Redwood City – The County of San Mateo continues to work to protect public health and safety in response to the novel coronavirus known as COVID-19.
The County of San Mateo’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) remains open to coordinate countywide response and communications in response to the situation. The EOC’s Joint Information Center will provide status reports every Tuesday and Thursday until further notice. Today’s report:
Updated Health Order: Customers Can Bring Own Bags to Stores
A revision was made today to Appendix A of the Social Distancing Protocol Health Officer Order No. c19-11 to allow individuals to bring reusable items from home into a store.
While the revised order means that customers are now able to bring items including shopping bags and coffee cups to stores, retailers may adopt their own stricter policies and prohibit such items if they wish.
County Partnership with Dignity Health and AMI Increases Region’s ICU Bed Capacity
As the rise in COVID-19 cases threatens the health and safety of residents of the Bay Area region and beyond, the County of San Mateo has partnered with Dignity Health and AMI Expeditionary Healthcare to increase local staffed ICU bed availability for this crucial period.
The agreement provides licensed medical professionals from AMI to staff up to 10 intensive care unit (ICU) beds in Dignity Health’s Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City for at least 30 days. “We’re fortunate to be able to connect resources to key partners to support our local community and our neighbors during this crisis,” said County Manager Mike Callagy.
The arrangement is aimed at preventing those needing ICU-level care from not being able to get it due to the staffing constraints at hospitals across the Bay Area. The $4.5 million investment by the County of San Mateo strengthens the ability to provide urgent hospital care during this time of unprecedented surge.
Read full press release here
COVID-19 Testing Available in County for Adults and Children
Safe, easy and no-cost testing is widely available at County-sponsored locations for everyone who works or lives in San Mateo County — regardless of symptoms.
To get a COVID-19 test, San Mateo County residents should first contact their health care provider.
If you cannot get a timely test through your health care provider, select from the testing options listed at https://www.smcgov.org/testing for a no-cost (free) COVID-19 test at a County-sponsored location.
Testing will not be available on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.
Testing for Children and Adults
Testing for children ages 5 to 17 as well as adults is available at the San Mateo County Event Center and at the Jefferson Union High School District office in Daly City. Testing is available at no cost to you, but insurance may be billed. Learn more about testing dates and the process here and register for an appointment.
Testing for Adults
Appointments are available Tuesdays through Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the San Mateo County Event Center. Make an appointment
Testing for COVID-19 is also available at mobile operations that rotate among five communities Monday through Friday for everyone 18 and older who lives or works in San Mateo County
See the schedule below for mobile operation locations, Dec. 23 – Dec. 31. , and make an appointment at least seven days in advance.
Half Moon Bay, Dec. 23, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Our Lady of the Pillar
565 Kelly Avenue
East Palo Alto, Dec. 24 & 31, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
2160 Euclid Avenue
San Bruno, Dec. 28 & 29, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
975 Sneath Lane
South San Francisco, Dec. 30, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
398 B Street
Remember: If you don't have access to the internet, an on-site volunteer may be able to help you register and get tested. The County STRONGLY recommends advance registration as you cannot be guaranteed a test otherwise.
San Mateo County COVID-19 Case Count
San Mateo County Health has updated the number of positive cases to 20,479 as of Dec. 21, 2020.
County Health provides detailed information on cases by age group and date and deaths by age group. Learn more at https://www.smchealth.org/coronavirus
San Mateo County remains under the state’s Regional Stay At Home Order, which prohibits gatherings and places restrictions on certain businesses and activities.
Read the County’s news release on the Regional Stay at Home Order and our answers to Frequently Asked Questions.
Call Center
Residents with non-medical, non-emergency questions about the coronavirus can call 211 or 800-273-6222 at any time, day or night. Callers from landlines and cellular telephones located within San Mateo County are connected with a trained service professional from 211, a confidential service available in 180 languages.
