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Supervisors press DPH for faster funding and testing as Latinx residents account for nearly half of COVID‑19 cases
Summary
At a public hearing Oct. 22, DPH officials presented a Latino‑focused COVID‑19 response and said an estimated 36% of FY20‑21 DPH COVID spending is directed to Latinx individuals; supervisors and community groups pressed for a line‑by‑line accounting of a $28.5 million initiative and faster disbursement to community hubs and testing sites.
San Francisco’s Department of Public Health told supervisors on Oct. 22 that the city’s COVID‑19 response has prioritized the Latino community but acknowledged community leaders’ frustration about the pace of funding and deployment of testing and services.
DPH presenter Lisa LaFord summarized outreach and data showing persistent disparities: "49.6 percent of COVID‑19 cases in San Francisco are among Latinx," she said. DPH Deputy Director Dr. Navina Baba and COO Greg Wagner described a strategy to increase low‑barrier testing, multilingual case investigation and contact tracing, isolation supports and partnerships with community‑based organizations (CBOs). DPH officials said they estimated about 36% of the department’s FY20‑21 COVID spending is directed to Latinx individuals based on line‑item allocations and service utilization estimates.
Supervisors and community speakers repeatedly urged faster delivery of funds. Supervisor Ronan and others said local hubs and the Latino Task Force have been running operations for months and need financial support immediately. DPH acknowledged some funds — including a $3 million allocation earmarked for essential service hubs — are being routed through the Office of Economic and Workforce Development and that contracting and administrative steps remain to be completed before monies can be released.
The hearing covered testing strategy adjustments: DPH said the city will move a fixed testing site from SoMA to Alemany in November, expand pop‑up mobile testing, and prioritize neighborhoods with elevated positivity rates in the Southeast quadrant. Officials said 45% of hotel isolation‑quarantine occupants are Latino and reported that DPH interviews about 90% of identified Latinx cases in its case investigation process.
Community commenters — including leaders from the Latino Task Force, Excelsior Strong and other neighborhood groups — urged DPH to partner with CBOs, follow the data to site test locations and provide immediate stipends and funding for volunteers running hubs. Supervisors pressed for a line‑by‑line accounting of the mayor’s announced $28.5 million to the Latinx response and asked that DPH and OEWD accelerate contract awards.
Supervisor Walton moved to continue the matter to the call of the chair for follow‑up on fund release and implementation; the committee voted to continue the item (3 ayes).
