SF Pauses COVID-19 Outdoor Walk-In Testing Due to Threat of Lightning

In a press release Monday, the city of San Francisco said it would be temporarily halting walk-in testing for COVID-19 due to the threat of lightning strikes in the area.

Over the weekend, hundreds of lightning strikes occurred in the Bay Area, in a rare series of summer thunderstorms. And officials with the National Weather Service have warned that similar storms might take place Monday night.

The unusual storms also sparked several wildfires — including ones in Contra Costa County, Alameda County and Napa County.

According to the release, walk-in testing will be suspended at:

• Embarcadero, Pier 30/32
• SOMA, 600 7th St.
• Excelsior, Pop-Up Mobile Testing Site

Additionally, the testing sites at these health clinics will remain closed.

• Castro/Mission Health Clinic
• Potrero Hill Health Clinic
• Southeast Health Clinic
• Maxine Hall

Officials aim to reopen outdoor, walk-in testing on Tuesday, and will continue to monitor the weather to determine if any further action needs to be taken.

— Michelle Wiley (@MichelleEWiley)