For much of the COVID-19 pandemic gay District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman had avoided contracting the virus. Living with diabetes, he was at heightened risk if he had caught it.
Fully vaccinated and having also gotten a booster shot in November, Mandelman started off his board recess for Christmas seeing friends and family in the Bay Area.
In one photo posted to his Instagram account, he is seated with his close kin unmasked while dining at Hayes Street Grill on Christmas Eve.
After receiving several notifications in the following days that he potentially was exposed to someone who had COVID, Mandelman tested positive himself a few days prior to New Year's Eve.