Health Alert

COVID-19 Information for Members

COVID-19 Prevention

Your best defense against COVID-19 is to strictly follow the advice of health experts, as summarized below. This will greatly reduce your chances of contracting this very contagious virus and spreading it to others. 

Prevention in public places

  • Get vaccinated That makes it 80% less likely that you will get COVID-19 if you are exposed to the virus. If you do still get COVID-19, being vaccinated makes it 84% to 96% less likely that will be hospitalized. Learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine. 
  • Wear a mask indoors This is especially important if your vaccinations are not up to date, you are part of an at-risk population, the space is not well ventilated or the COVID-19 level in your area is high. 
  • Maintain social distance indoors People who are not fully vaccinated should stay at least six feet away from others in public. 
  • Practice good hygiene Wash your hands often with soap and water (or hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol) for 20 seconds. 
  • Be safe when you travel Wear a mask on public transportation or when flying. 

Learn more about these and other ways to prevent COVID-19 in public places by visiting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

Prevention at home

HPSM’s COVID-19 Care Guide 

If you or someone in your household has (or might have) COVID-19, use HPSM’s COVID-19 Care Guide to prevent the virus from spreading to those you live with. The Care Guide explains:

  • Critical actions you can take to stop the virus from spreading 
  • Caregiver basics to keep you and your household safe and healthy
  • How to quarantine safely if you have (or think you may have) COVID-19
  • Instructions on how to properly wear a mask, wash your hands and clean your home

COVID-19 Care Guide

Get the latest facts

  • Read the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) FAQs from the Centers for Disease Control.
  • The main symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, cough and/or breathing difficulties. Having these symptoms, does not mean you have COVID-19. If you have medical questions about COVID-19 or symptoms you have, please call our Nurse Advice Line at 1-833-846-8773 or your primary care provider (PCP).
  • If you have non-medical questions about COVID-19 (such as how to prepare for an outbreak or prevent its spread), call the County of San Mateo Public Call Center by dialing 211. This multilingual hotline is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Calling this number instead of 911 will allow dispatchers to focus on emergency calls. For more information, www.smchealth.org/coronavirus or text "coronavirus" to 211 for updates.

Get to your appointment safely

Need a ride to the doctor, pharmacy or other health care visit? CareAdvantage and Medi-Cal members who have no means of transportation can get rides at no cost. Learn how

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