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:
Health Order Expands Residential Care Facility Guidelines for Compassionate Care
San Mateo County Health Officer Dr. Scott Morrow yesterday issued a new health order revising the visitation guidelines for long-term congregate care facilities to expand indoor visits for compassionate care. The order applies to skilled nursing, elder care, treatment centers, hospice facilities, group homes, and others providing care in a residential setting.
Indoor compassionate care visits may now be provided for residents struggling with the transition in care, grieving after the death of a friend or family member, and who and are experiencing emotional distress, seldom speaking, or crying more frequently.
Limited indoor visits may also take place on a case-by-case basis if outdoor visitation is not feasible due to weather, air quality, or the health of a resident or visitor. The frequency, times, and schedules for outdoor and indoor visits may be set by the facility.
The full text of the order is available here.
Revised Health Orders Stem Spread of COVID-19, Align with CDC Guidelines
San Mateo County Health Officer Dr. Scott Morrow last week further aligned local health orders with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) concerning COVID-19.
The orders provide updates based on new guidance from the CDC to control the spread of COVID-19 by quarantine (for individuals exposed to the disease) and isolation (for those with the disease). The orders also contain specific rules for health care workers and first responders.
Quarantine instructions must be followed to keep someone who might have been exposed to COVID-19 away from others. Individuals must self-quarantine for a specified length of time if they are notified or are made aware of having been in close physical proximity with a person with COVID-19, as defined in the order.
Isolation keeps someone who is infected with the virus away from others, even in their home. A person with COVID-19 must immediately isolate themselves at home or another residence, follow home isolation instructions, and tell close contacts and cooperate fully with local Public Health concerning contact tracing and related investigations.
See the Health Orders along with home quarantine and home isolation instructions here
Accessible COVID-19 Testing Available for Adults and Children
It’s smart to consider if you, family members and friends should be tested for COVID-19. Whether you’re concerned because of your job or your living situation, or you’re afraid you’ve been exposed, or if you’re just worried about COVID-19, testing is a wise choice and is available in San Mateo County.
The COVID-19 diagnostic test is safe, easy and at no-cost to you regardless of which testing site you choose. Adults age 18 and over can schedule a test Tuesdays through Saturdays at the San Mateo County Event Center or at a rotating series of neighborhood locations. Days and times are listed below.
Testing for Adults and Children at San Mateo County Event Center
The County and its testing partner Curative Inc. are offering no-cost, self-administered oral swab COVID-19 testing for children age 5 and older at the San Mateo County Event Center.
Testing is open by appointment to all families that live in San Mateo County with children ages 5 and older. Appointments for the drive-through testing are available weekdays from 1 to 8 p.m. and can be made here.
Adult Testing at Neighborhood Locations
Testing for COVID-19 is available Monday through Friday to everyone 18 and older who lives or works in San Mateo County at sites served by mobile operations that rotate among five communities.
See the schedule below for Nov. 4 - 9 and make an appointment at least seven days in advance at Project Baseline.
Daly City, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Nov. 4 & 9
Jefferson Union High School District Office
699 Serramonte Boulevard
East Palo Alto, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Nov. 5 & 6
2160 Euclid Avenue
Remember: If you don't have access to the internet, an on-site volunteer may be able to help you register and get tested.
Information on testing options, including at the San Mateo Event Center and at neighborhood mobile sites in San Mateo County, can be found at https://www.smcgov.org/covid-19-testing.
San Mateo County COVID-19 Case Count
San Mateo County Health has updated the number of positive cases to 11,479 as of Nov. 2, 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
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.