SFIC WEEKLY ONLINE BRIEFING FOR FAITH LEADERS
ADDRESSES THE THREAT OF COVID-19 VARIANTS
IN FIGHTING THE PANDEMIC

Thursday, April 15, 2021
8:30 am - 9:45 am

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In spite of the dramatic increase of those receiving COVID-19 vaccinations and the positive news trending in the media, a call to proceed with caution looms large in the greater struggle to fight the pandemic. According to an April 7, 2021 San Francisco Chronicle account, "states in the Northeast and Midwest have seen new infections climb sharply in recent weeks, and California's have stopped falling. The Bay Area saw a nearly 9% increase in new cases last week, compared with the week before, while the statewide figure ticked up 1%, all of which predated any effect of Easter Weekend gatherings." One real threat to progress in fighting the pandemic is the emergence of variants, which increase the vulnerability of those yet to be vaccinated and could impact those fortunate to have received the requisite doses. This week's "Online Briefing for Faith Leaders," hosted by the San Francisco Interfaith Council and supported by the COVID Command Center's Joint Information Virtual Outreach Team, welcomes San Francisco Department of Public Health Deputy Director of Health, Dr. Naveena Bobba, MD, MPH, who will shine a focused light on the real threats posed by the COVID-19 variants, the efficacy of vaccines to fight them, and the need to continue to exercise all of the prescribed precautions.  

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS BY ONLINE BRIEFING MODERATOR

Michael G. Pappas, M.Div.
Executive Director, San Francisco Interfaith Council

WELCOME & READING OF SFIC STATEMENT

Kaushik Roy
Executive Director, Shanti Project

REFLECTIVE MOMENT

Swami Vedananda

(Introduction of Guest Presenter and Presentation
by SFIC Executive Director Michael Pappas)
Dr. Naveena Bobba, MD, MPH
Deputy Director of Health
Naveena Bobba, MD MPH is the Deputy Director of Health at the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH). She helps lead the team that oversees the core functions of SFDPH, both as the primary safety net provider for San Francisco and as the agency responsible for ensuring public health functions are met. In her role, Dr. Bobba develops, coordinates and advances the department’s strategic priorities. She also oversees policy and planning for the department, and works on governmental affairs encompassing federal, state and local issues. Dr. Bobba did her medical training at Harbor UCLA in internal medicine. She completed a fellowship in Allergy and Immunology and worked for Kaiser Permanente before returning to get her MPH at the Harvard School of Public Health. She joined SFDPH in winter of 2009 and has served and led in the Communicable Disease Control and Prevention Section, the Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Section and the Emergency Medical Services Agency. Dr. Bobba continues to provide clinical care in allergy and immunology at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital.
COMMUNITY PANELIST

John A. McKnight
Community Partners Group Coordinator
COVID Command Center
Joint Information Center

CLOSING REMARKS

SFIC Executive Director Michael Pappas

The SFIC extends special thanks to the COVID Command Center's Joint Information Center Virtual Outreach Team for facilitating technology support 
for this weekly series of Online Briefings for Faith Leaders.

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is a Cooperation Circle of the United Religions Initiative. 
San Francisco Interfaith Council | https://www.sfinterfaithcouncil.org/