San Mateo County has seen an increase in cases and hospitalizations for COVID-19, while the Centers for Disease Control The CDC classifies it as a “medium” risk level.
That's according to San Mateo County Health Officer Louise Rogers, who in a statement urged all those eligible for the vaccine and boosters to get them, in addition to improving ventilation in all indoor spaces as much as possible.
He also asked that people continue to wear a well-fitting mask indoors in public places, especially in those where there are crowds of people, in order to reduce the risk of infecting others and becoming infected.
“This is a time to increase awareness and vigilance. Within the CDC rubric, San Mateo County is classified as ‘medium,’” the health official said.
As of yesterday, he said, the daily average of positive cases is 36 per 100,000 inhabitants during the last seven days, which indicates around 276 new cases daily, reported to public health during the last week.
Test positivity rates, he said, are 5.4 percent countywide and 4.8 percent in health equity quartile census tracts.
The state-reported testing rate — which incorporates a seven-day lag — saw the county test at 584 tests per day per 100,000 people in the population, still among the highest in California.
Meanwhile, the census of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in San Mateo on Wednesday was 19.
“We encourage residents who are immunocompromised or at high risk for severe illness to talk to their health care provider and consider additional precautions, which may include wearing a better-quality mask or respirator — for example, N95 — in crowded indoor settings, having a plan for rapid testing, and consulting with their physician about whether they are a candidate for available treatments,” she said.
Rogers urged those who live with or care for someone at high risk to consider self-screening for infections before coming into contact, as well as wearing a mask when indoors with more vulnerable people.
In that regard, he noted that the state is adapting some of the COVID-19 testing sites it supports in partnership with local health departments, such as the one at Colegio de San Mateo, to serve as testing and treatment sites.
These slots and tests, she said, complement the offerings the federal government has already made available through many local pharmacies, as residents who test positive can be screened for oral medications and, if they qualify, can learn how to begin treatment as quickly as possible.
Vaccination Update COVID-19
The San Mateo County Health Department said that while it remains focused on closing gaps in primary vaccination series outreach, uptake remains lower among African American, Pacific Islander, and Hispanic populations, as well as the 5-11 age group, and booster shots for older adults.
Notably, last week, the pharmaceutical company Moderna requested authorization of its vaccine for the 6-month to 5-year-old age group. Federal reviews of emergency use authorizations for the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines for these younger populations are scheduled for early and late June.
Additionally, Pfizer has requested FDA approval for a booster dose for the 5- to 11-year-old age group.
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