Letter From Millbrae Mayor Regarding Coronavirus - March 30, 2020

Press release from the City of Millbrae:

March 30, 2020

Dear Millbrae Residents,

It has been two weeks since the San Mateo County Health Officer issued the Shelter-in-Place Order. This new way of living is taking some time to get used to, but I assure you it is important and it is working.

By sheltering-in-place and maintaining social distancing guidelines, you are helping slow the spread of the Coronavirus and giving our health care professionals the time they need to treat those infected with the disease, care for the vulnerable, and develop a vaccine.

This past week, the City of Millbrae reiterated social distancing guidelines, and suggests that people maintain at least a 6-foot distance from people outside of their immediate family. It is especially important to follow these guidelines when you go out to shop and visit the park.

Unfortunately, because of overcrowding, county parks and state beaches have been closed. This is especially tough because we are cooped up in our homes and the weather is so nice outside.

Overcrowding got so bad that San Mateo County has issued a temporary closure of their parks. This includes Sawyer Camp Trail and Junipero Serra Park here in Millbrae. Everyone understands the need to get outside, so if you do, please maintain social distancing guidelines and avoid crowds.

As an alternative, both San Mateo County Libraries and Millbrae Recreation have created web-based activities and programs to help you and your family stay occupied and active.

San Mateo County Libraries has launched a new homepage that has been re-focused to support home-based e-learning with relevant content, resources and online events to facilitate learning, exploring and connecting from your home. All of it is accessible online and is free to access with your library card. Please visit www.smcl.org to learn more or to access the library’s large collection of digital content.

Millbrae Recreation has created a new Virtual Recreation Center, and has done their best to put together fun, creative, and educational content to help you and your family stay engaged and active from your home. Visit Millbrae’s Virtual Recreation Center on our website at www.cityofmillbrae.com.

San Mateo County’s Shelter-in-Place Order is critical in keeping us healthy and slowing the spread of COVID-19, but it also means schools have closed, many businesses have reduced their staff hours or closed, and non-profits are facing increased demand for services.

This week, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors approved $3,000,000 in emergency funding to support those most impacted by the Shelter-in-Place Order. To help bolster this effort, San Mateo County Strong was launched to give local residents the opportunity to support other locals in need.

We are asking everyone who has the means to consider donating to the San Mateo County Strong Fund. Your tax-deductible donation will go towards providing assistance to individuals, families, small businesses, and non-profits in San Mateo County. All of the donated money will stay in San Mateo County so you can be confident that it will truly help your neighbors and community.

Please visit San Mateo County Strong at www.smcstrong.org to learn more and to donate.

The City of Millbrae is conducting wellness checks on vulnerable populations and we are asking family, friends and neighbors of these people to help us identify those in need. If you know of anyone in the City of Millbrae 65 years of age or older, or someone who has special needs, that may need a wellness check, please let us know.

To let us know, please visit the City’s website and click on the Senior Wellness Check button at the bottom of the page. It will take you to an online reporting form that you can then fill out and submit. Someone from the City of Millbrae will conduct a wellness check on those identified.

We are working with several volunteer organizations such as Meals on Wheels, Self Help for the Elderly, San Mateo County, and other sources to ensure that our vulnerable residents get the food and support they need. If you would like to donate food or other volunteer services, please email the City of Millbrae at millbraecovid19@ci.millbrae.ca.us.

For seniors who have had a hard time shopping in a safe environment and getting the necessities they need, both Lucky’s and Safeway have instituted “seniors only” shopping hours from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. At these days and times, only those over the age of 65 and their caregivers are allowed in the stores.

Last week, San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe issued a warning to local residents about COVID-19 scams. Scammers are maliciously taking advantage of vulnerable people and trying to sell them fake COVID-19 test kits, fake cures and vaccines, medical supplies that are never delivered, and asking for donations to COVID-19 medical research.

To protect yourself from these scammers, the District Attorney’s Office recommends:

• Researching and verifying organizations that are soliciting money to combat COVID-19.
• Being cautious of unsolicited emails offering medical supplies or treatment for COVID-19.
• That you DO NOT click on links or open email attachments from unknown or unverified sources. This could download a virus onto your computer.

Ignore offers for a COVID-19 vaccine, cure or treatment. At this time, there is no cure or vaccine for COVID-19. If there is a medical breakthrough, you won’t hear about it for the first time through an email, online ad, or unsolicited sales pitch.

If you would like to report a COVID-19 related scam or have already been the victim of a scam, please contact the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office by calling (650) 363-4651.

These are tough times right now, but I assure you, everyone at every level of government and in healthcare is doing all they can to stop the spread of the Coronavirus and find a vaccine for it.

Continue to practice good social distancing, wash your hands when you come into contact with others and outside elements, and stay in your home when possible. By doing these things, we can all do our parts to help protect ourselves, our families, and our community.

I, along with everyone at the City, wish you well and hope that you and your family stay healthy.

Sincerely,

Reuben D. Holober

Mayor, City of Millbrae

* A signed copy of this letter can be found here.

This press release was produced by the City of Millbrae. The views expressed here are the author’s own.