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 daily status reports Monday through Friday until further notice. Today’s report:
Board Approves Grant to Boys & Girls Club in North County for Emergency Child Care Program
Today, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors approved a grant of $50,750 in Measure K funds to the Boys & Girls Club of North San Mateo County (BGCNSMC) supporting an emergency school aged child care program in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Childcare is the cornerstone upon which we will rebuild our local economy that has been devastated by the COVD-19 crisis,” said Supervisor Dave Pine, Co-Chair of San Mateo County’s Child Care Partnership Council and Co-Chair of the Build Up SMC Advisory Body, who championed the grant.
The grant to the Boys & Girls Club was among five allocations from the County’s Measure K half-cent sales tax to local organizations and school districts struggling to respond to COVID-19. Grants were also awarded to:
The California Clubhouse for programs and services for individuals living with mental illness: $100,000 (sponsored by Supervisors Warren Slocum and Don Horsley).
Peninsula Family Service to provide on-demand transportation to Daly City, Colma and Brisbane seniors: $100,000 (sponsored by Supervisor David J. Canepa).
The Bayshore Elementary School District for COVID-19 response needs: $60,815 (sponsored by Supervisor Canepa).
The Jefferson Union High School District for the Class of 2020 virtual graduation: $103,000 (sponsored by Supervisor Canepa).
As an example of struggles faced by residents, school and child care facility closures have made it difficult for individuals able to return to work. The grant funds to the Boys & Girls Club help provide a safe, affordable and reliable option for families in South San Francisco and the North County.
“The Boys and Girls Club is ideally positioned to offer this option to workers struggling to find childcare during this emergency, particularly as many childcare providers have shuttered,” said Aubrey Merriman, club executive director.
Measure K is a 20-year extension of the countywide half-cent sales tax passed by local voters in November 2016 to support essential County services and to maintain or replace critical county facilities. See news release https://bit.ly/2WLYVAw
San Mateo County COVID-19 Cases
San Mateo County Health has updated the number of positive cases to 1,687 as of May 18, 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 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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