We strive to provide the best care possible during the COVID-19 pandemic. We take the needed precautions to keep you and our care providers safe.
We want you to stay healthy and well. Stay up-to-date with the latest information about the Coronavirus.
Possible COVID-19 Symptoms
COVID-19 affects different people in different ways. Infected people have had a wide range of symptoms reported – from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:
Fever or chills
Cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Fatigue
Muscle or body aches
Headache
New loss of taste or smell
Sore throat
Congestion or runny nose
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea
Emergency warning signs
Look for emergency warning signs for COVID-19. If you or someone is showing any of these signs, seek emergency medical care immediately:
Trouble breathing
Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
New confusion
Inability to wake or stay awake
Bluish lips or face
COVID-19 Testing
If you are experiencing symptoms, get tested right away. If you have a known exposure, you must wait 3 to 4 days for the virus to be detected. Testing is available at different locations around San Francisco.
What to do if you’re sick
If you test positive with the coronavirus, there are steps you can take to avoid infecting others, including isolating at home and limiting contact with others.
Visiting ZSFG
Our team is taking special precautions to keep you and your loved one safe while at ZSFG. We have put special restrictions in place for visitors. These restrictions can change as the status of COVID-19 changes in our community. The guidelines apply to DPH and law enforcement staff who would like to visit with a loved one.
Vaccines
To reduce the spread of COVID-19 and its impacts on health and society, a safe and effective vaccine is the most important intervention to end the pandemic. San Francisco is following guidelines from the state about the phased approach.
World-class care
Connecting patients to their loved ones
One of the many challenges during COVID has been keeping patients connected with their loved ones due to restricted visitation policies. Patients need support from outside the hospital for their wellbeing, often to share health histories with hospital staff, and sometimes to reduce language barriers. During normal visitation, these things happen naturally.
ZSFG has pioneered a program that connects people through Zoom. The hospital acquired tablet computers so that patients in the hospital can safely talk to friends and family that can’t visit in person. Hospital staff has been appointed to be “Video Visit Navigators.” They make sure the tablet is set up correctly. They contact the patient’s support people and get them signed in. Then the nurse delivers the tablet to the patient so they can have a virtual visit. This has helped patients to feel less isolated and for staff to get a better view of a patient’s whole story.
In the future, programs like this may connect patients to social support beyond family members and loved ones. Video visits may include consulting experts from other institutions or patients’ primary and specialist doctors.