COVID-19 Status Update for 12/16/2020

Marin County COVID-19 Status Update for December 16 includes the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines in Marin County, an invite to an online Q&A event, and an updated snapshot of local COVID-19 data.

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

First Doses of COVID-19 Vaccine Arrive in Marin as ICU capacity dwindles

Marin County hospitals and skilled nursing facilities received the first of the county’s allocation of 1,950 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine today, December 16. This comes on the same day Governor Gavin Newsom followed through on a December 3 warning and issued a Stay-Home Order for 11 Bay Area counties, including Marin, based on limited intensive care unit (ICU) capacity as cases surge across the region.

“This couldn’t come soon enough,” said Dr. Matt Willis, Marin County Public Health Officer. “Vaccinating our front-line health care workers will protect them as they manage surges in cases.”

The vaccine doses are the first of weekly deliveries. The first doses will be divided among three local hospitals and 13 skilled nursing facilities. It will take several months to implement widespread vaccinations in the community.

At the same time, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is implementing its Regional Stay-Home Order for 11 counties in the Bay Area after the region’s collective ICU capacity dipped below the 15% threshold, reaching 12.9%. The order goes into effect at 11:59 p.m. Thursday, December 17, and will remain in place for a minimum of three weeks, contingent on CDPH projections of whether the region’s ICU capacity will return to and stay above the 15% threshold.

In Marin, hospitals are switching from normal to surge plan operations because of increased COVID-19 cases and stretched staffing in ICU units. ICU units in Marin hospitals reached full, pre-surge capacity on December 15. ICU capacity, as reported, reflects the normally staffed and immediately available beds.

“There is still room for people needing critical care, but this is the start of true hospital surge for Marin,” Willis said. “It’s critical that we see the link between our everyday behavior and our health care system — the transmission happening in the community is driving hospitalizations. With this surge, the state is moving toward even tighter restrictions for community and businesses to follow to help stabilize the curve.”

Marin has 29 ICU beds that can be staffed under normal operations, according to Marin County Public Health. The next step is considered surge operations, at which hospitals implement or consider:

• physicians assessing all ICU patients to determine whether/when it is appropriate and safe to promote patients out of the ICU;
• nursing staffs being asked on a voluntary basis to work extra shifts beyond their usual assignments; and
• additional nurses being pulled in from rapid response teams and break/relief nurse lists.

The Stay-Home Order that goes into effect Thursday night replaces Marin’s voluntary adoption of the order, extending beyond the original January 4 end date. In addition, some industries will be held to tighter standards under the state’s interpretation of the order. Businesses and residents are encouraged to review the state’s Regional Stay-Home Order webpage for clarification on which activities are permitted under the order.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control’s key steps to fight the pandemic includes protection of high-risk groups and health care workers, identifying and isolating cases, and tracing and quarantining people who have been in contact with confirmed COVID-19 patients. Everyone should be wearing face coverings, avoiding gatherings, postponing travel, and staying home whenever possible.

You’re Invited: Stay-Home Order -themed Community Conversation Event

Please join us for another virtual Community Conversation event, this Friday, December 18 at 2:00pm. Similar to the event we held last week, Dr. Matt Willis and Max Korten will be providing a brief update on ICU capacity, our status under the Stay Home Order, and what all of this means for our community.  Live Q&A will take place and the event will be held in English with live Spanish interpretation accessible through the Zoom platform.  Details and

How to participate:

Online:  Zoom.us/join

Phone:  (669) 900-6833

Zoom Meeting ID: 956 2661 1169, Attendee ID: #, Password: 074775

Or watch on Facebook: facebook.com/CountyOfMarin

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:

*The last status update was issued Tuesday, December 15.

Current Hospitalization Data:

Note on hospitalization data: Marin Health and Human Services, in consultation with our local hospitals, is using an internal calculation for ICU availability that includes consideration for full staffing capacity. This methodology currently differs from the calculations used by state and reported on the Blueprint website.

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 Tests
• COVID-19 Vaccine
• Face Coverings & Masks
• 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: contact our COVID-19 Response Team. 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!