San Francisco health officials were supposed to rescind by January 1 the restrictions that have kept traditional gay bathhouses from operating in the city since the mid-1980s.
But they failed to meet that deadline and have asked for a 30-day extension. The Bay Area Reporter had inquired with the city's Department of Public Health last week prior to the new year about the status of the rule revision for adult sex venues.
Due to the holiday, with staff out on vacation, the department responded January 4 that it needed more time. "DPH has requested a one-month extension for this work," stated the department.
It did not explain the reason for the delay, but health officials have been dealing with a surge in COVID cases since November.