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 Thursday until further notice. Today’s report:
New Guidance Issued for Schools, Gatherings & Travel
New guidance was recently issued regarding schools, gatherings and travel.
Schools
County Health's Communicable Disease Control Unit worked with the County Office of Education to align safety guidance with new information from the CDC. The new guidelines allow for a minimum distance of 3 feet between student chairs. In addition, all individuals must wear masks at all times.
Gatherings & Live Events
The California Department of Public Health has issued new guidelines for gatherings and live events. For the Orange Tier starting on April 15, outdoor gathering size increases to 50 people. For private events or meetings such as receptions or conferences, outdoor gatherings are limited to 100 people. Indoor live events or performances are allowed with capacity limits and modifications including physical distancing, advance ticket purchases, designated areas for eating and drinking, and attendance limited to in-state visitors.
Travel
The California Department of Public Health has also updated its travel guidance. CDPH and the CDC recommend delaying travel until persons are fully vaccinated. Fully vaccinated travelers should follow CDC travel guidance and are not required to test or quarantine before or after travel unless they have symptoms concerning for COVID-19 disease.
Residents Age 16+ Eligible for Vaccine Starting April 15; Sign Up for Updates
As the state expands vaccine eligibility to residents 16 and older beginning April 15, vaccine supply remains severely constrained, and the County continues to focus on vaccinating eligible individuals at local community clinics and residents in lower-income and harder to reach neighborhoods.
Residents should check with their primary care provider and pharmacies for appointments. There are now 33 pharmacy locations offering vaccines in San Mateo County, including Rite Aid, Safeway/Albertsons, Costco, CVS, and Walgreens. New sites are added every few days. Check these companies’ websites for more information.
All residents regardless of current eligibility can sign up for the County’s notification tool to receive updates about the County’s vaccine rollout. The County notification tool is available in Spanish, Chinese simplified and traditional, and Tagalog. Through Google translate, the form is also available in multiple other languages.
Residents should also sign up for the state’s MyTurn tool, which is also used for some appointment scheduling at community vaccine events.
As of April 7, according to State Immunization Registry data, 333,810 individuals have been vaccinated with 529,633 doses which represents 52 percent of the total eligible county population ages 16 and older.
Great Plates Meal Delivery Extended to May 7
Great Plates, the state’s meal delivery service administered by the County for qualifying older adults, has had its funding extended through May 7, 2021.
Since March 12, 2020, Great Plates has distributed more than 1. 8 million meals.
FAQS & sign-up information: https://www.smchealth.org/post/great-plates-delivered-faqs
San Mateo County Parks Extends Hours, Resumes Services
San Mateo County Parks is excited to announce that park hours will be extended in coming weeks and many popular services resumed.
Rangers and Parks staff are counting on very visitor to help keep these extended hours and reinstated services intact by following COVID-19 safety protocols which include maintaining at least six feet of distance from those not in one’s household. The upcoming changes are:
- Drop-in picnic sites continue to be open
- Group picnic reservations are being accepted for May 1 through June 14 per California Department of Public Health outdoor gathering guidelines and modifications, including size of group, face coverings and social distancing.
- Friday, April 16, park hours extended: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Saturday, May 1, park hours extended: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Sunday, May 2, Bicycle Sunday resumes
- Monday, May 3, Fitzgerald Marine Reserve reopens with modifications, including face coverings and social distancing.
- Friday, May 28, Memorial County Park family camping reopens (Reservations currently being accepted) with modifications, including face coverings and social distancing.
COVID-19 Testing Remains Key County Priority to Re-open, Stay Safe
Safe, easy and no-cost testing is widely available at County-sponsored locations for everyone who works or lives in San Mateo County regardless of symptoms.
Testing sites are located across San Mateo County. For locations and to make an appointment, visit www.smcgov.org/testing.
Appointments at all locations are strongly encouraged.
COVID-19 Case Counts
County Health reports a total of 40,708 total cases of COVID-19 as of Wednesday April 7, 2021. Deaths attributed to COVID-19 stand at 553.
Additional information such as cases by age group, cases by race/ethnicity and deaths by age is available at https://www.smchealth.org/data-dashboard/county-data-dashboard
211 Call Center
Residents with non-medical, non-emergency questions about the coronavirus can call 211 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.
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