COVID-19 Status Update for 11/25/2020

Marin County COVID-19 Status Update for November 25 includes tips for recreating responsibly in the great outdoors during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend; a new statewide loan program for small businesses recovering form the COVID-19 pandemic; a special thanksgiving video message; and updated 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.

The Marin County COVID-19 Status Update will pause Thursday in recognition of Thanksgiving. We’ll be back in your inbox on Friday.

In Case You Missed It: A Message from Dr. Willis

Some messages are worth repeating. If you missed the November 24 status update, Dr. Willis shared an important message for every Marin resident, regarding the rise in cases we’re seeing on the eve of the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

What will we be thankful for next year? This weekend and over the coming weeks, we can help define that list.  (WATCH ON YOUTUBE)

Celebrating Thanksgiving in the Great Outdoors? Recreate Responsibly

California State Parks, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) are advising outdoor enthusiasts to recreate responsibly by being prepared, flexible and respectful when venturing into the outdoors. With many activities limited during the COVID-19 pandemic, outdoor public spaces have been essential to many Californians. As a result, high visitation surges are expected this holiday season, including over Thanksgiving weekend.

Here are 15 tips to help reduce risk of exposure to COVID-19 in any outdoor setting and to stay safe during the upcoming holiday season:

1. Stay Local: Stay close to home to slow the spread of COVID-19. Do not travel if you are sick or someone in your household has had coronavirus in the last two weeks.
2. Plan Ahead: The COVID-19 pandemic continues to be dynamic and fluid. Prior to leaving home, check the webpage of the local outdoor destination you plan to visit to find out if it is open, if parking is available, if camping reservations can be booked and what visitor guidelines are in effect.
3. Stay Safer at 6 feet: Do your part – practice physical distancing and recreate responsibly. Be considerate of others enjoying the outdoors by giving them as much space as possible in parking lots, at trailheads and out on public lands.
4. Stay Covered: The state requires you to wear a face covering when you cannot maintain physical distancing of 6 feet or more. Individuals must have a face covering with them at all times. For details, please visit covid19.ca.gov.
5. Keep Clean: Be prepared. Not all restrooms are available. In some cases, restrooms will be temporarily closed to keep up with cleaning schedules. Bring soap/sanitizer and pack out all trash. Camping: If you are camping in an RV, please use the restrooms in your own unit. This will help reduce the use of the shared restrooms at campgrounds. View additional camping tips.
6. Minimize Campfire Impacts: Where permitted, use established fire rings, keep fires small and burn all wood and coals to ash. Make sure to put out campfires completely. Learn about campfire permits.
7. Be Prepared: With many counties having restrictions, businesses may be limited or closed. Make sure to bring plenty of water and food. Carry plenty of water when hiking to avoid dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
8. Dress Appropriately: Bring layers of clothing. Wear appropriate shoes such as hiking boots and close-toed shoes.
9. Have an Outdoor Plan: Leave an itinerary of your trip with a family member or friend with information such as name and age of hikers/campers, level of outdoors experience, trailhead or campsite name and location, and time of departure and expected return. This will ensure law enforcement personnel have a better understanding of your location in the event of a rescue.
10. Avoid Alcohol: Operating your boat or an off-highway vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or more is against the law. Impaired operators will be stopped and can be arrested even with a lower BAC if the conditions are not safe. Your off-highway vehicle and boat can be impounded.
11. Share the Road: Observe posted speed limits. Stay in your lane on blind curves and do not cut corners. Do not pass on double-yellow lines and pass only when you have a clear view of oncoming traffic and it is safe to do so. Be prepared for equestrians, pedestrians, joggers, cyclists, wildlife, rocks, tree limbs, etc., on roadways.
12. Know Your Vehicle’s Limits: Have a proper vehicle for your outdoor desert activities to be able to navigate through rough roads. Make sure to fill up your vehicle’s gas tank. Depending on your location, the nearest town with amenities can be a substantial distance.
13. Cell Phone Use: Cell phone coverage can be spotty or nonexistent. This is especially true for open space areas in Marin County. Have a way to communicate if there is an emergency. Find out the location of the nearest park ranger station. Bring a hard-copy map and know your route before leaving home.
14. Dispose of Waste Properly: Pack it in, pack it out. Pack out all trash, leftover food and litter. All waste, including hygiene products and toilet paper, must be carried out and disposed in trash bins at home or trash receptacles provided by the park. Read Leave No Trace website.
15. Respect Wildlife and Vegetation: Wildlife and vegetation are integral parts of the ecosystem and natural community of parks. As such, they are protected by federal and state laws. Help us keep this outdoor setting natural by observing wildlife from a distance. Do not follow, approach or otherwise harass wildlife. Never feed animals; feeding wildlife damages their health, alters natural behaviors and exposes them to predators and other dangers. Do not approach or attempt to move sick or injured wildlife. Please report any encounters to park staff.

For more information, continue reading the Cal OES News Release.

State Launches Rebuilding Fund to Help Small Businesses

As businesses across the state face challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the State of California has launched the “California Rebuilding Fund” to help impacted small businesses rebuild from the economic crisis and keep local economies strong. The fund aims to help small businesses in nearly all industries, particularly those located in economically disadvantaged and historically underserved areas.

To qualify, small businesses must have employed 50 or fewer full-time equivalent (FTE) employees prior to March 2020 and have realized gross revenues of less than $2.5 million in 2019, and must have suffered a direct economic hardship as a result of COVID-19. The lenders will offer a standardized loan product with affordable and flexible terms for small businesses with loan sizes of up to $100,000. These loans are meant to be timed and structured to support businesses that are adapting their business and face upfront or ongoing expenses to operate safely in a post-COVID economy.

Qualifying small businesses can begin the process by first reviewing and completing a pre-application. After the pre-application is submitted and a business is deemed eligible, the business will be matched with a participating community lender to begin the full loan application process.

For more information, continue reading Governor Newsom’s news release, review the loan terms or browse the list of frequently asked questions. In addition, the Small Business Development Center of Marin is available to support small businesses with the application process. Contact Marin SBDC at 415-482-1819.

Thank you…

Thank you for doing everything can to stop the spread of COVID-19. Together, we will get though this. (WATCH ON YOUTUBE)

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.

THANKSGIVING DAY NOTE: Our Data and Surveillance webpage will not be updated on Thursday in recognition of Thanksgiving. Data updates will resume on Friday. Alternatively, the data snapshot on the homepage of Coronavirus.MarinHHS.org will continue to be updated every day.

COVID-19 activity in Marin:

* The Marin County COVID-19 Status Update is published Monday – Friday. Monday editions of the status update include data from Monday plus Saturday and Sunday of the previous weekend. Therefore, data shown under the “change from last update” heading will always be larger on Mondays and differ from what is published on the Coronavirus in Marin homepage, which is updated 7 days per week.  

Residential Care & Skilled Nursing Facility COVID-19 activity:

State COVID-19 activity:

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:

• Frequently Asked Questions
• COVID-19 Test Information
• Face Covering & Mask Information
• Volunteer Opportunities
• Donation Options
• Business Reopening Guidelines
• Archive of past status updates

Contact Us. We Are Here for You.

Have questions?  We are here to help. Our call center is available weekdays from 9:30 AM to noon and 1:00 - 5:00 PM. 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.

Spread the word: How your friends and family can receive these updates:

• Text "MARIN COVID" to 468311 to receive text message notifications      
• Subscribe online to receive email notifications
• Tweet & share this update with your friends on Twitter!