San Francisco Will Pay For Some Coronavirus Sick Leave

: San Francisco Mayor London Breed speaks during a news conference at the future site of a Transitional Age Youth Navigation Center on January 15, 2020.
Photo credit Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Private sector workers in San Francisco will be eligible to receive additional paid sick leave for coronavirus-related absences, Mayor London Breed announced Monday. 

The $10 million program is designed to cover up to five days of pay for workers who have already exhausted their companies' sick leave policies, the mayor's office said. 

Today we're announcing Workers and Families First, a $10 million program for businesses to provide additional paid sick leave to workers beyond their existing policies.People should follow public health guidelines without having to worry about missing a paycheck.

— London Breed (@LondonBreed) March 16, 2020

“Public health comes first in this crisis, but we know that many people have less flexibility to stay home and keep paying their rent if they do get sick," Breed said about the latest measure to soften the economic blow from the global pandemic. 

Under the program, the city would pay a portion of the worker's wage. The city would cover the minimum wage of $15.59 per hour for 40 hours for workers impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. Any employee out of work for a week would receive up to $623 from the city. 

Employers would pay the difference between the minimum rate and what workers actually earn per hour. 

The Workers and Families First Program would cover people in a variety of circumsatances, including those who have confirmed cases of COVID-19, are under quarantine or self-isolation or must care for a sick family member.