San Mateo County was the last Bay Area county to be added to the state's COVID-19 monitoring list last week for having a rolling average of more than 100 cases per 100,000 for 14 days. This action is a bit like looking for your lost keys under a streetlight even though you lost them miles away.”Morrow believes that if business owners practiced social distancing and made mask coverings mandatory, they could open. San Mateo County Supervisor David Canepa plans to introduce an ordinance at the Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday that would impose fines for those who violate COVID-19 health orders like not wearing a face covering in high-risk settings. “I am not supportive of these actions and, for San Mateo County, I believe they are misdirected and will cause more harm than good. The ordinance comes after San Mateo County was added to thestate's COVID-19 watchlist last week. Businesses can be fined between $250 and $3,000 per violation depending on the gravity of the violation, prior warnings, efforts to comply or intent to profit.Canepa believes it's time to "double down" on mask compliance, according to a news release from his office.He said the ordinance decriminalizes violations but still enforces compliance. So to even think about two months, another three month, would be devastating.”Morrow told KPIX that there is no process to get off the state’s watch list that he knows of; he compared it to “Hotel California.” He said you can always check in, but never leave.“It’s totally unnerving, the thing that me and my coworkers have built and given our all to, to be worried about possibly need to find a new career,” Foster said. Allie Rasmus reportsCurrently, those who violate the state's health order could be punished with a misdemeanor, with fines up to $1,000 and a potential jail sentence of up to 90 days.Under Canepa's ordinance, individuals can be fined $100 as an administrative infraction, $200 for a second violation and $500 for additional violations. “I hope that he continues to stand up for us.”Morrow went on to outline some of his issues with the framework of the California watch list that has brought on the business closures, first and foremost being the problems with COVID-19 case data being provided by the state.On Tuesday, Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said Morrow also noted issues with benchmarks and time frames being used that may work on a state level but don’t necessarily apply on a local level.

The Health Officer for San Mateo County on Thursday issued a scathing criticism of California's current COVID-19 watch list and policy … All nine counties that comprise the San Francisco Bay Area have now been placed on the state's COVID-19 watch list after San Mateo County appeared on the list Wednesday. "San Mateo County was the last Bay Area county to be added to the state's COVID-19 monitoring list last week for having a rolling average of more than 100 cases per 100,000 for 14 days.Since the state has been on the watchlist for three consecutive days, businesses such as hair salons and fitness centers now face additional restrictions. UPDATE: San Mateo County could join Marin and Contra Costa counties in imposing penalties on people who are violating county health orders to slow the spread of Covid-19. He told KPIX that the state should balance its focus on both managing the virus and the economy.“In general, most businesses can put all these things in place,” Morrow said.Morrow went on in his statement, adding that he agrees with the state’s aim to minimize the spread of the virus, but also said that goal needs to be reached “while not destroying everything else in the process.”Morrow said that San Mateo County’s case numbers have stabilized with hospitalizations “stable and/or decreasing” and death counts low, leading him to believe it is safe for many business that are currently restricted to continue operation.“We also have a good idea of what’s causing the spread and it’s not primarily from barber shops, nail salons, or the other businesses that were targeted in this most recent closure,” explained Morrow.