© Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
The San Francisco 49ers were not allowed to complete their season or host fans in Santa Clara, but the team will (at least offer to) open their stadium doors in 2021. On Monday, team president Al Guido announced that the team would offer Levi’s Stadium as a COVID-19 vaccination center for Santa Clara County residents in a letter to Cindy Chavez, a member of the Santa Clara Board of Supervisors.
“We understand the importance of fast, efficient and equitable vaccine distribution, especially when COVID-19 is spreading at an alarming rate – and we want to do our part to help,” Guido wrote. “By serving as a vaccination center, we believe Levi’s Stadium can rapidly expand the number of Santa Clara County residents receiving the vaccine.”
Expanding COVID-19 vaccine distribution is crucial to our community. On behalf of the @49ers, I wrote @SupCindyChavez today to offer @LevisStadium as a vaccination center to help Santa Clara County residents get vaccinated. Stay tuned for more details. pic.twitter.com/WS1Ln9Utw7
— Al Guido (@AlGuido) January 12, 2021
There is, as yet, no timeline or confirmation that the County will use Levi’s Stadium to vaccinate residents, but Guido stated the venue is ready to become a vaccination site, “as quickly and safely as possible,” with the County’s guidance.
According to the latest numbers from the New York Times, Santa Clara County has had 83,779 total cases, sixth-most in the state. The County has averaged 1,328 daily cases over the last seven days (sixth-most) and 69 cases per 100,000 people. That case rate per 100,000 is 29th-most in the state, which is disproportionately low given the county’s population.