Protecting the health of all San Diegans is our top priority. The City of San Diego is taking measures in consultation with, and at the direction of, County public health officials to help prevent the spread of the Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19.
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The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is emphasizing that while the current COVID-19 poses a potentially serious public health threat, the risk to individuals is dependent on exposure.
Most common symptoms include:
COVID-19 is most likely spread from droplets from coughing and sneezing, and symptoms may appear in as few as two days, or as long as 14 days, after exposure.
There is currently no specific treatment for COVID-19, however, most people with this infection will recover on their own. For patients who are more severely ill, hospitals can provide supportive care.
If you think you may have been exposed to COVID-19, contact your health care provider immediately.
All individuals living in the State of California are currently ordered to stay home or at their place of residence, except for permitted work, local shopping or other permitted errands, or as otherwise authorized. The Stay at Home orders are in effect until further notice.
Cloth face coverings or masks help reduce the spread of coronavirus, especially when combined with physical distancing and frequent hand washing. Starting June 18, Californians must wear face coverings in common and public indoor spaces and outdoors when distancing is not possible. Learn more about the guidance and limited exceptions.
The coronavirus pandemic has shut down or significantly altered most of the economy, testing the resiliency of all San Diegans. Necessary public health measures to prevent the spread of the virus have halted tourism, shuttered restaurants and bars, forced many to work from home, severely limited most businesses from interacting with their customers, and caused unemployment and uncertainty for tens of thousands in the San Diego region.
As a result of state restrictions on indoor activities, the City of San Diego created a temporary program to allow restaurants, retail shops, gyms and fitness centers, barbershops, hair and nail salons and places of worship to operate in outdoor settings adjacent to their businesses including on-street parking, sidewalks, private parking lots and in City parks.
Details on what's currently allowed can be found on the County's Safe Reopening page.
The San Diego RECOVER Advisory Group members came up with these recommended protocols and strategies to help prepare businesses for reopening, but they are not one-size-fits-all. The mechanics of reopening will look different for each business. Businesses are encouraged to assess how they can meet the intent of the guidelines in their own planning and to apply them to their operations as appropriate. Para más información en español:
San Diego Ready - Estrategias Para Reabrir la Economía de San Diego.
To ensure the resiliency of local businesses and assist in job retention, the City of San Diego has established a Small Business Relief Fund (SBRF) to provide grants and forgivable or low- to zero-interest-rate loans to eligible small businesses for working capital. Visit the Economic Development Department Business Relief and Support page.
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The following is a list of recent updates from the City of San Diego. For information regarding cases, information and directives from the County of San Diego, please visit www.coronavirus-sd.com.
Early on, the City of San Diego, County of San Diego, Regional Task Force on the Homeless and San Diego Housing Commission came together to establish a Homeless Operations Branch under the City's Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to coordinate the needs, resources and logistics of homeless service operations. This team makes key decisions to protect this at-risk population. Learn more about homeless services and resources during COVID-19.
Operation Shelter to Home launched on April 1 by moving individuals already in shelters into the San Diego Convention Center to allow for proper physical distancing and prevent the spread of COVID-19. Because the effects of the pandemic were creating staffing challenges at the City’s various shelters, the program centralized staff in one place to ensure personnel could be efficient even with limited numbers. On April 10, outreach staff began to bring in unsheltered individuals living on San Diego streets into the convention center to provide a safe and sanitary environment amid the pandemic. Learn more about the operation.
The State of California and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have enacted temporary bans on residential evictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
These temporary eviction bans apply to landlords and tenants in the City of San Diego.
The CDC’s federal temporary eviction ban is effective from September 4, 2020, through December 31, 2020.
The State’s temporary eviction ban, adopted in Assembly Bill (AB) 3088, prohibits evictions of most rental housing tenants until February 1, 2021, if a tenant experiences financial distress due to COVID-19.
As of June 16, the San Diego County Public Health Department has authorized the reopening of public, charter, and private school facilities, provided they comply with local and state guidelines. San Diego County Office of Education and districts throughout the county are working in consultation with local public health officials to prepare for reopening. Please contact your local district for details about their plan. For information on schools, visit the San Diego County Office of Education website.
MTS is restoring many services that were reduced in April, in order to increase the amount of space available for distancing on board. There will be no timetables printed for these revised services, but schedules will be posted on the MTS website.
For updates on COVID-19 impacts on MTS service, and MTS responses, please visit: sdmts.com/schedules-real-time/alerts-and-detours
If you are planning to travel, read the CDC’s Traveler’s Health Notices for the latest guidance and recommendations to protect yourself and others.
The federal governments of the United States and Mexico announced March 20, 2020, new limitations to the U.S.-Mexico border. Essential personnel and commerce such as food, fuel, healthcare and life-saving medicines will be unimpeded during this time and all non-essential travel will be suspended. Non-essential travel includes travel that is considered tourism or recreational in nature. View a list of essential workforce.
As of Sunday, April 5, 2020, changes to hours of operation for ports of entry that process passenger traffic will be in effect. CBP will scale staffing based on anticipated workloads in an effort to expeditiously process essential travelers not impacted by the restriction and utilize workforce tactfully. In addition to the changes to hours of operation, CBP may limit the number of open vehicle or pedestrian primary lanes to maintain operational control of travelers seeking entry to the United States.
San Ysidro port of entry:
Otay Mesa port of entry:
The City of San Diego has received generous contributions from local businesses and residents to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Additional resources are still greatly needed. Please review the list of current needs or fill out the form for other types of items you are able to give.
Many San Diegans are in need during this time. Please see a list of organizations below seeking volunteers. You can also visit 211sandiego.org for more opportunities.
211 San Diego
Phone: 211 211 San Diego Website
Jacobs and Cushman San Diego Food Bank
Phone: 866-350-FOOD Jacobs and Cushman San Diego Food Bank Website
San Diego Blood Bank
Serving Seniors
Red Cross of San Diego and Imperial Counties
Phone: 1-800-RED-CROSS Red Cross of San Diego and Imperial Counties Website
Feeding San Diego
Meals on Wheels San Diego County
Phone: 619-260-6110 Meals on Wheels San Diego County Website
Stay informed on COVID-19 by visiting the Center for Disease Control website, and the County of San Diego Health and Human Services website.