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Health Order ExtendedHealth officers across the Bay Area have issued new, somewhat less restrictive, shelter in place orders through May 31 in order to maintain progress on slowing the spread of COVID-19.
Our community has done a great job adhering to public health experts’ mandates and practicing social distancing, which has helped slow the spread of the virus and resulted in fewer hospitalizations than initially anticipated. While some restrictions have been eased, we all must continue to stay home as much as possible. If you leave the house, you must practice social distancing and wear face coverings when at essential businesses.
A few key updates are: Gardening & landscaping services are allowed. Passive outdoor recreation is allowed, but you must stay within 10 miles of your home. There are still facility restrictions in place at City parks. The County plans to reopen some of its parks, however restrictions are still in place at beaches. All construction is allowed. The City is preparing to launch online permit services and more information will be available soon. More child care programs are allowed to support parents working at essential businesses. These newly allowed activities must follow the health order’s safety protocols.
Other rules that are still in effect: Stay home as much as possible, only leaving for essential needs or to work at a business allowed to operate Wear face coverings when out of the house at essential businesses, waiting in line, at medical facilities or while on transit Businesses allowed to operate must follow the County’s safety protocols Non-essential businesses such as gyms, hair salons and bars remain closed Restaurants may be open for takeout only, and must follow the County’s safety protocols
The updates goes into effect Monday, May 4 and most of the restrictions in the prior orders remain in place. The Health Officer is closely monitoring actions by our Governor as well as various indicators and is continually assessing whether and to what extent the County can ease restrictions to provide more flexibility and freedom for residents. For more details read the updated order on the County’s website.
COVID-19 Data Available by Zip CodeSan Mateo County Health continues to publish information about the total number of cases of COVID-19 through an online data dashboard. Recently, the County released the number of COVID-19 cases by zip code. Note, cases by zip code do not represent, in any way, a true representation of the actual burden of disease in the geographic area. |
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What to Know About Beaches & Parks in San Mateo CountyWhile some of the orders have been eased, there are still restrictions in place at local, county and state parks. Remember - stay within 10 miles of your home!
California State Parks has temporarily closed a number of state beaches and parks throughout the state to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. In San Mateo County, Bean Hollow Beach, Butano Park, Portola Redwoods Park, and San Gregorio Beach are closed. San Mateo County beaches will only be accessible by foot as all beach parking lots will be closed. In addition, parking along Highway 1 is prohibited and violators will be cited. There is no gathering or lounging on beaches allowed. Law enforcement is asking for consideration of local residents by not parking on neighborhood streets. Visit the California State Parks website and update from the County for more information.
San Mateo County Parks will reopen trails in 13 of its 23 parks on Monday, May 4. Visitors will be required to comply with social distancing measures, which means keeping six feet from others and wearing (or carrying) a face covering. Note, San Mateo County residents should only travel to parks within 10 miles of their residence to stay in compliance with the updated County Health Order. The Crystal Springs Regional Trail will be open to walkers and joggers. Coyote Point Recreation Area will remain closed, however the Bay Trail will be open. Visit the San Mateo County Parks website for a full list of the opened parks. The County Parks department will work towards opening additional parks in phases.
Restrictions remain in place at City of San Mateo parks too. We'll continue to provide updates on our FAQ page.
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Everyone Counts!One of the most powerful things you can do for yourself, your family, and your community is to participate in the census. Your participation helps make sure there is enough funding for programs and services that we all rely on, such as parks, schools, public transportation, and more. We are proud that San Mateo County has the highest response rate in the entire state of California, with 63.9% of residents responding! Still, we need everyone to respond to the 2020 Census because everyone counts. Due to the Shelter in Place directive, the questionnaire assistance locations are temporarily closed. You can still complete the census online, by phone or by mail. Complete your census form now and encourage everyone you know to fill it out!
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Share Your Signs of Hope Our community has been incredible lifting each other up and sharing messages of positivity as we all cope with sheltering in place. We've received an incredible batch of photo submissions for our Signs of Hope Campaign, and we'd love to see yours, too!
We're collecting and posting pictures that represent the kind, caring, and supportive community that surrounds us here in our city. Thank you notes, window paintings, neighbors helping neighbors. Look around you and send us a picture of anything that symbolizes the resilience of our community and amazing city. Email your picture(s) to: socialmedia@cityofsanmateo.org.
We know life in San Mateo is quite different than what we’re all used to right now, but our community is strong when we come together and support each other. Check out some of the Signs of Hope below, and on our Facebook Page. Stay tuned for more as we continue to share the inspirational messages and signs of hope surrounding San Mateo!
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Help Police Activities League Provide Food for FamiliesOn May 5, San Mateo Police Activities League is participating in Giving Tuesday with a Food for Families Fundraiser. San Mateo PAL has teamed up with Esposto's Meals to feed our most vulnerable population — children who are out of school, low-income families, the elderly, and individuals facing a loss of income. The partnership will distribute Pantry Kits that include essential items such as meat, eggs, fruits, vegetables, rice, toilet paper and more.
Please consider making a gift to San Mateo PAL during #GivingTuesdayNow, to help support local families by ensuring they have food on their tables. All donations are tax-deductible, and 100% of funds go directly towards families in your community!
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Virtual Recreation - New Programs, Activities & ClassesAlthough City parks and libraries remain closed, many of our programs and services can be accessed online! We’ve got classes and activities for all ages and are even starting to host online programs with some of your favorite instructors! - Classes from Parks and Rec: Some classes begin Monday, April 27. Sign your child up for Science Experiments, Computer Coding, Art, Chess, or Jewelry Making!
- Preschool Activities: Enjoy story time, music time, art, and science time on the Virtual Preschool page. Our preschool teachers have hand-picked activities for you to follow Monday through Fridays.
- Virtual Storytime with City Librarians: Join us for stories, rhymes, craft instruction, and more. New content posted daily at 11 a.m.
- Virtual Programs for Teens: The Library hosts a variety of programs for 8th - 12th graders including Teen Virtual Board Games, Teen Book Group, and Teen Task Force.
- Policy Activities League: The San Mateo Police Activities League is offering virtual classes to continue their mission of keeping the community engaged and active.
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Downtown Garage and Parking Lot CleaningStarting Friday, May 1, crews will begin power washing the Main Street Garage and neighboring streets. The power-washing machines will run from 10 p.m. to about 7 a.m. Friday through Sunday. Be sure to look for "No Parking" signs that indicate where workers will be cleaning. Once the Main Street Garage is completed, the crew is expected to move on to the Talbot’s, Ravioli’s, Workers Resource and Kinko’s parking lots the following weekend.
Caltrain Hillsdale Station - Temporary ClosureStarting May 16, 2020, Caltrain’s Hillsdale Station will temporarily close for up to six months as part of the 25th Avenue Grade Separation Project. During the closure, trains that currently stop at the Hillsdale Station will now serve the Belmont Station instead. A new weekday and weekend timetable, effective May 16, will be made available online, pending service updates related to COVID-19.
What Hillsdale Station Passengers Need to Know
- Parking is free at the Belmont Station during the temporary station closure.
- SamTrans will run special bus routes.
- Ridership levels during COVID-19 might influence the availability of shuttles between stations. Updated information on all shuttles serving Caltrain stations will be posted online.
- Bike racks are available at the Belmont Station, and SamTrans can hold up to three bikes.
Please plan accordingly as the temporary station closure may add additional time to your commute. For more information, including station access alternatives, visit www.Caltrain.com/HillsdaleTempClosure. Watch Caltrain's Virtual Town Hall to learn about the impacts of the temporary closure of the Hillsdale Station including details on the closure and rider plans.
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Safe Streets San MateoWhile the County’s Shelter in Place Order requires us to minimize the amount we leave our homes, outdoor recreation is still allowed so long as social distancing protocols are followed. You can walk, bike and hike within five miles of your home, just remember to stay six feet away from others.
To help residents remain safe while in our neighborhoods, we’ve launched the Safe Streets San Mateo Initiative. We’ll be looking at restricting a handful of street segments to local traffic only, and encourage everyone to remember these important safety tips: - SLOW DOWN Drivers, remember that everyone is working hard to keep their six feet of physical distance, which means pedestrians, joggers and cyclists might be using the roadway. Keeping your speed low on our city streets gives you an opportunity to react quickly if you need to.
- PAY ATTENTION Pedestrians, joggers and cyclists, you must pay attention if you’re using roadways to keep your distance from others. Drivers aren’t used to seeing you on the roadway, so make sure you can be seen if you step off the sidewalk. Continue to use crosswalks and walk signals appropriately.
- PARK SMART When parking in a neighborhood, don’t block the sidewalk. Make sure you have allowed enough space for strollers and wheelchairs to safely pass your parked car. Every effort you make to be safe on our streets helps the entire community.
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Many Residents Protected from Rent Increases The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors placed a temporary countywide moratorium on rent increases on certain existing residential tenancies due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Emergency Regulation took effect on April 28 and will remain in place until May 31, 2020, unless it is extended by the Board of Supervisors. The Emergency Regulation is countywide, which means it applies in all cities located within the County as well as in the unincorporated areas. Visit the County's web page for more information.
Mental Health & Well-Being ResourcesThe San Mateo County Office of Community Affairs has a list of some important resources and materials that we hope our community can use to get through this difficult time. A general list of the County’s core service agencies is also available online.
Update on Economic Impact PaymentsAs a result of the CARES Act, some residents will receive direct Economic Impact Payments from the IRS in the coming weeks. For taxpayers who filed tax returns in 2018 and 2019 and most seniors and retirees, no further action is needed. For those who did not need to file taxes over the past few years, you can visit the IRS website to provide the necessary information to ensure you receive payment as quickly as possible.
Check out the Economic Impact Payment Information Center to find out who is eligible and how much to expect.
Resources for ImmigrantsWe want to connect community members to resources regardless of immigration or citizenship status. These County and State resource guides have information on community-based organizations and other services available for our immigrant community.La orden del Oficial de Salud del Condado de San Mateo que requiere que el público y los trabajadores de las empresas esenciales usen cobertores faciales es exigible a partir de las 8 a.m. de mañana (22 de abril). El pedido y las preguntas frecuentes se encuentran en https://www.smcgov.org/covid19-face-covering
Help & Resources for SeniorsAre you an older adult? Do you need assistance, food or someone to chat with? There’s help! Call (650) 780-7542 Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. to talk with someone who can help you stay healthy, well and connected. Peninsula Family Service and the Peninsula Health Care District offer this free service to adults 60+ years. It’s available in multiple languages. Please share this information with those in your community too! You can always find more resources by calling 2-1-1 or visiting: the County's Resources web page or www.cityofsanmateo.org/coronavirus |
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Give to SMC Strong & Support Your NeighborsWe'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!
Peninsula Family Service COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund Peninsula Family Service is a nonprofit aimed at strengthening the San Mateo County community by providing children, families, and older adults with support and tools to lead healthy, stable lives. Peninsula Family Service is seeking donations to the COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund. A donation to the Peninsula Family Service COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund will make an immediate impact on the welfare of program participants. Peninsula Family Service will use the funding to distribute gift cards directly to the people they support to purchase food, diapers, clothing, or other essentials.
Support Life & Consider Donating BloodWhile COVID-19 has changed a lot of our day-to-day activities, there is still a constant need for blood donations. There is no substitute for blood donation, which is an essential health care activity. Donation centers remain open – with extra precautions in place – to give you a safe way to support patients in need of blood. If you are healthy and would like to assist your community, please consider finding donation opportunities near you and schedule an appointment:
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