March 20, 2020
Dear Colma Community,
Thank you for your feedback and words of encouragement as we ask our community to support our neighbors, friends, co-workers, and families. We are in ever-constant changing times and it’s important to realize that we are a resilient community. I can’t stress enough the need for all of us to allow time for stores to restock and give priority to seniors while waiting in line, and above all, be reasonable when you go shopping.
Last night, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a statewide “shelter in place” order in an attempt to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 in the state. Essential businesses will remain open within the state. This includes gas stations, pharmacies, grocery stores, food banks, and restaurants that offer takeout and delivery service. Businesses that must close indefinitely include dine-in restaurants, nightclubs, gyms, fitness studios, convention centers, and entertainment venues. The state order has no specific termination date and it supersedes San Mateo County’s order.
Now, more than ever, it’s imperative that we follow these orders and also follow social distancing. I thought this was a great graphic to share with you which shows the effectiveness of social distancing.
This has indeed, been very difficult for our local businesses. I want to encourage our community to support local businesses by getting take-out for dinner, buying gift cards online at your favorite retail store, and more! The Town is coordinating with officials at the local, state and national level urging that aid to business begin to flow as quickly as possible. Aid is available right now from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) which has declared San Mateo County eligible for Disaster Loan Assistance to help alleviate economic injury caused by the Coronavirus (COVID-19).
We Are In This Together
The Town is encouraging the community to stay connected and find new ways to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle. There are many ways to interact with friends and family while maintaining a “social distance” of at least six feet. Enjoy a walk, run or bike ride around Town or at the beach. Check out this article about why spending more time outside is a good thing!
We know this is a difficult time. If you need support, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has a national Disaster Distress Helpline for crisis counseling. Call 1-800-985-5990, 24/7 for toll-free, multilingual crisis support services.
Lastly, the Town of Colma is here for you. We have set up a dedicated website, www.colma.ca.gov/covid-19/ which is updated daily with new information and resources. We can also be reached at (650) 997-8300.
Sincerely,
John Goodwin, Mayor
Town of Colma