Press release from the Office of the San Francisco Mayor:
March 23, 2020
City procures one million masks from the state for front line workers, hires 82 qualified nurses who can start immediately to serve patients affected by COVID-19
San Francisco, CA — Mayor London N. Breed today announced that San Francisco hired 82 qualified nurses this weekend as part of the City’s efforts to rapidly expand capacity in the City’s health care network to respond to coronavirus. Additionally, the City is procuring one million N-95 personal protective masks from the state, which will immediately be put to use by front line workers.
The nurse hiring took place this weekend at two hiring fairs that were announced by Mayor Breed last week. Mayor Breed issued a Declaration waiving provisions of Civil Service Commission Rules and provisions of the Charter regarding hiring, allowing the City to hire employees that are necessary to respond to the COVID-19 local emergency. The City expects to hire another 140 nurses in the coming weeks for a total of roughly 220 new nurses.
San Francisco will procure one million masks from the California Office of Emergency Services to ensure that front line workers have the equipment they need to protect themselves from coronavirus while treating patients and responding to emergencies.
“The aggressive steps that we’ve taken to slow the spread of coronavirus in our community is only one part of what we know is needed to respond to this pandemic,” said Mayor Breed. “We’re also preparing to increase the capacity of our health care system by hiring more nurses, while ensuring that we have the equipment needed to keep them safe as they do their important work. Our focus right now is doing everything we can to slow the spread and ensure that our hospitals are as prepared as possible for the increased demand that we know is coming soon. I want to thank the Governor and the state for their support during this challenging time.”
DPH hosted invitation-only nurse hiring fairs this past weekend, and will continue hosting hiring fairs until all vacancies are filled. DPH Human Resources contacted candidates who had already applied and conducted background checks, including fingerprints and medical screenings. Newly hired nurses will be able to start work this week, pending clearances.
As part of the City’s response to coronavirus, the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is coordinating the supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) in San Francisco. The EOC is working closely with health systems throughout the City, the California Department of Public Health, and federal partners to obtain additional shipments of PPE while coordinating the allocation of PPE where it is needed throughout the health system.
This weekend, it was announced that Flexport, a San Francisco-based company, had delivered 60,000 surgical masks, 34,000 gloves, 2,000 surgical gowns, and 50 thermometers to the EOC. Facebook additionally announced a donation of PPE to Bay Area counties, including San Francisco.
The City and County of San Francisco has established a system for individuals to give monetarily through Give2SF.org to support the COVID-19 response. In addition to monetary donations, the City is requesting sealed PPE, cleaning supplies, and technology equipment for essential employees to telecommute.
To receive these requests, the City has set up the Donations Management Branch at the EOC, which is staffed by the City Administrator’s Office.
This press release was produced by the Office of the San Francisco Mayor. The views expressed here are the author’s own.
