San Mateo County Ducks 'Watch List,' Avoids Gym, Salon Closures

SAN MATEO COUNTY, CA – San Mateo County will be allowed to keep gyms and hair and nail salons open for now.

The county ducked a state order shuttering such high-risk businesses in 30 other counties, including neighboring Santa Clara County.

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday ordered the closure of high-risk businesses in counties that were on the state’s watch list due to surging COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.

Newsom ordered the immediate shutdown of nearly all nonessential indoor activities statewide, including indoor dinning, movie theaters and cardrooms Monday amid a surge of COVID-19 cases throughout much of the state and most of the country.

As of Sunday, San Mateo County Health reported a total of 4,045 cases of COVID-19. The county experienced a record 108 new cases on Friday, July 10, 2020. surpassing the previous one-day record of 90 set Friday, July 3, 2020.

The county’s rolling seven-day positivity rate stands at 4.9 percent, below the state average of 7.7 percent.

Newsom ordered further restrictions in 30 other counties on the state’s COVID-19 “watch list” – forcing the closure of gyms, churches, hair salons, malls and other businesses.

San Mateo County – so far – is not on the watch list and avoids those additional rollbacks.

“Governor Newsom’s measures further emphasize the need for all of us to do our part in stopping the spread of COVID-19,” San Mateo County Health Officer Dr. Scott Morrow said in a statement.

“That means wearing a face covering, maintaining social distancing, and limiting our activities. It’s up to us to determine our future.”