Redwood City, Calif. – 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 daily status reports at approximately 4 p.m. Monday through Friday until further notice. Today’s report:
Health Officer Issues School Operations Modification Order
San Mateo County Health Officer Dr. Scott Morrow issued a School Operations Modification Order that will take effect on Monday, March 16, 2020, and remain in force through Friday, April 3, 2020, unless amended by the County or State health officer.
The order requires all schools to dismiss students from regular attendance and encourages schools and school districts to implement at-home learning models if feasible. At-home learning might involve online content, paper packets, extended readings and research, at home projects, or any number of options. Read more.
San Mateo County Parks Remain Open With Some Operational Changes
The health and safety of County Parks visitors, volunteers and staff are of the utmost importance. County Parks will remain open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, but there will be several operational changes:
• Gate houses will be closed; visitors are asked to pay at designated pay stations.
• All staff and docent-led events, including hikes and tours, are canceled through March.
• Bicycle Sunday is canceled through March.
• Parks’ main office in Redwood City and Coyote Point Marina office will be closed to the public.
San Mateo County Parks offers information and updates on their website: https://parks.smcgov.org/
Visitation to Youth Services Center – Juvenile Hall and Camp Kemp Temporarily Suspended
San Mateo County Probation Department is temporarily suspending visitation to Youth Services Center – Juvenile Hall and the Margaret J. Kemp Camp (Camp Kemp) facilities until further notice. Only attorney and professional visits will be allowed during this period.
San Mateo County COVID-19 Cases
The number of local cases of COVID-19 reported San Mateo County Health remains at 20.
San Mateo County Health says that while testing for COVID-19 is being expanded greatly in our area, it is very confusing to understand who should seek a test. If you are not sure, you should ask your primary care provider.
San Mateo County Health provides updates and information on its website: https://www.smchealth.org/coronavirus
Call Center Update
Residents with non-medical, non-emergency questions about the coronavirus can call 211 or text 211211 at any time, day or night.
The 211 service answered 365 calls from Friday evening, March 6, through Thursday evening. 211 is a confidential service available in 180 languages.
Callers from landlines and cellular telephones located within San Mateo County are connected with a trained 2-1-1 service professional.
Roundup
In addition to activating the EOC, the County has taken the following actions:
• Created a dedicated website with EOC updates at cmo.smcgov.org/eoc
• Board of Supervisors proclaimed a local state of emergency and the health officer declared a local health emergency
• Issued a price gouging alert, reminding the public it is illegal after proclaiming or declaring an emergency. Reports can be made at the District Attorney’s Office at 650-363-4403 or da.smcgov.org/price-gouging-covid-19