Today, Dr. Colfax gave an update on our progress in beating back the alarming surge of COVID-19 cases that we've faced since Thanksgiving.
Here are some of the main takeaways.
Here are some of the main takeaways.

By staying home, we've reduced the reproductive rate of the virus from 1.45 on December 5th to 1.13 as of December 26th.
According to the modeling, this means that we will have saved an estimated 430 lives compared to if we had not lowered the reproductive rate.
According to the modeling, this means that we will have saved an estimated 430 lives compared to if we had not lowered the reproductive rate.
But a reproductive rate of 1.13 is still too high. There is more virus circulating right now than ever before and we need to get that number under 1. We've done this twice before, we must do it again.
To everyone who has stayed home and avoided gatherings this holiday season, thank you. You are saving lives and keeping your fellow San Franciscans safe.
It's critical that we do the same for New Year's Eve. We can't lose our progress by having another surge.
It's critical that we do the same for New Year's Eve. We can't lose our progress by having another surge.
We won’t have good insight into the impact of the Christmas holiday until January 2nd.
We won't know the effects of gatherings for New Year's until January 8th.
With the new vaccines, there is an end in sight. Let's get there safely together.
We won't know the effects of gatherings for New Year's until January 8th.
With the new vaccines, there is an end in sight. Let's get there safely together.