Marin County Public Health continues to advance policies to limit community spread and support our excellent healthcare partners’ capacity to respond.
COVID-19 activity in Marin:
- Total cases in Marin: 9
- COVID-19 related deaths in Marin: 0
- As of March 15, at 8:00a.m., 335 cases and six deaths in California, according to the California Department of Public Health.
Nearly 100 individuals were tested over March 12 and 13 through Marin County’s drive-through testing site. Of these, 6 test results were positive. Regionally, there has been a dramatic increase in cases, with nearly 300 cases Bay Area wide.
Marin County Public Health continues to advance policies to limit community spread and support our excellent healthcare partners’ capacity to respond.
Limiting Visitation at Hospitals:
As another step in the strategy to slow the transmission of COVID-19 within Marin, Marin Public Health issued a Public Health Alert, directing all Marin County Hospitals to exclude visitors and non-essential personnel from entry, including most visitors of patients. Some hospitals have implemented similar measures the directive was created to ensure a countywide standard.
Limiting Rides on Public Transit:
Today, Marin Public Health issued a Public Health Advisory recommending travel on mass transport be limited to essential trips only. This is another measure to limit the potential exposure to COVID-19 in our community. Here is the guidance on the use of public transit.
Understanding Your Risk of Infection in Marin:
Once of the common concerns we’re hearing in the community is about the possibility of infection from casual contact.
Below is a table from the CDC, clarifying the types of exposure that might lead to infection. When a COVID-19 case is confirmed, our Public Health team conducts a contact investigation, which focuses on identifying and isolating people with high or medium risk of infection from a confirmed case.
Most importantly, the CDC clarifies brief encounters in the community do not carry significant risk.
| Risk Level | Exposures Identified Through Contact Investigation |
|---|---|
| No Identifiable Risk | Interactions with a person who has symptomatic laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 that do not meet any of the high-, medium-, or low-risk conditions below, such as walking by the person or being briefly in the same room. |
| Low Risk | Being in the same indoor environment (e.g., classroom, a hospital waiting room) as a person with symptomatic laboratory-confirmed case of COVID-19 for a prolonged period of time, but not meeting the definition of closed contact |
| Medium Risk |
|
| High Risk | Living in the same household as, being an intimate partner of, or providing care in a nonhealthcare setting (such as a home) for a person with symptomatic laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection without using recommended precautions for home care and home isolation |
(Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control)
Message from the Public Health Officer:
For today’s update, Dr. Matt Willis, Marin County’s Public Health Officer, provides clarity on new cases, why Marin is supporting efforts to encourage social distancing, and available testing in Marin. Watch the video below to hear his remarks.
Where to get the latest information:
Visit the official Marin County Coronavirus webpage (MarinHHS.org/coronavirus) review answers to frequently asked questions, access guidance for special groups and subscribe for email updates. To view past status updates concerning COVID-19 activity in Marin County, click on the resources tab on the Coronavirus webpage.
Have questions? Individuals can contact Marin Health and Human Services with non-medical questions about the coronavirus by calling (415) 473-7191 (Monday – Friday, 9:30am to 12-noon and 1pm to 5pm) or emailing COVID-19@marincounty.org.