COVID-19 Status Update for 10/14/2021

Marin County COVID-19 Status Update for October 14, 2021 includes RECAP: Pediatric Vaccination Speaker Panel; Introducing a New Self-Test Reporting Form; COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Update, FAQ Created for New Mask Exemption in Select Settings; and updated local COVID-19 data.

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The Marin County COVID-19 Status Update is published weekdays and as needed to share important news and resources related to the COVID-19 pandemic and to keep the local economy running. We remain here for you.

RECAP: Pediatric Vaccination Speaker Panel

In case you missed it, Marin County Office of Education (MCOE) hosted an interactive virtual panel on October 13 to address community questions and concerns regarding pediatric vaccinations, in light of pending vaccine approval from the FDA. The panel featured several local health and education experts:

Dr. Matt Willis, Public Health Officer for Marin County
Dr. Theodore Ruel, Chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at UCSF
Dr. Tara Greenhow, Chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Kaiser Permanente
Mary Jane Burke, Superintendent of Marin County Schools

If you missed last night’s session, you can watch the on-demand version below. And, SAVE THE DATE for the next online panel discussion in Spanish (live English interpretation available) on Wednesday, October 20 at 6:00pm.

WATCH ON YOUTUBE

Introducing a New Self-Test Reporting Form

With over-the-counter COVID-19 self-tests becoming more widely available, Marin County Public Health has created an online form so results from those tests can be recorded along with all other tests conducted at laboratories.

Reporting of results from home-based tests will connect people who test positive for COVID-19 to supportive resources and will assist with contact tracing efforts to limit community spread. It will also provide additional information on COVID-19 activity in Marin.

Laboratories that process COVID-19 test results are required to report results to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and Marin County Public Health (MCPH). Test results have been compiled ever since COVID-19 tests became available in March 2020 and have been critical to localized surveillance figures. However, since self-tests provide a result without the use of a laboratory, those results are not reported to CDPH and MCPH, creating a void in critical community COVID-19 data.

The brief online form collects information about the test result, reason for the test, the date, the brand, basic demographic factors, and contact information. Public Health has privacy and security measures in place to safeguard personally identifiable information.

More Information:

COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Update

Moderna booster recommended; further authorization steps remain

A U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panel voted on Thursday to recommend Moderna booster shots for emergency use authorization, bringing thousands of Marin residents one step closer to being eligible for an additional dose.

The panel’s recommendation will go to the FDA to make a final decision in the next few days. If the FDA adopts the recommendation, the matter will then go the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for additional review and recommendation. ACIP is tentatively scheduled to meet on October 20 and 21. If the CDC authorizes the Moderna booster shot, the final step in the recommendation process would be review and authorize by the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup next week.

Should all authorities authorize use of Moderna’s booster shot, those additional doses would be available in Marin County by the end of next week.

Marin County Public Health urges boosters for 65 & older

A Marin County Health priority is to provide a booster shot to those who would benefit most from it. Older adults are particularly vulnerable – in terms of waning immunity – and are at higher risk for adverse outcomes should they become infected, even after vaccination.

Of the Marin breakthrough cases that required hospitalization since June 2021, 77% have been vaccinated people age 65 & older. Of the Marin County residents age 65 & older who are eligible for a Pfizer booster vaccine, only 25% have received a booster. Marin County Public Health wants to close that gap to protect our vulnerable older adults and has set a goal of increasing the booster immunization rate to 50% within the next month – this includes those who may be eligible if a Moderna booster is approved.

If you or someone you know is eligible for, and still needs, a COVID-19 booster shot, please visit GetVaccinatedMarin.org to find a vaccination location near you.

FAQ Created For New Mask Exemption In Select Settings

Last week, Marin County Public Health announced an additional exemption to its indoor mask requirement to allow certain indoor settings to go without masks.

The exemption is available to a very limited number of non-public spaces with a consistent cohort of 100% fully vaccinated individuals and children are not present. Scenarios where this could apply are limited to indoor offices, gyms, fitness centers, employee commuter vehicles, religious gatherings, college classes, and other organized gatherings of individuals who meet regularly, where the organizer / host / employer assumes the responsibility that the following circumstances are met:

There are no more than 100 individuals present; and
The host, employer, or organizer commits to:
1. Verifying (via vaccination documentation) that all individuals present are fully vaccinated; and
2. Maintaining a list of individuals present; and
3. Controlling access to the indoor setting, ensuring the setting is not open to the general public.

Overall, most indoor public spaces that Marin residents will interact with will not qualify for the new exemption, and the business model of some indoor gyms and fitness centers could prohibit those spaces from implementing the new mask-free exemption. We encourage you to review the guidelines carefully. When in doubt, continue to wear your mask indoors if you’re unsure those around you are fully vaccinated.

To help guide you on understanding this new exemption, which goes into effect Friday, October 15, please review the following resources:

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.

Looking for daily data trends? Our Marin Data & Surveillance webpage uses Tableau dashboards to visualize the impact of COVID-19 in Marin County. Under each dashboard are links to datasets available on Marin County's Open Data Portal.

COVID-19 Case Data	Today’s Report	Change from Yesterday
Total Confirmed Cumulative Cases	15,055	+ 29
“Active Cases” (Confirmed in Past 14 Days)	178	+ 12
Total Cumulative Deaths	193	+ 0
Current COVID-19 Hospitalizations	9	- 2
Current COVID-19 ICU Patient Census	2	- 1

COVID-19 Vaccination Data	Today’s Report	Change from Last Status Update
Marin residents age 12+ vaccinated with at least one dose	220,206	+ 152
Percent of Marin population age 12+ who have received at least one dose	98.0%**	+ 0.0%
Percent of Marin population age 12+ who have completed vaccine series.	92.5%	+ 0.1%
Percent of entire Marin population that is “fully immunized” (14+ days post final dose)*	81% *	+ 0%

* Note that this percentage is out of all Marin residents including children younger than 12.

** As population estimates may not be precise, as of October 4, 2021, the proportion of residents vaccinated with at least one dose will be displayed up to, but not higher than 98%.

Residential Care & Skilled Nursing Facility COVID-19 data:	Today’s Report	Change from Yesterday
Positive Patients at Facilities cumulative	751	+ 0
Positive Patients at Facilities current	2	+ 0
Positive Staff at Facilities current	2	+ 0
Facility Patient Deaths	136	+ 0
Facility Patient Deaths as percentage of all COVID+ deaths	70.5%	+ 0.0%

CDC COVID-19 Data

Today’s Level

Days In Current Level

Community Transmission

Yellow Level

“Moderate”

2 (since 10/12)

For more details, visit the CDC's website here.

State COVID-19 data:	Today’s Report	Change from Yesterday
California Confirmed Cases	4,565,279	+ 7,994
California Deaths	70,010	+ 254

Other Local and State Data Dashboards:

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? Contact the CA COVID-19 Hotline seven days a week by dialing (833) 422-4255 for COVID-19 information and resources, or email us.

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