Stop Destruction of San Francisco Restaurants

We are now witnessing a second shut down of a major part of San Francisco's economy, its famous restaurants, and the reasons given do not hold up to scrutiny.

Restaurant workers protested on Friday, December 11, 2020 outside closed City Hall. See https://www.radio.com/kcbsradio/news/local/san-francisco-restaurant-workers-protest-stay-at-home-order

Restaurant workers also protested outside Mayor London Breed's home on Sunday, December 13, 2020. See https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/group-targets-breed-in-protest-of-shelter-in-place-restrictions/ and
https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2020/12/13/coronavirus-covid-san-francisco-mayor-breed-protest-dining/

Restaurant owners have successfully sued to overturn bans elsewhere and are preparing to sue again to overturn San Francisco's ban. See https://www.radio.com/kcbsradio/news/local/restaurateurs-prepare-to-sue-protest-outdoor-dining-ban

The Los Angeles court ruling of December 8, 2020 overturning the local restaurant business ban is described at https://www.radio.com/kcbsradio/news/la-judge-tentatively-rules-on-la-county-outdoor-dining-ban

The Golden Gate Restaurant Association issued a statement noting that there is no apparent causal link between eating outdoors and the virus. See https://carloseats.com/2020/11/10/news-golden-gate-restaurant-association-statement-on-the-closure-of-indoor-dining-in-san-francisco/

San Francisco's health metrics look good, and there is nothing to justify closing a job creator for thousands of workers who depend on their daily wages, and often just on tips, to survive.

First, there have been 167 COVID19 deaths in 9 months in our city of 892,00 people. Considering 25% of the population is over age 60, the group that not only dies in higher proportions for heart disease and cancer, but also COVID19, this is comparatively low. See https://www.sfdph.org/dph/alerts/coronavirus.asp

Then there is the reason given for this second shutdown, after reopening in May 2020, namely the hospital capacity. As of December 12, 2020, there are 87 ICU beds (30%), and 380 Acute Care beds (24%) available. See https://data.sfgov.org/stories/s/qtdt-yqr2

Under Key Public Health Indicators, the Rate of Weekly Change in COVID Positive Hospitalizations as of December 12, 2020, is 29%, down from 69% on November 25, 2020. When it gets below 20%, it will be below the highest Level 4. See https://data.sfgov.org/stories/s/epem-wyzb

As to who is dying, see https://data.sfgov.org/stories/s/w6za-6st8, then scroll down to the Age section near the bottom complete with graphs and this statement:
"The age distribution of COVID-19 deaths is much older: over half of deaths were among persons over the age of 80 and nearly all are over the age of 60."

This 70 year old is concerned but takes great precautions and knows that people have to have a paycheck every single week. San Francisco, my hometown and where I live, is now a graveyard again and that must end now. Outdoor dining for restaurants and bars (they are covered by the same health regulations) must be restored now. Hopefully, a San Francisco judge will look at these health metrics and reopen our restaurants and bars to outdoor dining now.