The status update for June 26, 2020, includes an update about a slowed pace for business reopenings, a video message from Dr. Willis, and overview of testing locations in Marin County, and updated COVID-19 activity.
COVID-19 activity in Marin:
Marin Deaths: 18
Tests Completed in Marin: 27,215*
Marin Cases Recovered: 737
Marin Hospitalizations cumulative: 59***
Marin Hospitalizations currently: 12
San Quentin Cases: 545**
San Quentin Hospitalizations Cumulative: 4
California Confirmed Cases: 206,623
California Deaths: 5,872
* While testing did take place today, the California Reportable Disease Information Exchange (CalREDIE) system – which is our primary source for testing data – was unavailable today. We will provide an updated testing number in tomorrow’s Status Update or when the database comes back online.
** We report San Quentin total cases as reported by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. By clicking on the link, you can view the data that is being reported to Marin Public Health. After clicking the link above, select “Institution View” in the COVID-19 Tracing Dashboard and filter to “CA State Prison, San Quentin” in the upper right hand corner. Total cumulative case and hospitalization counts do not include cases reported from San Quentin. [Hear more about outbreak]
*** Today’s cumulative hospitalizations shows a decrease of 1 from yesterday, as some hospitalization data was identified as being San Quentin cases. Those are reported separately, above.
Residential Care and Skilled Nursing Facility COVID-19 activity
Positive Patients at Facilities cumulative: 37
Positive Patients at Facilities current: 3
Positive Staff at Facilities cumulative: 55
Positive Staff at Facilities current: 8
Facilities with positive Patients/Staff: 4
Update from the Public Health Officer
Marin’s Public Health Officer, Dr. Matt Willis, provides an update on today’s decision to slow the reopening process in response to recent spikes in COVID-19 data.
Marin Adjusts June 29 Business Reopening Line-Up Due to Increase of COVID-19 Activity
A spike in coronavirus cases has led Marin County to delay the reopening of certain businesses previously scheduled to reopen on June 29.
Marin County is witnessing an increase in COVID-19 case activity. On June 25, Marin recorded 54 new cases, the highest number in any one day thus far in Marin’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This corresponds to record-high numbers of people hospitalized, at 12, and in intensive care, at five. Recent spikes in cases have been observed across the State of California, and local counties -- such as San Francisco and Contra Costa – have also announced delays in business reopening plans due to regional surges in cases.
Compounding the spike within Marin residents is a large outbreak at San Quentin State prison with more than 500 infected inmates in the past two weeks. The transfer of critically ill inmates from that facility has created stress on local hospitals. Over 75 staff, some of whom live in Marin County, have also been infected.
“Since the beginning of our reopening process in early May, Marin Public Health has committed to moving at a sequential rate, guided by local COVID-19 data and our progress indicators,” said Dr. Matt Willis, Marin’s Public Health Officer. “We’re seeing patterns we need to pay attention to. We’re not closing anything down. We’re just slowing the pace in response to the data.”
The decision to delay some of the business industry reopenings comes after careful deliberation of our current COVID-19 situation and weighing which businesses could move forward with minimal risk.
“We’re all eager to move forward out of the shelter in place, but the pandemic is far from over,” said Max Korten, Director of Marin County Parks and Acting Coordinator for the Marin Recovers Industry Advisors. “We have a shared responsibility in this. Everyone in Marin County needs to wear a face covering, maintain social distance, and practice good hygiene. These are simple tools, and our ability to reopen further depends a lot on following these practices as a community.”
The businesses and activities allowed to move forward with reopening on June 29 includes indoor dining, and hair salons and barbershops. Also coming online are campgrounds and RV parks, picnic and barbecue areas, outdoor vehicle-based gatherings. Guidance for all industries allowed to proceed beginning June 29 is available on the “Guidelines for Reopening” page of MarinRecovers.com.
Reopenings that have been paused include Hotels, Motels and Short Term Rentals; Gyms and Fitness studios; and other personal services (body art professionals, tattoo parlors, piercing shops, electrology services, estheticians, skin care and cosmetology services, non-medical massage services, and nail salons). These industries will be considered for the next round of reopenings, but a tentative date has not been established.
An overview of business sector reopenings is available on MarinRecovers.com. Businesses and activities are allowed to proceed under the current shelter-in-place order through amendments to the allowable business and allowable activity appendices.
More Information About Businesses Reopening:
Update on Testing Locations In Marin County
We want to remind you that COVID-19 testing is available in Marin County. If you are experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19, you should immediately call your medical provider and seek testing. Even if you are not experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, Marin County Public Health recommends you seek testing, if you...
- were notified that you were exposed to someone who was confirmed to have COVID-19;
- come into contact with the public as part of your job (e.g., workers at grocery stores, food service / restaurants, gas stations, construction sites, hardware stores, pet stores, hotel facilities, child care centers, and other essential businesses defined in section 15.f of the Shelter-In-Place order.);
- were notified by Marin Public Health as being high risk based on outbreak investigations;
- work in an occupation with higher risk of exposures, including some healthcare workers and first responders; or
- participated in public protests, surrounded by people from outside of your household.
There are multiple testing options county-wide. If you are not able to obtain testing through your medical provider, free confidential testing is available in Marin and the Bay Area.
Marin Public Health is providing FREE COVID-19 testing at the following locations:
- San Rafael - Canal area: Tuesday – Saturday appointments available, schedule online or by calling 888-634-1123.
- San Rafael - Civic Center area: Monday – Friday appointments available, schedule online
Other locations in Marin County offering COVID-19 testing (contact these providers for details about cost and availability):
- One Medical (San Rafael)
- Go Health (Strawberry / Mill Valley)
- Carbon Health (mobile testing, locations vary by week)
- CVS Pharmacy (Tiburon)
Alternatively, you can SEARCH BY ZIP CODE for other testing sites in the Bay Area.
Where to get the latest information:
- Coronavirus in Marin website (MarinHHS.org/coronavirus)
- Recovery and Assistance (MarinRecovers.com)
- Surveillance & Data
- Testing Information
- Donation Options
- Subscribe for email updates
- Archive of past status updates
Have questions? Individuals can contact Marin Health and Human Services with non-medical questions about the coronavirus by email or by calling (415) 473-7191 (Monday – Friday, 9:30am to 12-noon and 1pm to 5pm).