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DPH reports improving COVID trends, lays out FY22 COVID transition budget
Summary
Director Colfax reported falling hospitalizations and high vaccination coverage; DPH presented a budget plan to transition COVID response staffing into summer and fiscal‑year operations while budgeting continued community outreach and vaccination efforts.
San Francisco Department of Public Health Director Colfax told the Health Commission on May 4 that, after 15 months of pandemic response, the city was in a "much better place" while urging continued caution.
"After 15 months of this pandemic, we are in a much better place," Colfax said in an update that summarized local epidemiology and vaccination progress. DPH reported cumulative cases of roughly 36,000, hospitalizations at pandemic lows (the department reported as few as 14 hospitalized the prior day), and 537 deaths attributed to COVID‑19 in San Francisco to date.
Colfax said the city had achieved high adult vaccination coverage: about 72% of San Franciscans age 16 and older had received at least one dose, and about 49% had completed a vaccine series. The department also reported a rolling average of roughly 6,800 vaccine administrations per day and said it had resumed Johnson & Johnson vaccinations.
On masking and state guidance, Colfax said DPH had adopted the new CDC masking guidance and explained the implications for outdoor gatherings and certain indoor settings, noting exceptions for large crowded events.
DPH Finance Director Jenny Louie and Dr. Albert Yu presented the department's proposed FY21–23 COVID transition budgeting. The department proposed a baseline COVID response package of about $100 million in gross costs, offset by roughly $35 million in FEMA and state grant revenue, yielding an estimated $63 million in general‑fund support for the coming year. Louie said the budget assumes phased reductions in emergency staff (Disaster Service Workers and temporary hires) and a shift toward targeted community vaccination and outreach to the remaining unvaccinated populations.
DPH also proposed to include the security staffing changes (presented earlier during the meeting) in budget submissions; staff estimated a net ongoing budget impact of about $1.8 million to convert select sheriff work orders to BERT and other DPH positions. Louie said the department expects up to $43 million in additional one‑time revenues from settlement and cost‑report activity but cautioned that details remain subject to state timing and the mayor's office review.
The commission voted to approve the budget items presented at the meeting, with unanimous roll‑call assent. Commissioners praised the plan's planning work and asked staff to return with details on hiring timelines, evaluation metrics, and contingency plans should variants or surges change the epidemiologic assumptions.
The Health Commission deferred several agenda items to a future meeting and adjourned after the vote.
