Coronavirus Information

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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About Coronavirus (COVID-19)

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:

• Fever
• Cough or shortness of breath
• Headache

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.

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San Diego at Home

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. 

• San Diego County Public Health Order

• State Guidance for Stay at Home

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Face Coverings Required in Public Spaces

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. 

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Business Reopening and Relief

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. 

Temporary Outdoor Business Operation Permit

EFFECTIVE JULY 14, 2020 - Streateries & Streetail

As a result of required social distancing regulations and state restrictions on indoor activities, the City of San Diego created a temporary program to allow retail establishments and eating and drinking establishments to operate in outdoor settings adjacent to their businesses including on-street parking, sidewalks and private parking lots. 

Proposals for outdoor dining can be submitted on the Development Services Department Temporary Outdoor Business Operation Permit Page. Here applicants can receive technical assistance and more information. 

EFFECTIVE JULY 20, 2020 – Outdoor Businesses Expanded

On Monday, July 20, Mayor Faulconer issued an executive order allowing gyms and fitness centers, barbershops, hair and nail salons as well as places of worship to operate outdoors in private parking lots. This action will be followed by an ordinance further expanding outdoor options for those businesses to include sidewalks and on-street parking, pending a City Council vote in the coming weeks. 

EFFECTIVE AUGUST 24, 2020 – Workout and Worship in City Parks

On Tuesday, August 18, Mayor Faulconer issued an executive order allowing City Parks and Recreation staff to begin permitting gyms and religious institutions to operate in city parks where physical distancing is made easier. The mayor’s order eases permitting for fitness studios and houses of worship that wish to safely operate outside in one of the City of San Diego’s nearly 340 parks. The directive, which goes into effect Monday, August 24, defers park permit fees for 60 days. Mayor Faulconer will bring an ordinance to City Council that would make the waiving of fees permanent. Those interested can learn more about eligibility and apply for a permit on the Parks and Recreation Department Park Permitting for Gyms and Religious Institutions page. 

Safe Reopening 

The State of California is closing indoor activities in certain sectors throughout San Diego County. New restrictions go into effect on July 15. Details on what's currently allowed can be found on the County's Safe Reopening page. 

See what's open

San Diego Ready - Strategies to Reopen San Diego's Economy

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.

Small Business Relief Fund (SBRF)

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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Status of City Services & Facilities

View Status of City Services & Facilities

• City of San Diego Operations
  • All City of San Diego public buildings are closed to the general public. 
  • City departments will execute their continuity of operations plans and continue to provide essential services including police, fire-rescue, water, wastewater and trash pick-ups. 
• Parking Enforcement
  Applicable to City of San Diego only. Parking rules on Port of San Diego property and in different cities may vary, so please read signage provided.
  • Effective Oct. 15, 2020, the City of San Diego has resumed enforcement of all parking regulations including metered parking and street sweeping routes.
• Boards and Commissions: All City Board and Commission meetings are virtual and can be watched live during their scheduled meeting time or archived on the City of San Diego's Youtube Public Meetings Channel.  To provide public comment prior to an upcoming meeting, and in lieu of in-person meeting attendance, members of the public may submit their comments using the response webform by indicating the board or commission meeting and the agenda item number they wish to comment on.   
• Community Planning Groups: Please see memo from Planning Department Director regarding Community Planning Group meetings.
• Office of the City Clerk: Please see the update regarding City Council meetings.

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City Updates

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.

• Mayoral Executive Order COVID-19 10/22/20
• Mayoral Executive Order COVID-19 8/18/20
• Mayoral Executive Order COVID-19 7/20/20
• Mayoral Executive Order COVID-19 7/7/20
• Mayoral Executive Order COVID-19 6/30/20
• Executive Order Informational Bulletin 6/22/20
• Mayoral Executive Order COVID-19 6/5/20
• Mayoral Executive Order COVID-19 5/29/20
• Mayoral Executive Order COVID-19 5/21/20
• Mayoral Executive Order COVID-19 4/30/20
• Mayoral Executive Order COVID-19 3/30/20
• Mayoral Executive Order COVID-19 3/16/20
• Proclamation of Local Emergency 3/12/20
• Memo re: COVID-19 Preparations 3/10/20

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Homeless Services

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 in the San Diego Convention Center

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.

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Residential and Commercial Eviction Moratorium

To prevent homelessness, maintain public health, and bring housing and business stability during the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of San Diego has enacted an eviction moratorium that provides relief to residential and commercial tenants facing hardship related to COVID-19. The emergency law temporarily halts evictions in the City of San Diego from March 25 - May 31, 2020. Tenants must demonstrate a substantial decrease in income or medical expenses caused by COVID-19 in order to qualify. It will not relieve a tenant of their requirement to pay rent or restrict a landlord from recovering rent at a future time.

• Help for San Diego Housing Commission Residents and Rental Assistance Participants:

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Public Schools

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.

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Public Transit

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 the latest rider information, please visit the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System web page.

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Travel

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.

U.S. – Mexico Border

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:

• San Ysidro will remain open 24 hours a day, seven days a week for pedestrian and vehicle processing northbound and southbound.
• All pedestrian processing, both northbound and southbound, will now take place at the Pedestrian east facility (the original pedestrian crossing area at San Ysidro.)
• At this time, processing will be suspended at the newer Pedestrian West facility.

Otay Mesa port of entry:

• Otay Mesa will remain open 24 hours a day, seven days a week for pedestrian and vehicle processing northbound and southbound. There are no changes at this time to cargo/commercial ports of entry.

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Donate

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. 

Donate

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Volunteer

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.

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Additional Resources

• Join the California Health Corps - California is preparing for an increase in the number of people who urgently need health care in our communities during the COVID-19 outbreak. To ensure adequate staff for health care sites throughout California, the state is calling on healthcare providers, behavioral health professionals, and health care administrators to register today.
• Mental Health Resources - The outbreak of infectious diseases such as the recent Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) can be a stressful time for individuals and communities. It is not uncommon to feel anxious or worried while listening, reading or watching the news. While it’s necessary to keep up-to-date and make changes to daily life in order to help control the spread of COVID-19, the constant news cycle coupled with social distancing measures can have a real impact on mental health. Find resources to manage your mental health at coronavirus-sd.com
• AgeWell Social Calls - For many older adults, a compassionate voice in their lives can make a powerful difference especially during these unprecedented times. The City of San Diego Parks & Recreation AgeWell Services staff will call you, FREE, Monday - Friday, between 8 a.m. - 11 a.m. just to check in and say "Hello".