October 15, 2020
    • county of san mateo joint information center

    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:

    Bay Area Health Officers Stress Importance of Flu Shot During Pandemic

    Health officials from across the Bay Area are asking the public to fight the flu by getting the annual vaccination for influenza right now. Doing so could prevent you and loved ones from requiring care at urgent care clinics and hospitals, impacting resources already strained due to COVID-19.

    An annual flu shot is recommended for everyone 6 months or older. It is important to get a new flu vaccine each year. as the strains of influenza circulating in the community change over time, and the current vaccine offers protection against those strains.

    Symptoms of the flu can be similar to early symptoms of COVID-19, meaning that this year, people with flu symptoms may require a COVID-19 test and may need to stay home from work and isolate away from their families while awaiting results.

    For more information about flu, visit smchealth.org/flu.

    See full news release: https://bit.ly/3nYLOaW

    Small Residential Property Owner Program Grant Applications, Oct. 15-28

    Residential rental property owners who live and rent in San Mateo County, rely on rent as a main source of income and lost rental income due to COVID-19, may qualify for grant funding up to $6,000 per eligible unit through the Small Property Owner Assistance Program.

    Applications are now being accepted at https://www.smcstrong.org/smallpropertyownergrant

    Property owners are encouraged to review the information at https://www.smcstrong.org/copy-of-frequently-asked-questions to understand the application process, properties that may qualify for grant funds, and to assemble documents required when submitting the grant application.

    The San Mateo County Strong Fund was established by the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors on March 24, 2020 to assist individuals, families, non-profits and small businesses that have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. The Board dedicated $2 million to establish the grant program for small-scale residential rental property owners in the county who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

    County Manager’s Media Briefing on YouTube

    The Oct. 14, 2020, media briefing on the County of San Mateo’s response to COVID-19 hosted by San Mateo County Manager Mike Callagy can be viewed at https://youtu.be/5ic1mmw4ows

     

    Subscribe to the County’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/sanmateocountygov

    COVID-19 Testing Capacity Expanded; Available Tuesday - Saturday

    Testing for COVID-19 is available to everyone 18 and older who lives or works in San Mateo County regardless of symptoms or increased risk of exposure. The COVID-19 diagnostic test is safe, easy and at no-cost to you regardless of which testing site you choose.

    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 Event Center Testing

    The San Mateo County Event Center Testing, which has the greatest testing capacity in San Mateo County at 1,000 tests per day, is open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. To see testing availability and make an appointment, up to seven days in advance, visit Project Baseline.

    Mobile Testing

    Testing at sites served by a mobile operation is available Monday through Friday. See the schedule below for Oct. 16 - 20 and make an appointment at least seven days in advance at Project Baseline.

    East Palo Alto, Oct. 16
    2160 Euclid Avenue

    Half Moon Bay, Oct. 19
    Our Lady of the Pillar
    565 Kelly Avenue

    San Bruno, Oct. 20
    The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
    975 Sneath Lane

    Remember: If you don't have access to the internet, an on-site volunteer may be able to help you register and get tested.

    San Mateo County COVID-19 Case Count

    San Mateo County Health has updated the number of positive cases to 10,655 as of Oct. 14, 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.