locations that offer the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine later today. We strongly encourage customers to schedule an appointment in advance at to ensure they are able to access the correct vaccine at a convenient time and location.”
Two Northern California counties fall into CDC’s ‘low’ virus transmission tier: Modoc and Sierra counties are among the first to reach the “low” category for community transmission in the United States following the summer COVID-19 surge driven by the delta variant. Most Bay Area counties are now in the “substantial” transmission category of the agency’s four-level tier system — ranked from “high,” “substantial,” “moderate” and “low” — having fallen out of the worst category that grips a majority of the counties in the country. As of Friday, California is the only state not classified as having “high” virus transmission levels.
Costco reinstates purchase limits on toilet paper and water because of delta surge: The warehouse retailer confirmed it is once again limiting the amount of toilet paper and water customers can purchase in its stores due to supply chain issues tied to the current COVID-19 surge in the United States. “We’re putting some limitations on key items like bath issues, roll towels, Kirkland Signature water… related to the uptick in the delta-related demand,” Costco CFO Richard Galanti said in a call with analysts on Thursday. He added that mounting transportation costs and a shortage of truck drivers would likely cause price increases across its stores.
CDC director endorses vaccine recommendations, with the addition of high-risk workers: Dr. Rochelle Walensky signed off on a series of recommendations from a panel of advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention endorsing COVID-19 booster shots for millions of older or otherwise vulnerable Americans, the Associated Press reports. The advisers said boosters should be offered to people 65 and older, nursing home residents, and those ages 50 to 64 who have underlying health problems. The extra dose would be given once they are at least six months past their last Pfizer shot. Walensky decided to make one recommendation that the panel had rejected: endorsing boosters for those ages 18 to 64 years who are health care workers or have another job that puts them at increased risk of being exposed to the virus. She noted that such a move aligns with an FDA booster authorization decision earlier this week. The category also covers people who live in institutional settings that increase their risk of exposure, such as prisons or homeless shelters.
S.F. ready to roll out boosters, shots for children 5-11: The San Francisco health department said Friday that it is ready to offer COVID-19 vaccine booster doses, as well as shots to children between the ages of 5 to 11 years old, once approved by federal and state officials. “We will be prepared with a collaborative approach from the city’s robust network of nearly 100 vaccination sites — from doctor’s offices to clinics, pharmacies, and more,” the department said in a statement. There will be several high-volume vaccination sites available across the city, as well as four school-based locations. “We anticipate a capacity to administer 25,000 vaccine doses per week across these sites to collectively meet demand from eligible children, adults seeking first-time vaccination, and third-dose boosters for those who qualify.” The time frame for when the vaccine will be approved for children aged 5-11 is still uncertain.
Two hosts of “The View” test positive before Harris appearance: Moments before introducing Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday, two hosts of ABC’s “The View” were pulled from the show’s live broadcast after they learned they tested positive for COVID-19. Harris’s interview was moved off the set and to another room in the New York City studio. Hosts Sonny Hostin and Ana Navarro tested positive with breakthrough infections, the show’s other hosts confirmed. The White House said Harris did not interact with them before her appearance.
Biden advises those eligible for boosters to get them, others to wait: President Biden on Friday urged those now eligible for COVID-19 booster shots to get the added protection a day after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention endorsed the doses for millions of older or otherwise vulnerable Americans. He said he would get his shot as soon as he could. “It’s hard to acknowledge I’m over 65, but I’ll be getting my booster shot,” Biden said. “It’s a bear, isn’t it?” But Biden asked those who are not part of the eligible groups to wait their turn. “We’re also looking to the time when we’re going to be able to expand the booster shots basically across the board,” he said. “So I would just say it’d be better to wait your turn in line.”
Is the R.1 variant in the Bay Area? What to know about the highly mutated COVID strain: A new coronavirus strain is making headlines this week after being linked to an outbreak at a Kentucky nursing home, where the variant, known as R.1, infected both vaccinated and unvaccinated people. Read the story here.
Nurses say UC Davis Medical Center is overwhelmed: Registered nurses at UC Davis Medical Center held a virtual press conference on Wednesday to raise awareness around critical staffing and patient safety issues at the hospital intensified by the delta COVID surge. “Yesterday when we were three nurses short, no one wants to come in extra,” Jenny Managhebi, a registered nurse who works in cardiology, told KCRA. “Every department is sending out text messages and emails. Nurse managers are saying, ‘Call staffing. Come in help us. We’re short.’” A hospital spokesperson told the station UCDMC is meeting staffing standards set by the state and has increased hiring through the pandemic.
60% of S.F. restaurants saw a drop in business following vaccine mandate, survey shows: The Golden Gate Restaurant Association’s new survey results focus on impacts of the San Francisco’s recent vaccination mandate. The vaccine mandate is only one aspect of a dip in business, however: Many owners also attribute it to concerns about the delta variant and the typical late-summer slowdown. Read the story here.
Top California health official says state is mulling vaccine requirements for kids: Mark Ghaly, California’s Secretary for Health and Human Services, said on a press call Thursday that the state is considering requiring vaccine for school kids. “That conversation is part of what we’re considering as a state but no definitive active decision is being made at the moment.” Ghaly said California officials are watching how such requirements play out in some districts that have adopted them. Read the story here.
CDC panel recommends Pfizer boosters for seniors, nursing home residents: In what is one of the last major steps in the booster recommendation process, the vaccine advisory group of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention voted to recommend boosters for Pfizer recipients who are 65 and up and nursing home residents. It also voted to recommend boosters for people 50-64 with underlying health conditions, and (based on individual risk/benefit) people 18-49 who have underlying conditions. In contrast to the FDA, it voted against recommending boosters for people at high risk of infection because of their jobs — a group that would have included health care workers.
Aidin Vaziri is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: avaziri@sfchronicle.com