Restaurants, cafes and bars in San Francisco that serve food can begin indoor dine-in service starting Wednesday at 8 a.m., Mayor London Breed and Dr. Grant Colfax announced Tuesday.
“Thanks to everyone in our city acting responsibly and doing their part, we can take one step closer to reopening and beginning our recovery,” Mayor Breed said in a statement. “This year has been incredibly difficult for our residents and small businesses, so every step forward is critical to ensuring they can survive this pandemic.”
On Tuesday, San Francisco moved to the less restrictive red level under California’s color-coded reopening guideline after assessing a drop in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations citywide. Mayor Breed and Dr. Colfax said cases have declined since the holiday wave peaked in January.
Now at the red level, restaurants in San Francisco can welcome customers back for indoor dining service at 25% capacity with some limitations. Indoor dining must end at 10 p.m. and there must be no more than four customers per table who must belong to the same household. San Francisco will also lift its nightly restriction on outdoor dining, which will now allow restaurants to continue serving after 10 p.m.
“We are grateful that the Mayor, Dr. Philip, Dr. Colfax and the Department of Public Health will allow San Francisco to follow state-level regulations, which will allow indoor restaurants to reopen tomorrow at 25% as well as some relaxation of outdoor dining regulations, in particular the removal of the city’s outdoor dining curfew,” read a statement from the Golden Gate Restaurant Association.
The GGRA added that it was pleased that restaurateurs had been notified in advance by the city of its intention to restore indoor dining approximately a week before March 3, as this allowed business owners to prepare and “be able to bring the staff back in a timely manner”. .”
During Tuesday’s press conference, Mayor Breed and Dr. Colfax said COVID-19 cases in San Francisco averaged 67 a day, about the same number of cases recorded around mid- November, just before the outbreak. They added that currently more than 20% of San Franciscans have received the first dose of the vaccine, including 65% of people over the age of 65.
“We know how to slow the spread and save lives,” Dr. Colfax said in a statement. “As we continue to gradually reopen, we must be aware of the risks and remain vigilant, particularly as vaccines remain limited and the growing presence of more contagious variants poses an increased risk of greater community spread. We encourage everyone to take the opportunity to get vaccinated when and where it is offered. Until it’s your turn, practice physical distancing, avoid indoor gatherings with people outside your household, and wear your mask over your nose and mouth.
The GGRA has urged restaurant owners and residents to continue to follow guidelines to prevent more restaurants from closing temporarily or permanently.
