Coronavirus in Marin County
COVID-19 Status Update for 05/24/2020
The status update for May 24th, 2020, includes updated COVID-19 activity and a recap of COVID-19 related news items and updates from the past week.
COVID-19 activity in Marin:Marin Confirmed Cases: … Read More
Public Health Orders in effect for Marin County
A Stay at Home (also known as Shelter-In-Place) Order is in place for Marin County until further notice. The new order, effective May 18, will ease some additional restrictions while practices to strengthen containment of COVID-19 are put into place. Additional orders are also in place limiting park access, restricting use of short term rentals, and requiring the use of face coverings while in public spaces.
Frequently Asked Questions
Campgrounds remain closed to overnight visitors. You may visit campgrounds to engage in outdoor recreation (hiking, biking, etc.) or visit an outdoor business. Under the May 15th Order of the Health Officer of the County of Marin Allowing Motorized Access to Certain Parks and Open Spaces, and Directing Others Remain Closed to Motorized Access, you may drive to most campgrounds for these purposes. You must follow Social Distancing Requirements when visiting campgrounds. Areas that encourage congregating, including picnic areas, fire pits, and barbeque areas remain closed. Please note that campgrounds in the following Park Facilities remain closed to motorized access:
- all beaches along the Pacific Ocean,
- Point Reyes National Seashore,
- Golden Gate National Recreation Area (including Muir Woods National Monument),
- Mount Tamalpais State Park,
- Tomales Bay State Park,
- Samuel P Taylor State Park,
- Chicken Ranch Beach,
- Bolinas Lagoon,
- and all Marin Municipal Water District lands.
05/18/2020 - 15:37
When a COVID-19 case is confirmed, our Public Health team conducts a contact investigation (also known as contact tracing), which focuses on identifying, testing and isolating people with high or medium risk of infection from a confirmed case. The contact investigation will review the places and people the confirmed cases may have come into contact with during the time the case would have been infectious. Any people or places believed to be high or medium risk will then be contacted to proceed with testing and isolation.
Below is a table from the CDC, clarifying the types of exposure that might lead to infection. Most importantly, the CDC clarifies brief encounters in the community do not carry significant risk.
| Risk Level | Exposures Identified Through Contact Investigation |
|---|---|
| No Identifiable Risk | Interactions with a person who has symptomatic laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 that do not meet any of the high-, medium-, or low-risk conditions below, such as walking by the person or being briefly in the same room. |
| Low Risk | Being in the same indoor environment (e.g., classroom, a hospital waiting room) as a person with symptomatic laboratory-confirmed case of COVID-19 for a prolonged period of time, but not meeting the definition of closed contact |
| Medium Risk |
|
| High Risk | Living in the same household as, being an intimate partner of, or providing care in a nonhealthcare setting (such as a home) for a person with symptomatic laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection without using recommended precautions for home care and home isolation |
If believe you have experienced a high or medium risk exposure to someone with COVID-19, you should quarantine yourself in your home and contact your healthcare provider. If you do not have a healthcare provider, call (415) 473-7191.
Learn more about COVID-19 testing in Marin County by visiting our Testing Information webpage.
05/23/2020 - 13:20
Marin Public Health's team of "contact investigators" play a crucial role in the COVID-19 response. This practice is commonly referred to as contact tracing.
When a person tests positive for COVID-19, the team calls the person to gather a list of close contacts who are at high risk of exposure. Everyone on that list is then contacted to arrange for testing and quarantine in order to stop the spread of COVID-19. While these close contacts are awaiting test results, they are commonly referred to as a Person Under Investigation (PUI).
In addition to gathering a list of close contacts, the contact investigation team evaluates symptoms and provides education regarding quarantine and/or isolation for COVID-19 infected persons, PUIs and any members of their households.
Here is some additional information from Marin's Public Health Officer about how contact tracing works and why it is important.
05/23/2020 - 13:31
If your store has an entrance that opens directly to an adjacent sidewalk, street or alley, it may open for curbside pickup as long as it complies with the Site-Specific Protection Plan and the Industry-Specific Guidance Of The Health Officer Of The County Of Marin Regarding Required Best Practices For Curbside Retailers located at https://marinrecovers.com/retail/. If your store does not have an entrance that opens directly to the outside—i.e., if the only way to enter the store is by going through an indoor space—it may not open for curbside pickup at this time.
05/18/2020 - 14:52
All retail stores reopening to provide curbside pickup must prepare a Site-Specific Protection Plan and comply with the Industry-Specific Guidance Of The Health Officer Of The County Of Marin Regarding Required Best Practices For Curbside Retailers located at https://marinrecovers.com/retail/. As part of this plan, retail stores must ensure proper social distancing, including ensuring six-feet separation between all employees. The size of your store and your ability to ensure proper social distancing will determine how many employees may work in your store at one time.
05/18/2020 - 14:56
Case Count for
| Age Group | Number of Confirmed COVID-19 Cases |
|---|---|
| 0-18 years | 52 |
| 19-34 years | 90 |
| 35-49 Years | 100 |
| 50-64 Years | 88 |
| 65 years or older | 73 |
| Total Cases | 403 |
Additional Resources
An Emergency Rental Assistance program is available for people who are at risk of homelessness due to a loss of income from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Any Marin county resident who is at risk of homelessness due to income loss may apply. Priority will be given to households with income of 30% or less of the Area Median Income rate ($139,400 for a family of four).
Visit the Emergency Rental Assistance Program website for more information on the program and how to apply for assistance.
The program is operated by Marin Health and Human Services with support from the County of Marin and Marin Community Foundation. Funding assistance is administered by Ritter Center, Adopt a Family Marin, St. Vincent de Paul Society of Marin, North Marin Community Services, and Community Action Marin (in partnership with Canal Alliance, Women Helping All People and West Marin Community Services).
05/13/2020 - 14:17
MARIN
Marin Recovers
Provides information and updates about the Marin County reopening plan, shares the progress of the Marin Recovers Industry Advisors, and makes resources available for local industries planning to reopen
Labor and Workforce Development Agency
Addresses employees and unemployment insurance
Workforce Alliance of the North Bay (serving Marin County)
Maintains information for businesses and workers impacted by COVID-19
Marin Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
Provides free or discounted services for small businesses in Marin County, including assistance to access SBA loans or the PPP program
Marin Builders Association
Guidance for construction and trades on rules regarding activity during the COVID-19 crisis
County of Marin Environmental Health Services
The information and requirements pertaining to COVID-19 may change as more is learned about this virus and its transmission.
Agricultural Institute of Marin (AIM)
Information for food vendors and guidance on participating and attending Farmer’s Markets
CareerPoint Marin
Sends weekly job openings via email to job seekers. Employers can list job openings for free.
City of San Rafael Business Grants
The City of San Rafael has established a fund providing grants up to $5000 to eligible small businesses.
Congressman Jared Huffman
Resources for small and medium sized businesses
Marin Economic Forum (MEF)
Maintains a database of private funding and technical assistance available to small businesses. MEF also has data and analysis of the economic impacts of COVID-19 on the Marin economy, including links to reports, webinars and other articles.
STATE
Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GOBIZ)
Statewide office serving California businesses which includes all information regarding financial assistance and employment information
California Department of Public Health
Resources for employers and workers
FEDERAL
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Guidance for businesses and employers
Small Business Administration (SBA):
SBA has multiple loan and assistance products for small businesses. The most important product is the Emergency Disaster Loan which can be a loan up to $2 million plus a grant of up to $10,000 for eligible small businesses.
Small Business Administration
Disaster assistance in response to Coronavirus
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)
Loans (that a portion or all will be forgivable) to cover employee salaries, rent, mortgage interest and other allowable expenses for businesses affected by COVID-19. The loans must be obtained through a bank.
On April 17, Marin County Public Health announced a new public health order requiring the use of face coverings when completing essential activities. The new order will go into effect at 12:00p.m., Wednesday, April 22. Everyone is asked to wear a face covering when they are interacting with others who are not members of their household in public and private spaces. Specifically, the order states that people must wear face coverings when:
- Inside public spaces or waiting in line to enter public spaces
- Seeking health care
- Waiting for or riding on mass transit or other shared transportation
- In common areas of buildings, such as hallways, stairways, elevators and parking facilities.
- Workers at businesses physically open and in areas where the public is present, likely to be present, or at any time when others are nearby.
- Workers in any space where food is being prepared and/or packaged for sale.
- Drivers/Operators of public transit.
View video on how to make your own face covering
View COVID-19 Guidance for Masks and Gloves (Updated April 28, 2020)
Information and resources for individuals with disabilities.
Marin COVID-19 Relief Fund
Many have asked what they can do to help by donating. In lieu on physical donations from community members, and in keeping in line with social distancing, the Marin Community Foundation has set up a #COVID-19 relief fund.
The fund will be used to soften the social and economic impacts of the pandemic with five main efforts:
- Emergency rental assistance for low-income residents
- Expanded food for economically disadvantaged families
- Expanded meals for seniors
- Wi-Fi mobile access for economically disadvantaged students
- Emergency childcare for health care workers and emergency responders
If you wish to donate, please visit the following link: https://marincf.givecorps.com/causes/14681-covid-19-fund-of-mcf.
Help us obtain PPE and supplies for our healthcare workers
The American Medical Association is already working with manufacturers to increase the production and distribution of PPE to healthcare workers across the country. Therefore, we’re not asking residents to try and purchase new PPE for donation purposes.
However, if you have excess inventory of PPE to you wish to donate to support our health care and first responder workers, please fill out our online donation form. Alternatively, donations can be dropped off Monday - Friday, 1:00pm to 4:00pm, at The Salvation Army (351 Mission Avenue, San Rafael).
We are accepting the following items in new, unopened boxes only:
Unfortunately, we cannot accept homemade masks. Please keep those for yourself, your family or a neighbor!
- N95 masks
- Surgical masks
- Isolation masks
- Disposable gowns
- Latex gloves