First responders like police, firefighters, health workers, can't always maintain a social distance. That’s why the city of San Francisco is stepping up its efforts to get priority testing for those on the front lines. San Francisco mayor London Breed says first responders take care of us, so we need to take care of them.
“We are proud to announce that we are opening City Test SF,” said Breed, “which will serve as a drive thru testing site for our front line city workers,”
When first responders perform their everyday duties, like fighting a fire or providing medical care, it’s often very difficult to keep a safe social distance.
“It will be located at Piers 30 and 32,” said Breed, “and we will be able to ramp up to test hundreds of city workers each and every day.”
The city hopes the testing center will identify infected workers sooner, isolate and treat them, so they can get back to their families and their jobs.
Mayor Breed says police, firefighters, and health care workers will be given first priority, and as the system ramps up they'll offer tests to other essential workers on the front line of the coronavirus response.
“One of the most basic things that we can do is to ensure that they have access to testing," said Breed, “the initial focus will be on first responders and as we ramp up we will begin to expand it for some of our shelter works, and non-profit workers, and those other essential workers that are also on the front line.”
