COVID-19

In April 2020, Jail Health Services (JHS), a section of the Department of Public Health, began providing COVID-19 testing to new arrestees at jail intake. Results are returned in about six hours. People who test positive for COVID are isolated until they are released or recover.

JHS also tests people who remain in custody on Day 5 and Day 14, in addition to monthly housing pod surveillance testing.

Individuals who test positive are isolated; all others remain in quarantine for the first 14 days of custody or until they are released from jail -- whichever comes first.

These protocols, along with other masking, hygiene and physical distancing protocols, help intercept and contain any potential spread.

COVID-19 outreach toolkit

Dept. of Public Health coronavirus prevention

Flyers, posters, fact sheets, and social media graphics in English, 中文, Filipino, and Español.

COVID-19 Outreach Toolkit

Emergency actions & helpful links

The San Francisco Sheriff’s Office is on the front lines of the coronavirus public health emergency, working to prevent exposure and the spread of COVID-19 while protecting public safety. 

The Sheriff’s Office is operating under a COVID-19 response and action plan with addenda as required. Emergency actions have included:

  • Implementing aggressive enhanced screening at booking through our Jail Health Services, a section of the Department of Public Health, to rapidly identify and isolate any persons with symptoms or exposure related to COVID-19. 
  • Suspending county jail visits and programs on March 13, 2020, to protect incarcerated persons.
  • Temporarily postponing residential evictions until further notice while significant state and local safety restrictions are in place. Writs will be scheduled if the Court makes an explicit finding that health and safety concerns mandate immediate enforcement. 
  • Closing the Women’s Resource Center and suspending classes at the SFSO Community Programs building.
  • Continuing to support justice-involved people on alternatives to incarceration through individual client services at our Community Programs Building at 70 Oak Grove.
  • Working with the courts and our community partners to identify and secure housing and services for early releases who do not have a location to shelter in place. 
  • Expanding the Sheriff’s law enforcement protections to include Moscone Center where the City is staging its Emergency Operations Center, and to COVID-19 testing sites.
  • Providing patrol wagons for citywide district transfers.
  • Deploying more deputies to expanded perimeter patrols.

Please check this page for the latest Sheriff's Office communications regarding COVID-19.