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:
BOS Encourages Employers to Offer Telecommuting -- Continue Improved Air Quality
The Board of Supervisors today approved a resolution to encourage employers to offer eligible employees the option to telecommute “to protect and advance environmental air quality and ease traffic congestion” in San Mateo County.
The resolution references the major improvement in air quality in the Bay Area due to the majority of workers working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Getting cars off the road is the best opportunity to improve air quality and to combat sea level rise,” said Supervisor David Canepa, who sponsored the resolution.
Board President Warren Slocum asked the County Manager’s Office to study opportunities to provide incentives to local employers to encourage telecommuting. He also requested the County Manager set a “concrete goal” for the County’s workforce to model the practice.
Board Extends Contract with Medical Provider, Support County’s Response to COVID-19
The Board of Supervisors today extended a contract through August 20 with Aspen Medical International Expeditionary Healthcare, which provides doctors, nurses and support staff to assist in the County’s response to COVID-19.
The Board authorized the County to increase the contract amount by an additional $3.9 million if necessary.
Since April, Aspen has contributed to the containment and mitigation of the spread of COVID-19 by providing training to first-responders and medical support in congregate care facilities and with around-the-clock emergency medical support. Aspen is an experienced provider of disaster medical services with specific expertise in highly infectious disease.
The cost of the contract will be offset by a $3 million contribution by the Peninsula Health Care District as well as efforts to seek state and federal reimbursement due to the emergency.
San Mateo County COVID-19 Cases
San Mateo County Health has updated the number of positive cases to 3,232 as of June 29, 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.