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:
CARES Act Funding to Expand Internet Access for Students
The Board of Supervisors today allocated $3.5 million to expand high-speed internet access and provide technology tools for disadvantaged students in San Mateo County. The funding comes from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, a federal economic assistance package to ease the impacts of the pandemic.
The goal is to help thousands of local students who are distance learning gain access to the technology they need to succeed in the 21st Century information economy. The effort includes potentially providing laptops to disadvantaged students and free public WiFi hotspots in select neighborhoods.
Tuesday’s approval expands upon the “Public Internet Connectivity Pilot Project” first launched with $2.88 million in CARES funding in August that targeted students in the La Honda-Pescadero Unified School District, Ravenswood City School District, Redwood City School District and Sequoia Union High School District.
The infusion of new funding will expand the program to additional areas of San Mateo County where the need is greatest. Learn more.
In other COVID-related matters, the Board also:
- Allocated $2 million in CARES Act funds to Second Harvest of Silicon Valley to expand food assistance to vulnerable county residents through the end of the year.
- Allocated an additional $2 million contribution in Measure K funds to the San Mateo County Immigrant Relief Fund which will allow grants of $1,000 to 2,000 additional residents who are not eligible for federal relief. To date, the fund has received 23,000 applications and approved 10,394 grants. When the Board’s new funding is added to its previous $2 million contribution, $5 million given by the Sobrato Foundation and $4.1 million raised from philanthropy, it will total more than $13 million to help 13,000 low-income San Mateo County families who have been economically impacted by the pandemic.
- Allocated $2.5 million in CARES Act funds to Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center for administration and distribution to benefit lower-income small business owners who reside in targeted areas of the county and are directly and adversely impacted by COVID-19.
County Launches Business COVID-19 Compliance Team, Reporting Portal
On Monday, Oct. 19, 2020, the County of San Mateo launched its new COVID-19 Compliance Team, an eight-person unit tasked with responding to reports of businesses not following local or state health orders related to the pandemic and coordinating with cities on outreach.
Residents can now report an alleged business violation for investigation via an online portal: https://bit.ly/35jxXmH. Residents wishing to report violations of individuals, such as large social gatherings, should still contact their local law enforcement agency’s non-emergency line. Do not call 9-1-1.
Businesses will be notified in writing if an allegation about noncomplying with state or local COVID 19 requirements has been received. Subsequent complaints will result in onsite investigation by compliance team members and could carry civil penalties up to $3,000 per incident.
See full news release: https://bit.ly/3dLlfAY.
COVID-19 Testing Now Available for Children at Event Center
Beginning today, 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. Register here.
Curative has the capacity to test over 500 individuals each day at the Event Center with results available typically within 48 hours. With the addition of testing by Curative, the County has the capacity to test up to 7,500 individuals each week.
See full news release, frequently asked questions (FAQs) and learn more on how the oral fluid tests are conducted: https://bit.ly/3o5QNGR
Visit https://www.smcgov.org/covid-19-testing to find information on other testing resources available in the county, watch a video about the testing process, and see how to make an appointment with the County’s testing partner Project Baseline.
San Mateo County Event Center Testing:
Testing is available from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays at the San Mateo County Event Center, with the capacity to test over 1,000 adults per day. 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 for Oct. 2 – 9 below and make an appointment at least seven days in advance at Project Baseline.
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 Bruno: Oct. 20 & 21 (8 a.m. to 3 p.m.)
975 Sneath Lane
North Fair Oaks -Stanford: Oct. 22 & 23 (8 a.m. to 3 p.m.)
Stanford Parking Lot
2685 Bay Road
Should You Get Tested for COVID-19?
More than six months into a global pandemic where fresh facts emerge and circumstances change, it’s a smart question to ask yourself as well as family members and friends. The unequivocal answer is yes — 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 available in San Mateo County.
Learn why it’s important to get tested for COVID-19 even if you or your family do not exhibit symptoms in this guest perspective by County Supervisor Carole Groom in the San Mateo Daily Journal.
San Mateo County COVID-19 Case Count
San Mateo County Health has updated the number of positive cases since the pandemic began to 10,889 as of Oct 19, 2020. This includes 53 new cases reported on the 19th.
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.