San Francisco Issues New Policy
on Face Coverings

Mayor London N. Breed and Director of Health Dr. Grant Colfax today announced that everyone in San Francisco will be required to wear face coverings when they are outside of their homes for essential needs, including waiting in line for or inside of a grocery store or on public transportation. Additionally, transportation workers and other employees who interact with the public must also cover their face while doing essential work.

The Order is effective at 11:59 p.m. on April 17, 2020, but it will not be enforced until 8:00 a.m. on April 22, 2020.

Summary of the new requirements

For the public, face coverings will be required:

  • While inside or waiting in line to enter an essential businesses,
    like a grocery store or pharmacy.

  • When seeking health care.

  • When waiting for or riding transit.

  • When entering facilities allowed to operate under the Stay Home Order (such as government buildings.)

 Businesses must: 

  •  Inform customers about the need to wear a face covering, 
    including posting signs;

  • Take reasonable steps to keep people who are not wearing a face covering from entering their business, and

  • Refuse service to anyone not wearing a face covering.

For essential workers and transportation workers:

  • All workers and volunteers at essential businesses, operating public transportation, or operating other types of shared transportation must wear a face covering when at work in most settings, when interacting with the public or co-workers.

  • Workers doing minimum basic operations, like security or payroll, essential infrastructure work, or government functions must wear a face covering when others are nearby or when they are in areas that the public regularly visits.

Face coverings are not required to be worn when by people who are:

  • At home.

  • In their cars alone or with members of their household.

    Outdoors, walking, hiking, bicycling, or running. However, people are recommended to have a face covering with them and readily accessible when exercising, even if they’re not wearing it at that moment.

  • Children 12 years old or younger. Children age 2 and under must not wear a face covering due to the risk of suffocation. Children age 3 to 12 are not required to wear a face covering, but if they do, they should be supervised by an adult.

COVID-19 Impact Survey for Japantown Small Businesses 
& Non Profit Organizations 
Please do not forget to take part in the survey so that we can assess the business conditions in Japantown since thee shelter in place order took into effect. Deadline to submit your response is TODAY, Wednesday, April 16, 5:00pm.
Survey is available in English / 日本語 / 한국어
 

Please notethe changes in operating hours for the Japan Center Garage. Please share this information with your staff and customers.