Non-emergency calls to 911 clog system amid staffing shortfall

By Jerold Chinn : sfbay – excerpt

an Francisco officials are reminding people that they should only dial 911 for life-threatening emergencies as the omicron variant continues to affect staffing at the Fire Department and Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital.

Fire Chief Jeanine Nicholson said about 10 percent of the department’s workforce, or around 140 people, are currently out after testing positive for Covid-19. Nicholson added that the department is seeing an increase in 911 calls, which she said is “putting a strain on the system.”

The City has been getting over 400 emergency calls a day in the last several days, where typically the city usually gets around 300 to 330 a day, Nicholson said…(more)