Maskless San Francisco mayor London Breed bucks health order at nightclub

SAN FRANCISCO – The mayor of San Francisco was spotted dancing and singing to live music without a mask at an indoor nightclub, despite a strict order from his public health department that requires the wearing of masks in indoor establishments unless someone is actively eating or drinking.

Mayor London Breed, a Democrat, has promoted restrictive measures aimed at curbing the coronavirus, frustrating business owners who have had to close or limit customers.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports the mayor was at the Chat Noir nightclub Wednesday for an impromptu late-night performance by two of the three original members of famed R&B band Tony! Tony! Your!

“The fact that we haven’t been able to enjoy live music in this way since the start of this pandemic has made it even more special and extraordinary,” she told The Chronicle after the performance.

His office did not immediately respond Friday to a request from The Associated Press to explain the mayor’s actions.

San Francisco also requires proof of full vaccinations for patrons in indoor locations, including restaurants, bars, gyms and other businesses.

Breed told the Chronicle that she often tests for COVID-19 and is reassured that the underground club is safe because Black Cat people must show proof of vaccination to enter.

Still, San Francisco and other Bay Area counties’ August health order requires people to wear “a properly fitting mask indoors in public places,” regardless of vaccination status. . The delta variant is so contagious that even inoculated people have been able to catch the virus and pass it on to others.

“Indoor settings, whether public or private, pose a higher risk of transmission of COVID-19, especially when you are around people you do not live with,” the official said. Sanitary order of August 2 states.

San Francisco and neighboring counties were the first to issue a stay-at-home order in March 2020, even before California Governor Gavin Newsom ordered people across the state to stay indoors, except for essential work and errands. The region has the highest vaccination rates and lowest infection rates in California and the United States

Danielle Rabkin, owner of the CrossFit Golden Gate gymnasium and critic of the mayor’s policy, said Affiliated with NBC Bay Area KNTV-TV that Breed has always said people need to do their part due to the ongoing threat posed by the coronavirus.

“The rules in San Francisco have been very restrictive, and I don’t see her playing her part in this picture,” Rabkin said.

Even runners in this weekend’s San Francisco Marathon will be required to wear masks in areas of the course that pass through National Park Service territory. The federal agency requires masks indoors and in crowded outdoor spaces.

Last year, Breed was also accused of hypocrisy when she attended a group dinner at the posh French Laundry restaurant in Napa despite strong recommendations from state and public health officials at the time. avoid gatherings with people outside the home.