Breed mulls further mandates
Mayor London Breed said Wednesday that San Francisco is exploring how it can “go further with its vaccine mandate” and also considering an indoor mask mandate for everyone, regardless of vaccination status.
Breed mentioned the possibility of an indoor mask mandate at a news conference Wednesday, shortly before she spoke to a large, unmasked — but fully vaccinated — crowd at Manny’s on Valencia Street.
“I just want to be honest and I know people are tired of hearing this, but the delta variant is real,” Breed said in front of the tightly packed audience, which was asked for vaccine cards before walking into the event. “We’re looking at vaccine mandates and mask mandates, and we’re looking at how those could work, depending on the situation.”
Breed’s announcement comes as the city experiences a surge in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations, largely among the unvaccinated. It also comes as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended Tuesday that even vaccinated people return to wearing masks indoors in areas where cases are rising.
The mayor said she is talking to the City Attorney’s Office about the possible indoor mask mandate, and also coordinating with Bay Area health officers. She said she’s hoping to have more clarity by the end of the week, or early next week.
When it comes to vaccines, the mayor said she is talking to the City Attorney’s Office about “all possibilities.” Such a mandate for places like bars, restaurants and retailers would likely bring up a host of logistical challenges for the city, like how it would enforce the rule and also support businesses that may not have the extra personnel that it would require to screen customers.
Meanwhile, the city currently requires all municipal employees, as well as new hires, to be vaccinated. Some businesses, like Manny's, are taking it upon themselves to require vaccines for entry. The San Francisco Bar Alliance — which represents 500 bars in the city — also recently recommended that its members require customers to show their vaccine cards before going inside.
“There’s a simple solution … get vaccinated,” Breed said. “What happens to one affects all of us and our economy, and our livelihood, and our health will suffer as a result of those who are choosing not to be vaccinated.”