With Thanksgiving less than a week away across the country, thousands of families are preparing to go on vacation or get together with their families. Given this, and the fact that COVID-19 is adding to the rise in influenza cases, health authorities have called for precautionary measures to avoid contagion during the holidays. For now, here's what you need to know about local news from November 12 to 18 to stay up to date.
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Last Monday, November 14, the United Against Hate Week began in Redwood City, where, through various activities, a call was made to civic action to stop all those behaviors that are based on hate, discrimination and racism, among other ways of hurting anyone in the community.
United Against Hate Week grew out of a United Against Hate poster campaign created by Bay Area cities in response to white supremacist rallies in Berkeley and San Francisco in 2017.
Various events took place throughout the week, including workshops, presentations, readings, documentary screenings, and this Saturday, the Racial Equity Mural by artist Rachel Wolfe-Goldsmith was completed on Jefferson Avenue and Middlefield in Redwood City.
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On the evening of Tuesday, November 15, Redwood City police opened fire on a gunman on a section of El Camino Real who was traveling in a vehicle with a woman and three minors.
Redwood City Police Chief Dan Mulholland told reporters that officers responded to the El Camino Real area after a 911 call at 3:19 p.m. reported that a woman's voice was heard in an agitated state, but she was not providing any information.
Police were able to locate the caller's vehicle and responded to the scene on El Camino Real between Vera and Roosevelt streets, where officers found a domestic violence incident.
According to Redwood City Police, officers attempted to engage in dialogue with the suspect, but noticed that he, with a firearm, attempted to use the children as a shield and attempted to shoot the woman and/or the children, so the officers responded "with lethal force" against the suspect.
The man was later pronounced dead at a local hospital, none of the officers were injured.
On Wednesday, Nov. 16, the San Mateo County Coroner's Office said the suspect's name was Abran Gutierrez, 36, of San Carlos.
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To prevent a “twin epidemic” of COVID-19 and seasonal influenza, the San Mateo County Health Department is calling on all residents 6 months and older to get vaccinated against influenza to protect themselves and their loved ones.
Influenza vaccination is part of a comprehensive public health strategy not only to reduce the burden of seasonal disease but also to preserve health care resources for the care of patients with COVID-19.
Local health authorities have reminded that it takes a couple of weeks after vaccination for the body to develop immunity, so it is best not to delay vaccination.
It is important to note that the vaccine only keeps the person who has received it fully protected for about a year, so it is important to get vaccinated every year.
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The California Department of Public Health This week, the country reported the first death from influenza and RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) this winter season involving a child under 5 years of age.
While the health authority did not reveal the name of the deceased patient or the place where the death occurred, it noted that young children are more vulnerable to serious complications from RSV and influenza, especially if they have underlying medical conditions or were born prematurely.
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Three people were hospitalized after a crash in a parking lot at a Target store in San Mateo involving multiple vehicles on Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 16, according to police.
The collision was reported shortly after noon at the store located at 2220 Fashion Island Blvd., where officers found multiple victims and three vehicles involved.
Police did not provide details on the conditions of the three people taken to a hospital and said the cause of the crash remains under investigation.
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In a victory for workers, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to raise the minimum wage to $16.50 an hour, effective in spring 2023.
The measure approved 5-0 will apply to unincorporated areas including North Fair Oaks and its Middlefield Road commercial corridor and agricultural land stretching from Pacifica to Pescadero.
Board Chairman Don Horsley, who proposed the increase along with Supervisor Dave Pine, said the increased paychecks will help stimulate the economy and serve as a support for families and individuals living in an increasingly expensive area.
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The Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to provide an annual park pass in San Mateo County to low-income individuals and families.
The 5-0 vote will ensure that all residents, regardless of means, have access to all county parks.
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Just over a week after Election Day, San Mateo-Foster City School Board Trustee Noelia Corzo declared victory in the race for District 2 Supervisor for San Mateo County, beating out her opponent, Belmont City Councilman Charles Stone.
Corzo will be the first Latina to hold this position, and for at least two years, she will be the only woman on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors.
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The San Mateo Police Department said it has purchased 500 self-installable CATGUARD devices designed to prevent the theft of catalytic converters after records in that county showed an increase in theft of auto parts.
The measure includes the purchase of 500 CATGUARD self-installable marking kits for San Mateo residents that include two ultra-destructive tags with an identification number that will break into pieces if removed, metal etching fluid, two window stickers and information on how to register in the CATGUARD database.
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