our camera and chris reyes were allowed inside. >>> this type of setup becoming too familiar. public and event spaces once reserved for gatherings and celebrations now makeshift hospitals. this is the fourth set up by the national guard in california just this week. >> all of our airmen have made all of these beds to be prepared for when they're needed. >> reporter: you are looking at 250 beds for possible covid-19 cases that need care, but not necessarily hospitalization. empty now, but not if the surge that public health workers are so afraid of becomes reality. >> we hope that we never need this facility, but we want to be absolutely prepared because when that time comes and you need space, you want to have it. >> reporter: this place has changed almost overnight for this neighborhood. once home to the county fair, now a site for coronavirus testing. covid-19 cases and now hospital beds. changes that some residents at least on social media say they're not always aware of or comfortable with. >> we have to make sure that we continue to be transparent. make sure that people k

abc 7 news reporter chris reyes spwioc get the answers. >> we took a drive through downtown san francisco and chinatown and saw all kinds of face coverings, including a scarf and t-shirt many people asking, what should i be using. we put our viewer questions to dr. george rutherford. >> do i need a face mask if i'm standing outside my yard? >> if you're not doing anything, i don't think so. >> is it okay to wear a scarf over my nose and mouth? >> yes, absolutely. what we're trying to do is cut down on you expeling cough, sneeze, respiratory particles. that's the goal here, to protect other people from you. >> the next question is, how should the cloth masks be launderred? any special instructions? >> i would wash them in hot water. >> what would be the best protection if you're going for a run or a bike? >> i would say experiment, try a t-shirt or something like that, just a bandanna. >> experiment for comfort and fit but also how porous. we tried to spray through different materials from a thick to thin scarf, towel and a thin t-shirt. the thinner the material, the less effective at hold

abc 7 news reporter chris reyes spoke with the doctor to get the answers. >> we took a drive through downtown san francisco and chinatown and saw all kinds of face coverings, including a scarf and a t-shirt. many people asking, what should i be using? we put our viewer questions to dr. george rutherford. do i need a face mask if i'm just standing outside my yard? >> if you're not doing anything, i don't think so. >> is it okay to wear a scarf over my nose and mouth? >> yes, absolutely. what we're trying to do is cut down on you expelling cough, sneeze, respiratory particles. that's the goal here, to protect other people from you. >> the next question is, how should the cloth masks be laundered? any special instructions? >> i would wash them in hot water. >> what would be the best protection if you're going for a run or a bike? >> i would say you're going to have to experiment. try a t-shirt or something like >> experiment for comfort and fit but also how porous. we tried to spray through different materials from a thick to thin scarf, towel and a thin t-shirt. the thinner the materia

chris reyes has more on how parents can help students cope. >> we talked to two therapists at see saw and they specialize in family therapy. we started by asking them, how do you break to your child they may not be going back to school. for young children, don't give them hard dates. >> give them a sense of control that we're figuring this out together and protect you and keep you safe. >> reporter: for teens they may already know they're not going back to school. so, instead, try teahese conversation starters. >> what does that feel like in your body and what are some things you have done to help yourself when you're feeling that way. >> reporter: for young children when starting a conversation, try a different approach. >> make sure that maybe you're not necessarily initiating the conversation, but letting the child lead. >> reporter: for parents of teens, there's the added burden of letting their child know they may not be going to graduation or even prom. >> a major disruption for them and there are myfenthat tke just kind of in shock. parents can play a very pivotal role in that

and don't pressure yourself. >> reporter: in burlingame, chris reyes. >>> nationwide leaders are sayingshould definitely cover our noses and mouths when we go out in public. they say we should be wearing cloth masks, not the ones that medical professionals need. for more on this we go to amy hollyfield in walnut creek. good morning, amy. >> hi, reggie. it has been a debate among health care officials whether to make this recommendation, but bay area health officials taking this next step telling us to cover our nose and faces when we do essential outings like heading to the grocery store or doctor's appointment. go ahead and cover up. the concern with the recommendation is that people will buy up all the n95 masks and hoard those and officials say leave those for the care workers. the emphasis with this recommendation is just wear a cloth mask over your face. that's all they say you need out in public. to remember for every n95 the public is using, that is one less n95 on the front line and that's one potential life at risk whether it be a health giver's live or patient's life. >> repor

. >> reporter: chris reyes for abc 7 news. >>> as we shelter in place, more people are depending on homeelivery of food and necessities but going to the pharmacy could be a problem for people at f free. in% crseorders. >> they give you eta when they're going to be here on delivery with your product and then they knock on your door or give you a jingle and they either leave it at your door step or take a picture so they can show they have dropped it off. >> reporter: they have plans to expand their free delivery soon to san francisco after it adds a new facility in burlingame. >>> look at this, two sheriff deputies became personal shoppers in santa cruz county. they shared this photo after deputies jacob and nick delivered groceries to an older gentleman. they wasn't shopping for the man after the neighbors asked deputies to check on them. they haven't seen him take his usual walk. you see what i like. they have the masks on and they left the groceries right there in the front. because that's what we have to do. we have to help them out, but do it in a safe way. >> i like that. and then m

chris reyes is live with what else we need to know about this. hey, chris. >> good morning, kumasi.ht behind me. you can see the tents are set up and we will see who shows up. the testing itself is being done by verilly and one medical. here's what the mayor had to say about it. >> the goal is to increase our capacity, although i want to be clear, this is not some place you can walk up to, you have to meet the criteria in order to be tested. we just want to be able to test people more quickly, get the results back more quickly so that we can make sure that people are prepared to do what's necessary to, of course, quarantine. >> a few things about the site. it is, as the mayor said, appointment only. you must first answer a questionnaire online and you have to be 18 or older and live in san francisco. right now it is only a drive-thru site but eventually offer walk-up access.

chris reyes has some answers. >> reporter: where are face covering mandatory in the bay area?e's a map. five counties in the city of san francisco, and fremont. question two, why are masks only strongly recommended here if santa clara? dr. sarah cody says she is mindful that resources are stretched. >> it's not something that i can ask my colleagues and law enforcement to enforce. however, it is a critical and urgent recommendation. >> reporter: question n d earing e er a enot r s ilable everywhere. question four, when should we wear masks in >> anything that can cover your nose and mouth when you are standing in line or in any location that provides an essential service. >> reporter: question five, when can we take them off? >> if you're traveling alone in your car or with an immediate household member, you don't need to cover your face. >> if you're out running, riding your bike, walking your dog, basically that is not necessarily a requirement to wear a face covering. >> reporter: question six. what do people need to know about taking masks off and putting them on? >> just

abc7 news reporter kris reyes is live in san francisco with this important part of the investigation and how it can help reduce infections. chris? >> good afternoon, liz. for people who are hearing this term for the first time, it simply means the ability of public health officials to track down every single person that a covid-19 positive patient came into contact with. and you can imagine as cases have grown how complicated this task is. well, today mayor london breed announced the city's ability to do widespread contact tracing investigations and how it will help reopen the economy. have a listen. >> our goal is to chase down all of those people and to either help them if they are covid and get them into quarantine, or to basically give them the relief that they are not infeblged. >> it will continue to it rate as we learn from this early period in terms of how to improve what responses that we're getting. we will expand our languages. right now it's in english and spanish. we are working rapidly to implement a cantonese and 345 d mandarin and tagalog version of this. >> to date 50 people have been trained to do these invest