Two nonprofits serving the LGBTQ community have announced they are canceling services or remaining temporarily closed due to the Omicron COVID variant.
The San Francisco AIDS Foundation's Magnet sexual health center will cancel services beginning Saturday, January 15. According to a Facebook post, the center, located at SFAF's Strut building at 470 Castro Street, does not have adequate supplies. "Due to COVID-19 surge-related supply chain issues, we do not have sufficient laboratory supplies to meet the current demand for routine services," SFAF stated. "Starting on January 15, 2022, we will be postponing most PrEP follow-up and routine sexual health appointments at Magnet for the rest of the month," the agency added. "We will ensure there are no gaps in access to PrEP during this time and will update our website when these services can resume at full capacity." The following services are impacted: PrEP follow-up appointments: Most PrEP follow-up appointments for current PrEP clients have been postponed for the month of January 2022.
Routine STI and HIV testing: Magnet is not able to do any routine HIV or STI testing for the month of January. Magnet Express walk-in services will not be available.
Magnet will continue to provide the following services: PrEP appointments for new PrEP clients; STI testing/treatment if you have symptoms or if you are a contact of someone who has been diagnosed with an STI; interim HIV treatment; emergency PEP (for HIV exposures); and Trans Care services.