COVID-19 live updates: SJPD hit hard with infections

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- A surge in coronavirus cases has been reported in the Bay Area and across California as well as the country due in part to the emergence of the highly-contagious omicron variant.

The latest number of confirmed cases in the U.S. can be found at the CDC's 2019 Novel Coronavirus in the U.S. page. (The CDC updates the webpage on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.)

Join anchor Kristen Sze for ABC7's daily, interactive newscast about the coronavirus outbreak in the Bay Area and around the world. You can check here to stream the show Monday-Friday at 3 p.m.

• MAPS: Check out the latest maps of COVID-19 cases, deaths in the US, world


• CORONAVIRUS IN CA: Get resources and information about COVID-19


• LATEST LOCAL CASES: Updated number of COVID-19 cases, deaths in San Francisco Bay Area


• CORONAVIRUS TIMELINE: Tracking major moments of COVID-19 pandemic in San Francisco Bay Area

Jan. 20, 2022

11:35a.m.
SF mayor, health officials give COVID-19 update on cases, hospitalizations due to omicron variant

San Francisco Mayor London Breed and SF Director of Public Health, Dr. Grant Colfax, spoke on Thursday about COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.

Mayor Breed started the news conference with some optimistic news: "Well, the good news is things are starting to plateau."
She said the city is still seeing additional cases and hospitalizations are still high, but "we have the capacity to handle what is coming our way."

San Francisco public health director Dr. Grant Colfax says San Francisco has seen COVID-19 cases drop "relatively rapidly in the city."
"We can now confidently say that we are on the beginning of a downward trajectory with regards to this search. Our latest data show that our cases peaked on January 9, with a seven day average of 2,164 cases per day and have steadily dropped each day since then to 1,705 cases per day on January 12."

"This is good news," he said.

Despite 82% of people in San Francisco being fully vaccinated, Mayor Breed sends a reminder that essential workers have been impacted by omicron. "A lot of our police officers, our firefighters, our Muni drivers, our Department of Public Health Workers and those at San Francisco General are out with omicron."

"The surge is not over yet," Dr. Colfax said. "Hospitalizations which trail the peak in cases will still continue to go up. Fortunately, for now, we expect to meet capacity within the healthcare system to take care of people both with COVID and with other health care needs in our hospitals. We are urging people to remain particularly vigilant for a little bit longer cases are still very high."

Full story here.

7:50 a.m.
SJPD hit hard with infections
San Jose's Police Department is being hit hard with COVID infections. The department is filling nearly 50 absences using voluntary overtime shifts.

Jan. 19, 2022

6:15 a.m.
Data shows fewer COVID cases in Bay Area
UC Berkeley researchers are seeing a decrease in COVID cases based on wastewater samples. Data from 2.5 million people shows fewer cases in San Francisco, Marin County, and the eastern portions of Contra Costa County.

Jan. 18, 2022

7:30 a.m.
Stanford to resume some in-person learning today
Stanford will resume some in-person learning today. All undergrad classes that can't be conducted online, like labs and art practice, will go back in-person and so will all graduate courses, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. The rest of the other undergrad classes, like lectures, are scheduled to resume in-person on Monday.

Jan. 17, 2022

5 a.m.
US still waiting for omicron peak as cases skyrocket
The U.S. is still waiting for the omicron peak. COVID cases across the country are still skyrocketing, and hospitals are being pushed to the brink.

The CDC says the country is averaging more than 780,000 new cases a day.

As omicron continues to spread, more hospital staff are getting infected. Others are getting burnt out and leaving.

U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy says a national peak of omicron likely won't happen for weeks.

Noon
Santa Clara County health officials discuss priority COVID testing
In a Friday news conference, Dr. Sara Cody says the county is showing decrease in the amount of omicron detected and but is currently seeing a rise in hospitalizations.

"So we know that in our community as in many places across the country, our current demand exceeds the supply of tests that we have," Dr. Cody said.

She addresses when you should you use an antigen test.

"Those are the ones that you can buy over the counter. Those tests are best used to quote test out early from isolation. So if you already know you have COVID and you're just wondering when am I no longer infectious? When am I no longer a risk to others? An antigen test is the best test to use there."

Dr. Cody says using an antigen test applies to people who already had COVID in the last 90 days who need to test again.

So when should you use a PCR? Dr. Cody says the PCR is still the optimal test. "If you have been exposed to somebody and you're wondering whether you're going to develop the infection however, an antigen test can also be used for that as well."

6 a.m.
Tentative agreement reached between SFUSD, union employees over safety
In San Francisco, a tentative agreement has been struck between the school district and several of its employee unions over COVID safety conditions. Last week, hundreds of San Francisco teachers called for a sickout to demand more on-the-job protections. The deal calls for the distribution of "high-quality face masks" such as N95s and KN95s to students and staff -- 73,000 are in the process of being distributed. The district will provide an additional 10 days of COVID sick leave for employees and weekly coronavirus testing will continue to be offered to students and staff.