COVID-19 continues to spread in our community and has a growing impact on our everyday lives. There's been a steady stream of information that can be hard to keep up with and many of us are inundated everywhere we look. But today's updates are particularly important, so please take a few minutes to read this information. Today, the County Health Officer extended and updated the Shelter In Place Order through May 3, 2020. This is an important mandate that we must all follow in order to successfully fight against the virus together. City of San Mateo staff, first responders and health care workers are working hard to continue providing essential services while taking important steps to reduce the spread of the virus. While we continue to work for you, please make sure you stay home for us.
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More time and additional restrictions are needed to slow the spread of COVID-19, and reduce future impacts to our health care system. The San Mateo County Health Officer’s updated mandatory Shelter in Place order provides more clarity on what activities and businesses are considered essential. It also includes further restrictions on recreation and travel, as well as social distancing requirements and noticing. You can review the full order on the County’s website or a robust list of frequently asked questions. A few key updates include: - Recreation: do not travel more than 5 miles from your home to a recreation area. Dog parks and playgrounds are closed. Parking may be limited. Courts are closed and no organized sports or pick-up games allowed. See additional City park restrictions below.
- Landscapers & Gardeners: not allowed for general cosmetic purposes. Only allowed to maintain habitability, sanitation and safety (such as fire safety or tree trimming to prevent a dangerous condition).
- Construction: Most residential and commercial construction is prohibited. Exceptions are made for healthcare facility construction directly related to the COVID-19 response; affordable housing, including developments with at least 10% income-restricted units; public works projects when designated as essential by the lead governmental agency; shelters and temporary housing; projects necessary to provide critical services to certain vulnerable individuals; construction necessary to secure an existing construction site; and limited essential residential or business repairs.
- Essential businesses still operating facilities: must scale down operations to essential components only, maximize the number of people working from home, and shall implement and post a social distancing protocol at their facilities.
- Essential businesses were expanded to include: service providers that enable residential transactions (notaries, title companies, Realtors, etc.); funeral homes and cemeteries; moving companies, rental car companies and rideshare services that specifically enable essential activities.
- Many essential businesses will remain open including: grocery stores, pharmacies, banks, home-based care for seniors or children, shops offering bicycle or vehicle repairs, laundromats, hardware stores, gas stations, and other essential businesses described in the order.
- Funerals: limited to no more than 10 people attending.
People should still remain at home as much as possible, only leaving for essential needs like groceries, to work an essential job, visit a pharmacy or receive medical care. If you are sick, or at-risk (including those 65 years and older, or with a medical condition) you should stay home and only leave to receive medical care. Social distancing (or maintaining at least 6 feet of physical space between people) remains our most powerful tool to slow the spread of COVID-19. Please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website or the San Mateo County Health website for more health and safety tips. We’ll continue to provide City-specific updates and resources on our website at www.cityofsanmateo.org/coronavirus. We’ll also be increasing our staffing efforts to help enforce these important orders. Let’s all remember to be kind and patient during these unprecedented times. |
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We’re very appreciative of people who have been abiding by the shelter in place orders. To protect public health, at this time access to City Parks will be limited. We know exercise and fresh air are a priority and essential to keeping us all sane, but please remember when venturing outdoors stay local. Only visit areas you can walk or bike to, please do not drive or take transit to recreation areas. Parks are open for passive use only, please be careful when enjoying open space areas. Visit our Parks Department FAQ page for more info.
CITY OF SAN MATEO PARK RULES:
• No gathering. Stay at least 6 feet apart from others
• Playgrounds are closed
• Dog parks are closed
• Courts (including tennis and basketball) & fields are closed
• No organized sports or pick-up games
• Ryder Park & Seal Point – parking lots are closed
• Poplar Creek Golf Course & Japanese Garden are closed
COUNTY PARKS: All San Mateo County Parks (including Coyote Point) are closed.
We understand these are very difficult circumstances, but we can all do our part by staying close to home. Your cooperation means you’ll be helping to protect your neighbors, your firefighters, your police officers, your public health workers and yourself.
Online Virtual Activities & Resources
It’s a virtual world these days and although we can’t be with you in person, we’re here for you virtually! We’re creating fresh content and our staff is sharing some of their favorite resources to keep you occupied & entertained. Check out the links below for a variety of family-friendly services and resources for people of all ages!
Let’s Recreate at Home
Your favorite Parks & Recreation staff have handpicked links to a variety of family-friendly online resources including games, crafts, fitness tips, educational links, & more! Check out our new Virtual Recreation page: www.cityofsanmateo.org/virtualrec
Our Librarians Have Gone Virtual!
Although our library buildings are closed, our digital doors are open 24/7! With your library card, you can access online books, music, movies, magazines and newspapers, homework help, and more on our e-Library web page. Don’t have a library card? Sign up for a free temporary card online and start using selected e-resources right away.
New Video Series – Daily Storytimes & More
Library staff are posting daily videos freshly made for you and your family to enjoy starting at 11 a.m. on social media, on our website and on our Library’s YouTube playlist. Enjoy videos like Bilingual Rhyme Time, Puppet Tuesday, Crafty Science and more!
SMPD’s New Books ‘N Badges Video Series
Watch our San Mateo Police Department’s adorable new video series. Enjoy several of our officers reading books for our youth. There are currently seven episodes, with one in Spanish! |
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Each day we are learning more about COVID-19 and how it is impacting our community. Everyone is coping with these sudden changes, and the outbreak and shelter-in-place orders will disproportionately impact our most vulnerable community members. We’re actively working with our public and nonprofit partners to meet community needs and identify volunteer opportunities. Please visit our Resources & Volunteer Opportunities web page for more information on how you can connect to services and ways to serve your community. If you or someone you know needs assistance, please call 2-1-1, visit the County’s COVID-19 Resources page, or contact Samaritan House at (650) 347-3648 or samaritanhousesanmateo.org.
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To protect the health of our staff and residents, the City is taking extensive steps to reduce the spread of the virus. On March 16 the City Council proclaimed a local emergency and has opened its emergency operations center along with Belmont, Foster City, and the San Mateo Consolidated Fire Department.
In compliance with the County Health Officer’s order to Shelter in Place, effective March 17 and updated March 31, the City will only be providing essential services including public safety, wastewater treatment, and critical infrastructure maintenance. We have also closed our facilities to the public, and are conducting public meetings remotely.
Please visit our coronavirus web page for a full list of what services are offered, what is temporarily restricted, and how you can participate in public meetings.
We also have FAQ pages on Public Works, the Library and Parks & Recreation.
Construction of public infrastructure is an essential service according to San Mateo County and our contractors and staff are taking all of the required precautions to ensure workers are safe. All Public Works Department major infrastructure projects, street paving projects, and maintenance work will continue. Please visit our Public Works FAQ page for more information.
Ban on Evictions for Nonpayment of RentThe San Mateo City Council and County Board of Supervisors have each adopted emergency ordinances that prohibit evictions for nonpayment of rent by current tenants who are impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Between the City and County ordinances, renters of any type of residential property, and small businesses tenants are protected in the City of San Mateo. The ordinances allow for a deferral, not a waiver of rents. Visit our San Mateo’s Emergency Actions web page for more information and resources.
County Event Center Being Used for Humanitarian NeedsThe San Mateo County Event Center is being used to support the regional response to COVID-19. In a March, 30 press release the County announced the National Guard brought medical supplies to set up a field hospital in preparation for the possibility local hospitals will need additional capacity.
The County-owned and operated Event Center continues to be used to house in RVs a small number of patients who could not safely isolate at home. The property is also hosting a restricted drive-through testing site operated by Verily. All activities at the event center are being carefully monitored and security measures are in place. |
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We want to help make sure our community is able to help those in need in a safe way, that is mindful of health risks and keeping our at-risk populations protected. We encourage everyone to go directly to our local established social service agencies to volunteer. Because the last thing we’d all want is for a well-meaning volunteer to accidentally contribute to the spread of the disease. Please visit our Resources & Volunteer Opportunities web page for more information.
Volunteer in Your CommunitySign up on the County Volunteers COVID-19 list or email SMC_Volunteers@smcgov.org to help your community during this challenging time. Help the nonprofit Samaritan House by emailing volunteering@samaritanhousesanmateo.org or visit Samaritan House’s Webpage for information about how to donate.
Our Emergency & Health Care Workers Need Protective EquipmentAll of San Mateo County is lending a hand to ensure we keep our community safe. The County of San Mateo is accepting donations of critical personal protective equipment (PPE) from organizations and individuals. Visit their donation web page for more information.
You can donate: Unused N95 respirators and surgical masks. Boxes and packages can be opened, as long as masks have not been used. Packages of disposable gloves, preferably nitrile exam gloves in all sizes. New containers of commercially produced hand sanitizer. New containers of disinfectants and disinfecting wipes. Packaged, unused protective goggles. New surgical gowns; fluid resistant gowns; coveralls.
Please email smcmeddonations@smcgov.org for any questions about other items you may have to donate. Supplies can be dropped off Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 1300 Maple Street Redwood City, CA 94063. Visit https://www.smcgov.org/covid-19-donations |
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Donate to San Mateo County StrongWe're so proud of our community members who've been stepping up to support others in need. Now there's a way to donate directly to those impacted by COVID-19 through the San Mateo County Strong Fund.
Whether you want to give to a nonprofit, families/individuals, or small businesses - all funds will stay local & help keep us #SMCStrong!
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