On March 16, 2020, Marin County Public Health joined with the Health Officers of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara and City of Berkeley to issue a legal order directing Marin County residents to shelter at home for three weeks beginning March 17. This order was extended on March 31st through May 3rd.
New Testing Guidelines
Marin County Public Health is now accepting health care provider testing referrals for patients with mild to moderate symptoms of COVID-19. If necessary, available testing will be prioritized according to California Department of Public Health (CDPH) criteria. Prioritized groups include symptomatic residents and staff of long-term care facilities and other congregate settings; symptomatic persons at higher risk for severe infection (includes older adults age >65 years); and symptomatic healthcare personnel.
Healthcare provider should offer telehealth evaluations for patients with mild or moderate illness to discuss the need for testing. Advise ill persons to stay home and away from others until they have been asymptomatic and afebrile without the use of fever-reducing medications for at least 3 days; AND for at least 7 days since symptoms first appeared, i.e., the minimum length of time will be 7 days. Providers should review quarantine and isolation guidance with patients referred for testing.
Test Eligibility Criteria
- Symptomatic patients;
- Asymptomatic residents of congregate living facilities;
- Able to travel in their own vehicle to a centrally located testing site in Marin.
For patients meeting this criteria, clinicians can use the form below to refer patients for field-based COVID-19 testing. At the end, click yes to the question “Is this patient being referred for field-based testing” and Public Health staff will contact the patient within one to two business days to arrange testing.
Provider's COVID-19 Testing Referral Form
Post-Covid Test Isolation and Safety Guidance
New Public Health Emergency Quarantine Order (Effective April 5)
View the Public Health Emergency Quarantine Order
New Public Health Emergency Isolation Order (Effective April 5)
View the Public Health Emergency Isolation Order
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View COVID-19 Guidance for At Home Quarantine & Isolation Safety
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View COVID-19 Guidance for Masks and Gloves
CDC Guidelines
On March 4, 2020, CDC updated clinical criteria for patients under investigation (PUI). Health care providers should refer to CDC's interim guidance for healthcare professionals. Health care providers should review and implement infection prevention and control guidance specific to COVID-19. On March 10th, CDC updated Interim U.S. Guidance for Risk Assessment and Public Health Management of Healthcare Personnel with Potential Exposure in a Healthcare Setting to Patients with 2019 Novel Coronavirus. This interim guidance is intended to assist with assessment of risk, monitoring, and work restriction decisions for healthcare personnel (HCP) with potential exposure to COVID-19. CDC has also published educational materials for healthcare personnel - "What healthcare personnel should know about caring for patients with confirmed or possible 2019-nCoV infection."
EMS Resources
- View the Field Guide 8.0
- Exposure Guide 2.5
- COVID-19 Wristband Protocol for Tracking Exposures
- Hospital Follow Up Information
- View a video on EMS Safety (1 of 5)
- View a video on EMS Safety (2 of 5)
- View a video on EMS Safety (3 of 5)
- View a video on EMS Safety (4 of 5)
- View a video on EMS Safety (5 of 5)
- View a video on donning and doffing protocol. (light humor is utilized)
Note From Marin County Public Health
Our local situation is rapidly evolving. The Marin Operational Area Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has been activated to support and plan emergency response. Marin County Public Health is now shifting from containment to mitigation as COVID-19. We are now implementing community mitigation strategies to flatten the curve. There is now sustained community spread in the United States. For daily updates, visit https://coronavirus.marinhhs.org/updates. Marin Health and Human Services Community Epidemiology program is also regularly providing COVID-19 Surveillance Reports: https://coronavirus.marinhhs.org/surveillance.
Marin County Public Health will continue to monitor this situation closely and will provide updates when they become available. The health and well-being of our community is our highest priority.