County tops 1 million vaccine doses delivered
Redwood City – As California lifts most COVID-19 restrictions on Tuesday, June 15, County of San Mateo leaders today encouraged all eligible individuals to take advantage of free vaccination clinics.
“The residents of San Mateo County and California have done a tremendous job doing their parts to get vaccinated as total shots in the arm now total over 1 million in the county and 40 million in the state,” said David J. Canepa, president of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors.
“June 15 is the day that everyday life returns to normal and that is cause to celebrate. It’s time we can ditch these damn masks in most settings.”
As of Tuesday at 12:01 a.m. (a minute after midnight, tonight), California moves “Beyond the Blueprint,” which ends the color-coded reopening tier systems and lifts most restrictions on businesses. The County of San Mateo fully aligns with all state COVID-19 health and safety guidelines and has no plans to impose separate guidance.
What Changes/What You Need to Know
As of Tuesday, there are no longer capacity or distancing requirements for most businesses or public settings.
Fully vaccinated people can stop wearing face coverings outdoors and indoors – with the following exceptions:
► On public transit (buses, ride-shares, taxis, airplanes, trains, ferries)
► Indoors in K-12 schools, child care and other youth settings
► Health care settings and long-term care facilities
► Correctional facilities and detention centers
► Homeless shelters, emergency shelters, cooling centers
Businesses, public agencies and other organizations may still require face coverings, for both employees and members of the public.
The County of San Mateo, for instance, will require members of the public entering County offices or interacting with County employees to wear face coverings. County employees will be required to wear facial coverings in alignment with Cal-OSHA’s workplace safety requirements and the County will also continue to enforce physical distancing requirements in County offices as well.
“What’s important to remember is that not everyone can receive a vaccine due to health considerations, and children under 12 years of age are not eligible. We still need to protect these individuals so, if you are asked, please wear your face mask,” said County Manager Mike Callagy.
“Be patient. Be kind. Let’s not leave anyone behind,” Callagy said.
Vaccination Availability
Anyone age 12 and older can get vaccinated for free in San Mateo County. Vaccines are widely available at health care providers as well as certain pharmacies and other locations.
County Health operates or supports numerous clinics with a focus on areas with low vaccination rates. To find a vaccine site near you, go to https://www.smchealth.org/vaccine-clinic-calendar
The County is also partnering with local groups to bring targeted vaccine pop up events to groups of 25 or more. Request an event at least two weeks in advance.
The state’s MyTurn site provides a list of vaccine clinics. Appointments are optional. Go to https://myturn.ca.gov/ for more information.
COVID-19 Testing
Testing remains an important strategy in continuing to reduce the spread of the disease and to protect individuals who have not been vaccinated. Testing is available for all ages, including young children and infants, and all testing sites now use more comfortable testing methods by swabbing the front part of the nose or mouth.
People who are vaccinated or unvaccinated should get tested if they have symptoms of COVID-19. Unvaccinated persons should get tested if they have had close contact with someone with COVID-19 or have concerns about being infected or exposed.
See smcgov.org/covid-19-testing for more information about locations and schedules. In addition to these sites, testing is also available from health care providers and other community organizations.
COVID-19 By the Numbers in San Mateo County:
Vaccines:
► Doses administered: 1,002,566
► Received at least one shot: 560,520 individuals or 84.1% of people 12 years and older
► Fully vaccinated: 477,584 individuals
As of Sunday, June 13, 2021
COVID-19 Cases:
► 42,214 individuals
► 581 deaths
As of Thursday, June 10, 2021
Metrics:
► New COVID-19 cases per day per 100,000 of the population: 1.3
► State-calculated, adjusted case rate 0.7%
► Positivity rate (7-day average) 0.4%
► Health equity quartile positivity rate 0.7%
As of Tuesday, June 8, 2021
Note for news media: The County of San Mateo fully aligns with all state COVID-19 health and safety guidance. Please direct questions about specific aspects of the guidance to the appropriate state agency.
Important Links:
County Department Service Updates: https://www.smcgov.org/departments
Vaccination Clinic Calendar: https://www.smchealth.org/vaccine-clinic-calendar
Testing Locations: https://www.smcgov.org/covid-19-testing
Guidance for Face Coverings: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/guidance-for-face-coverings.aspx#June15guidance
And Remember:
The COVID-19 pandemic is not over. The coronavirus is deadly and highly contagious for those who are not vaccinated. Continue to do your part to slow the spread and get tested if you suspect you have been in contact with an infected person or have symptoms.