Public Health Status Update for 04/19/2024

Marin County Public Health Status Update for April 19, 2024, includes Beach Water Monitoring Season is Underway; Diabetes Awareness Day Promotes Health Equity; Tick Testing Services; Cross Sector Response to Avian Flu; and… Read More

COVID-19 Status Update for 07/22/2020

The status update for July 22, 2020 includes a video update, the state path to resume classroom learning, information for outdoor hair services, Community Conversation tomorrow at 4:30pm and updated COVID-19 activity.

Marin County COVID-19 Status Update: July 22, 2020

The Marin County COVID-19 Status Update is now publishing five days a week (Monday through Friday) and as needed, in order to share important news and resources in our battle against COVID-19 and to keep our economy running. We remain here for you.

For the latest statistics, please scroll to the bottom of today’s update.

Video Update: Board of Supervisors Presentation by Dr. Willis

Dr. Willis provides a video update on COVID-19 in Marin County to the Board of Supervisors on July 21, 2020.

State Outlines Path to Resume Classroom Learning

On July 17, Governor Gavin Newsom announced plans for how TK-12 public, private, independent and parochial students across California will begin the new school year in light of rising COVID-19 infections. The plan focuses on the use of local data to determine when students can safely return to classroom-based instruction. Most importantly, counties on the state’s monitoring list, Marin County included, are required to implement distance learning until the data shows infection rates are under control.

In addition to the Governor’s announcement, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued a Framework for K-12 Schools in California that clearly defines reopening criteria for in-person learning centering on the state’s monitoring list. The framework includes guidance for schools about COVID-19 testing frequency for staff and how to respond in the event of an exposure by a student or staff member.

The state’s guidance does not apply to summer classes, camps, day care and sports practices that can operate under the Marin’s existing Public Health Guidance.

As of July 20, more than 30 counties in California were on the state’s monitoring list due to elevated disease transmission rates and/or hospitalized patients or limited hospital capacity. Marin County met the threshold for elevated disease transmission on at 185.2 cases per 100,000 residents. To reopen the classrooms to students, counties must be off the monitoring list for at least 14 days. A local health officer may grant a waiver for schools to open for in-person instruction if requested by school leaders in consultation with labor, parent, and community organizations.

“While this information is disappointing, we are prepared for the safe return of students and staff to the classroom where they belong,” said Marin County Superintendent of Schools Mary Jane Burke. “In the meantime, we want teachers to prepare by teaching distance learning from their classrooms and working with small groups of students in person to train them on the new protocols so they can begin to become accustomed to this new norm when we are ready to open.”

“We still think the best place for kids during the school year is in school and remain hopeful that we’ll get there eventually,” Dr. Matt Willis, Marin County’s Public Health Officer. “Doing our part to wear face coverings, practice physical distancing, wash hands frequently, and stay home as much as possible is something we can all do to turn the tide for both our schools and our communities.”

The Governor said distance learning practices would include access to devices and connectivity for all students, daily live online interaction with teachers and other students, challenging assignments that are equivalent to in-person instruction and adopted lessons for English language learners and special education students.

“This last period of distance learning emphasized the vast inequities across our county,” Burke said. “We cannot let students fall behind academically and must respond to the social and emotional effects of this pandemic. Our students deserve better.”

Marin schools closed site-based instruction on March 16 under the recommendation of Public Health to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19. During the remainder of the school year, school districts provided distance learning, regular meals and health care services to students in need.

The Governor emphasized the need for everyone in the state to take action to reduce the spread of COVID-19 by wearing a face covering, washing hands, and physically distancing from each other.

Hair Salons and Barbershops Permitted to Operate Outdoors

While previously allowed to operate in Marin County, the California Governor has closed indoor hair salons and barbershops after an uptick in cases, increased hospitalizations and outbreaks throughout the state of California and in Marin County. 

On July 20, the California Governor and the California State Board of Barbering and Cosmetology confirmed that outdoor hair salon or outdoor barbershop operations are allowed, so long as those businesses continue to follow public health guidelines for operation.  State issued guidance for outdoor services can be found on the Board Barbering and Cosmetology website.

There is no current target for reopening ­­ of indoor hair salons or barbershops.

Community Conversation: COVID-19 Update: Outbreak Prevention and Management: Canal Area (San Rafael)

What has Marin County Public Health been doing to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the Canal neighborhood of San Rafael? Why are we experiencing outbreaks in the Canal? How are we responding to and managing the outbreaks? How is Public Health working with community partners to respond and manage the outbreak? Join us for a community conversation as some of Marin’s top experts in public health answer your questions about these important topics.

WHAT: Community Conversation: COVID-19 Update: Outbreak Prevention and Management: Canal Area (San Rafael).

WHEN: Thursday, July 23, 2020 at 4:30PM

FEATURED SPEAKERS

  • Lisa Santora, M.D., Deputy Public Health Officer
  • Omar Carrera, Executive Director, Canal Alliance
  • Jenny Greenway, Nurse Practitioner, MarinHealth Mobile Care Team
  • Melanie Thompson, DO, Regional Medical Director, Marin Community Clinics

 HOW TO PARTICIPATE:

Requests for accommodations may be made by calling (415) 473-4381 (Voice), CA Relay 711 or by e-mail at disabilityaccess@marincounty.org Copies of documents are available in alternative formats, upon request.

Public Health Ends Ban on Reusable Bags

Marin County residents are allowed to use reusable bags for shopping again.

Marin County Public Health has updated its Appendix A of the most recent shelter-in-place order related to the COVID-19 public health emergency. Revised language says customers may bring reusable bags to a store as long as they carry them or leave them in a shopping cart or basket and bag their own items after checkout.

A local ban on the use of reusable bags was first installed on March 31 as a precaution to limit the spread of COVID-19. Bags are considered high-touch items unless shoppers handle their own bagging. Recent studies have shown that virus transmission through reusable bags is a much lower risk than originally believed, and the risk is even lower if shoppers are the only ones to touch the bags. Most Bay Area counties have removed temporary bans on reusable bags during the public health emergency.

Appendix A – also referred to as a Social Distancing Policy, or Site-Specific Protection Plan (SPP) – provides clear guidance for local businesses about how to provide a safe, clean environment for employees and customers. Each business must have a SPP in place to demonstrate compliance with local, state, or statewide public health policies.

The Marin County Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) remains the authority for local COVID-19 case data and medical information.

COVID-19 Data Update:

Below is a summary of today’s data now available on Marin Data & Surveillance webpage. View the page for a broader range of data, plus interactive graphs for confirmed COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths. Data analysis is available by age range, gender, race and city/town/geographic region. Questions about the data? See our Data FAQ or contact us.

COVID-19 activity in Marin:

DATA TYPE

Today’s Report

Change from  Last Update

Total Confirmed Cases**

2,398

+62

Total Recovered (14 days post-diagnosis)

1,851

+78

Total Deaths

35

+1

Current Hospitalizations*

27

-2

Total / Cumulative Hospitalizations**

99

0

Tests Completed in Marin

45,815

+752

Residential Care & Skilled Nursing Facility COVID-19 activity:

DATA TYPE

Today’s Report

Change from  Last Update

Positive Patients at Facilities cumulative

180

0

Positive Patients at Facilities current

86

0

Positive Staff at Facilities cumulative

169

+2

Positive Staff at Facilities current

58

+2

Facilities with current positive patients or staff

24

0

State COVID-19 activity:

DATA TYPE

Today’s Report

Change from  Last Update

California Confirmed Cases

413,576

+12,807

California Deaths

7,870

+115

San Quentin State Prison COVID-19 activity:

DATA TYPE

Today’s Report

Change from Last Update

San Quentin Active Cases In Custody**

861

-1

* Visit our Data & Surveillance Page for a breakdown of patient type (e.g., San Quentin case versus Marin resident)

**San Quentin cases are not included in Marin’s count for cumulative cases or cumulative hospitalizations [See our Data FAQ]. We report San Quentin total in custody cases as reported by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. (To view data, visit CDCR’s COVID-19 Tracing Dashboard, and then select “Institution View” tab at the bottom and filter to “CA State Prison, San Quentin in the upper right-hand corner.)

Stay Informed

Follow the County of Marin on Facebook, Twitter, Nextdoor or subscribe to our status updates. Visit MarinHHS.org/coronavirus for resources to stay connected on the issue.

Helpful Links and Online Resources:

Contact Us.  We Are Here For You.

Have questions?  We are here to help.  Our call center is available Monday through Friday, from 9:30am to 12-noon and 1:00pm to 5:00pm. Please feel free to connect with us for general information and resources by calling (415) 473-7191.  We are also available online!  As a reminder, please only call 9-1-1 if you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency.

Reporting Businesses in Violation of Public Health Orders

We know this is a challenging time. Those wishing to report a public health order violation by a business can submit their concerns to SIPViolation@marincounty.org. Please include the business name, address, and as much detail as possible regarding the perceived health order violation.  Photos and other documentation welcome, too. Reports will be forwarded to the appropriate governing agency for review and investigation.

Visit Marin Recovers Status list for information on business openings and guidelines and the current health order for information on face covering requirements, shelter-in-place and more. Keep in mind that the goal of the order is to educate and keep our community safe. While violations of the public health order are misdemeanors, making arrests continues to remain a measure of last resort for local law enforcement. It will only be considered after all education and voluntary compliance efforts have failed.

Be a role model and follow the order while encouraging others to do the same. If you see a business out of compliance, you can speak directly to the owner, and offer the link or a copy of the COVID-19 Site-Specific Protection Plan as well as information about the Marin Recovers website. We’re all in this together and we all need to do our part.