By Sri Ravipati
Good afternoon San Francisco. Welcome back to another daily roundup of local stories for Dec. 29.
San Francisco cancels New Year's fireworks amid COVID surge
There will be no New Year's Eve fireworks over San Francisco Bay for the second year in a row due to the ongoing surge of COVID-19 cases, San Francisco Mayor London Breed and city leaders announced Tuesday.
Health officials say the omicron variant poses a significant risk, especially given the increase in holiday travel and gatherings. The decision was made after monitoring local health indicators and impacted public safety staffing levels.
Currently, 84% of eligible San Franciscans are fully vaccinated and 55% have received a booster
dose.
Read more about the city's decision on SF.gov.
San Francisco businesses brace for big losses over NYE the second year in a row
Restaurants and bars in San Francisco that were counting on extra business from thousands of New Year's Eve visitors are disappointed by the city's decision to cancel NYE fireworks, ABC7 reports.
“I do respect those people who are in the Public Health Department, we have to abide by the rules — it just hurts, it hurts," Executive Director of Fisherman's Wharf Community Benefit District Randall Scott said.
"We made the decision crowds may still not be the thing, let's close at 9 p.m. and let our staff get home before the new year rings in," said Pier 39 restaurant CEO Bob Partrite, who will be closing his six eateries early on the 31st.
One San Francisco business hosting a New Year's Eve fireworks cruise reportedly may refund passengers.
Read the full story on ABC7.
Family to COVID test guests ahead of New Year's party in Marin County
While health officials are recommending that people cancel New Year's parties due to COVID-19, a Marin County family is determined to throw a party, ABC7 reports.
The host, Andrew Angus, purchased an at-home processing machine for PCR tests for $1,500. Every guest will use it hours before the party.
"You put the cartridge in. It heats up. Then you get the sample from your nose, stick it into the cartridge and it syncs with my phone," Angus told ABC7.
Angus says he has hosted other parties outdoors successfully without any COVID-19 outbreaks over the past year.
Read the full story on ABC7.
Thanks for reading today's S.F. news roundup! Did any of these stories hit home for you? Let me know in the comments.
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