This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateHouse Speaker Nancy Pelosi called Saturday for one of San Francisco’s biggest landlords, to return a $3.6 million Paycheck Protection Program loan that was intended to help small businesses cover expenses and retain workers during the coronavirus pandemic.“PPP loans should be directed first and foremost to the small businesses with the greatest need, particularly minority, women and veteran-owned businesses that are struggling,” Pelosi said in a statement. “Larger companies like Veritas, one of San Francisco’s largest corporate...…This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateHouse Speaker Nancy Pelosi called Saturday for one of San Francisco’s biggest landlords, to return a $3.6 million Paycheck Protection Program loan that was intended to help small businesses cover expenses and retain workers during the coronavirus pandemic.“PPP loans should be directed first and foremost to the small businesses with the greatest need, particularly minority, women and veteran-owned businesses that are struggling,” Pelosi said in a statement. “Larger companies like Veritas, one of San Francisco’s largest corporate...WW…

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateThe Chronicle’s Live Updates page documents the latest events in the coronavirus outbreak in the Bay Area, the state of California and across the U.S. with a focus on health and economic impacts.Resources on COVID-19 and California’s reopening: Use our interactive page to For detailed maps and new city-by-city Bay Area data, check out Find Bay Area COVID-19 testing sites that don’t require doctor referrals in our Use our to learn who is eligible for the coronavirus vaccine and how many doses have been given. To get regular updates...…This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateThe Chronicle’s Live Updates page documents the latest events in the coronavirus outbreak in the Bay Area, the state of California and across the U.S. with a focus on health and economic impacts.Resources on COVID-19 and California’s reopening: Use our interactive page to For detailed maps and new city-by-city Bay Area data, check out Find Bay Area COVID-19 testing sites that don’t require doctor referrals in our Use our to learn who is eligible for the coronavirus vaccine and how many doses have been given. To get regular updates...WW…

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateCalifornia will retire its color-coded pandemic blueprint on June 15 and allow almost all sectors of the economy to reopen at or near full capacity, assuming the state continues to meet aggressive vaccination goals and hospitalizations for COVID-19 remain low.The move, announced by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday, signals a dramatic shift in the state’s restrictive pandemic response, as California anticipates wide swaths of the population to be fully vaccinated by summer.Since August, the state has tried to contain the pandemic —...…This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateCalifornia will retire its color-coded pandemic blueprint on June 15 and allow almost all sectors of the economy to reopen at or near full capacity, assuming the state continues to meet aggressive vaccination goals and hospitalizations for COVID-19 remain low.The move, announced by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday, signals a dramatic shift in the state’s restrictive pandemic response, as California anticipates wide swaths of the population to be fully vaccinated by summer.Since August, the state has tried to contain the pandemic —...WW…

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateFor the 20th straight day, there were virtually no vacant available across much of California as hospitals scrambled to treat wave after wave of new COVID-19 patients.“This surge has been relentless,” said Dr. Ahmad Kamal, Santa Clara County’s COVID-19 director, during a Wednesday press briefing. “It is straining our health care system to a breaking point.”Intensive care bed availability in the Bay Area rose fractionally on Wednesday to 7.4%, but the overall picture across the state looked grim. Capacity remained at 0% in Southern...…This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateFor the 20th straight day, there were virtually no vacant available across much of California as hospitals scrambled to treat wave after wave of new COVID-19 patients.“This surge has been relentless,” said Dr. Ahmad Kamal, Santa Clara County’s COVID-19 director, during a Wednesday press briefing. “It is straining our health care system to a breaking point.”Intensive care bed availability in the Bay Area rose fractionally on Wednesday to 7.4%, but the overall picture across the state looked grim. Capacity remained at 0% in Southern...WW…

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateThe Chronicle’s Fire Updates page documents the latest events in wildfires and power shut-offs across the Bay Area and the state of California.including these huge lightning-sparked blazes in Northern California:The San Francisco Chronicle’s ongoing coverage is available to subscribers. for full access and to support our work.Latest updates from today:10:33 a.m. No drought let up for Northern California: Northern California experienced through the summer and into October, the National Weather Service said Thursday. The drought...…This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateThe Chronicle’s Fire Updates page documents the latest events in wildfires and power shut-offs across the Bay Area and the state of California.including these huge lightning-sparked blazes in Northern California:The San Francisco Chronicle’s ongoing coverage is available to subscribers. for full access and to support our work.Latest updates from today:10:33 a.m. No drought let up for Northern California: Northern California experienced through the summer and into October, the National Weather Service said Thursday. The drought...WW…

Josh McManus has not left his home since March. Apart from a handful of walks on an isolated trail in the hills near his Richmond home — and one emergency visit to the dentist — the 39-year-old project manager and his wife have strictly adhered to the message issued by public health experts at the outset of the : Stay home. Save lives.“We have had moments of reaching the breaking point,” McManus says. “But then we get better.”They are not the only ones. While many Bay Area residents clamor to as counties ease restrictions on restaurants, bars and , many others are choosing to wait it...…Josh McManus has not left his home since March. Apart from a handful of walks on an isolated trail in the hills near his Richmond home — and one emergency visit to the dentist — the 39-year-old project manager and his wife have strictly adhered to the message issued by public health experts at the outset of the : Stay home. Save lives.“We have had moments of reaching the breaking point,” McManus says. “But then we get better.”They are not the only ones. While many Bay Area residents clamor to as counties ease restrictions on restaurants, bars and , many others are choosing to wait it...WW…

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateWildfire smoke cast hazy red skies over the Bay Area on Wednesday, creating a seriously unhealthy atmosphere and adding to the region’s pandemic-heightened anxiety. Ash fell over many counties. Kids locked out of school remained shuttered indoors. Families homes.Atmospheric testing revealed Northern California’s to be the worst in the world.Smoke from multiple fires polluted the air, sparking a renewed concern for residents with respiratory issues, including those suffering from COVID-19.“Somebody who already has a cough or is...…This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateWildfire smoke cast hazy red skies over the Bay Area on Wednesday, creating a seriously unhealthy atmosphere and adding to the region’s pandemic-heightened anxiety. Ash fell over many counties. Kids locked out of school remained shuttered indoors. Families homes.Atmospheric testing revealed Northern California’s to be the worst in the world.Smoke from multiple fires polluted the air, sparking a renewed concern for residents with respiratory issues, including those suffering from COVID-19.“Somebody who already has a cough or is...WW…

Face shields are fast becoming the hot summer pandemic accessory, spotted more frequently on joggers and workers in restaurants and salons. But are they as effective as in protecting against the coronavirus?Short answer: No.Made of a curved plastic panel that is attached to a headband worn over the face, there is plenty to like about these lightweight accessories. Clear are generally more comfortable to wear than masks that cover your mouth and nose, especially on hot days. They are reusable and easy to clean.If you wear glasses, they will not cause them to fog up. If you are , they make it...…Face shields are fast becoming the hot summer pandemic accessory, spotted more frequently on joggers and workers in restaurants and salons. But are they as effective as in protecting against the coronavirus?Short answer: No.Made of a curved plastic panel that is attached to a headband worn over the face, there is plenty to like about these lightweight accessories. Clear are generally more comfortable to wear than masks that cover your mouth and nose, especially on hot days. They are reusable and easy to clean.If you wear glasses, they will not cause them to fog up. If you are , they make it...WW…

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateIs the risk of coronavirus transmission lower outside?Health experts have said yes, but as the virus continues to tear across the Bay Area, officials are asking residents to cut back on .Weekend parties at popular outdoor spots like in Oakland and Dolores Park in San Francisco, in particular, are being blamed for a spike of new COVID-19 cases. And California’s wavering reopening guidelines are likely leading to the confusion among stir-crazy residents.The science remains the same: The virus doesn’t spread as easily outdoors as it...…This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateIs the risk of coronavirus transmission lower outside?Health experts have said yes, but as the virus continues to tear across the Bay Area, officials are asking residents to cut back on .Weekend parties at popular outdoor spots like in Oakland and Dolores Park in San Francisco, in particular, are being blamed for a spike of new COVID-19 cases. And California’s wavering reopening guidelines are likely leading to the confusion among stir-crazy residents.The science remains the same: The virus doesn’t spread as easily outdoors as it...WW…

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateCalifornia is preparing to retire its color-coded tiered reopening plan as vaccination rates improve and coronavirus cases continue to drop, state officials said Friday, as several Bay Area counties prepared to move into a less restrictive tier next week.Details about a so-called green tier — which would presumably allow almost all activities to resume in counties with very low threat from the virus — will be “coming soon” as part of the state’s transition toward shutting down the tiered system entirely, said Dee Dee Myers, the...…This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateCalifornia is preparing to retire its color-coded tiered reopening plan as vaccination rates improve and coronavirus cases continue to drop, state officials said Friday, as several Bay Area counties prepared to move into a less restrictive tier next week.Details about a so-called green tier — which would presumably allow almost all activities to resume in counties with very low threat from the virus — will be “coming soon” as part of the state’s transition toward shutting down the tiered system entirely, said Dee Dee Myers, the...WW…