COVID-19 Update
April 3, 2020
It is with deep sadness that we report and mourn the loss of San Francisco dentist and devoted SFDS leader Dr. Wayne Del Carlo who passed away Sunday, March 29, at home with his family by his side. He is survived by his wife, Roxana, daughter Alexandra, son Christopher and 4 grandchildren.

Dr. Del Carlo served as an SFDS leader for over 40 years, as a board member, officer, and president (1985), trustee, and as chair of almost every SFDS committee. More recently he served on the CDA Council on Peer Review and previously on CDA’s Judicial Council. At the SFDS 2019 Annual Meeting, Dr. De Carlo received the SFDS Award of Merit for Exemplary Service. SFDS has lost a dear friend, colleague, and leader. Please celebrate his life by giving to Guide Dogs for the Blind or Ducks Unlimited.
Heading into the weekend, we want to bring you up to date with the recent developments and access to new resources.

SHELTER IN PLACE ORDER EXTENDED

The Shelter in Place Order is extended until May 3, 2020, for the City and County of San Francisco. What does that mean for dentistry? As healthcare providers – healthcare operations are essential services and includes dentists. Yet the same restrictions that apply to all Healthcare Operations extend to dentistry “prohibiting routine appointments and elective surgeries” and dentists are required to follow industry-specific guidelines. This means dental emergencies only. The ADA has added new guidance and materials to ADA.org/virus.

ADA INTERIM RECOMMENDATION & GUIDANCE

The following updates have been posted to ADA.org/virus . The material on this page is updated frequently, please visit this page often for the most recent and up-to-date resources. View the new interim recommendation and guidance resources from the ADA to minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission including:

  • NEW: ADA Interim Guidance for Minimizing Risk of COVID-19 Transmission
  • NEW: ADA Interim Guidance Flowcharts for Minimizing Risk of COVID-19 Transmission
  • NEW: Summary of ADA COVID-19 Interim Guidance
  • UPDATED: State Mandates and Recommendations

CDA GUIDANCE ON PPE

The updated Infection Control FAQ is currently posted on cda.org. It includes a r ecommendation for DHCP treating an asymptomatic patient to wear the best available PPE head to toe, recognizing there is a severe shortage of PPE. It is expected that the California Department of Public Health will be coming out with additional guidance on PPE usage for various situations shortly.

LICENSE RENEWAL

California dentists with license renewals between the months of March and June have been granted an extension until Sept. 30, 2020. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the director of the California Department of Consumer Affairs has been granted the authority to waive any requirements for licenses issued under the agency. The DCA director waived continuing education requirements needed to renew a license for individuals whose licenses expire between March 31 and June 30, 2020. Licensees must satisfy any waived C.E. requirements by Sept. 30, 2020. The waiver does not change license-renewal expiration dates. CDA continues to advocate on your behalf.

SFDS signs ASAE letter to ensure professional associations are included in the new phase 4 relief package under consideration in Congress.
Once again, we want to thank you for limiting patient visits to emergency care only. You are helping to reduce the amount of contact to potential COVID-19 carriers, reducing the risk of disease exposure to patients, your staff and yourself. You are also helping to preserve PPE within the healthcare system for front-line healthcare providers and members willing and able to treat the most serious, potentially life-threatening, emergency dental cases.
 
Please know that the SFDS is working closely with the CDA and ADA to get you, our member dentists, the information that you need to make informed decisions. If we can help you in any way, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at exec@sfds.org , Rachel at membership@sfds.org or a member of the SFDS Leadership. Also, please visit our Coronavirus (COVID-29) Update Resources page.

We will get through this difficult time together.
Quick-links from the SFDS COVID-19 News Page