August 18, 2020
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    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:

    Sheriff’s Office Breaks Up EDD Fraud Ring in Correctional Facility

    The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office investigators halted a large-scale Pandemic Unemployment Assistance fraud ring operating out of the San Mateo County Maguire Correctional Facility after hearing inmates discuss the operation. 

    Criminal investigators for the State of California Employment Development Department (EDD) and San Mateo County investigators discovered claims using 30 different inmate names which resulted in more than $250,000 fraudulent payments.

    This is the first type of fraudulent ring involving inmates at the facility. The Sheriff’s Office continues to work with representatives from the EDD to ensure that no further fraudulent claims are filed. See news release at https://bit.ly/3aIDpC3

    COVID-19 Testing Available Aug. 19 & 20; Half Day Aug. 21

    San Mateo County’s free COIVD-19 testing is available without restriction to anyone. Because only 500 tests are allocated each day, it is advisable to schedule an appointment with Verily/Project Baseline, San Mateo County’s free testing provider, at https://bit.ly/2xk73OL

    If you don’t have access to the internet, there may be a volunteer on site who can assist you.  The following locations are open:

    Daly City: Aug. 19, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

    Jefferson Union High School District Office

    699 Serramonte Boulevard

    East Palo Alto: Aug 20, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Aug. 21, 8 a.m. to Noon

    2160 Euclid Ave.

    State’s Underreporting Reflected in San Mateo County COVID-19 Case Count

    A significant problem with the State of California’s reporting system for communicable diseases has resulted in significant underreporting of COVID-19 testing results to San Mateo County Health and local health departments statewide. SMC Health continues to work with the California Department of Public Health to identify any remaining potential data gaps to investigate, understand, and resolve additional data issues.

    San Mateo County Health has updated the number of positive cases to 7,228 as of Aug. 17, 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.