ORDER OF THE HEALTH OFFICER OF THE COUNTY OF MARIN RESCINDING THE DECEMBER 15, 2021
RE-ISSUED ORDER OF THE HEALTH OFFICER REQUIRING THE USE OF FACE COVERINGS IN INDOOR PUBLIC SETTINGS AND THE JUNE 14, 2021 MANDATING ISOLATION AND QUARANTINE FOR CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS TO CONTROL THE SPREAD OF COVID-19
DATE OF ORDER: December 29, 2021
UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF CALIFORNIA HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE SECTIONS 101040, 101085, AND 120175, THE HEALTH OFFICER OF THE COUNTY OF MARIN (“HEALTH OFFICER”) ORDERS:
1. Background. On December 15, 2021, the Health Officer re-issued an Order for the Wearing of Face Coverings in Workplaces and Public Settings, which included an exemption for certain stable cohorts of fully vaccinated individuals, as defined therein. Since that time, Marin County, consistent with the nationwide trend, has experienced an increase in COVID-19 cases due to the emergence of the Omicron variant. The Omicron variant is more transmissible than the Delta variant, and some of the recent cases have been amongst fully vaccinated persons in stable cohorts not wearing a face covering indoors pursuant to the exemption. In order to slow the transmission of the Omicron variant and protect the health and safety of the community, it is necessary to rescind the Health Officer’s face covering order that included this exemption. Individuals and businesses in the County must comply with the California Department of Public Health’s (“CDPH”) Guidance on the Use of Face Coverings, which requires all individuals to wear face coverings in indoor public settings, regardless of vaccination status, and does not include an exemption for stable cohorts of fully vaccinated individuals.
Additionally, on June 14, 2021 the Health Officer issued an Order Mandating Isolation and Quarantine for Certain Individuals to Control the Spread of COVID-19 which set forth specific isolation and quarantine periods for individuals who test positive for COVID-19 or who are exposed to COVID-19. On December 27, 2021, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) released updated isolation and quarantine guidance for individuals who test positive for COVID-19 or who are exposed to COVID-19. It is anticipated that CDPH will update its Guidance on Isolation and Quarantine for COVID-19 Contact Tracing to align with the CDC’s recommendations. To ensure that the County’s isolation and quarantine requirements are consistent with those across the State, it is necessary to rescind the local order.
2. Effective at 12:01 a.m. on December 30, 2021, the December 15, 2021 Re-Issued Order of the Health Officer for the Wearing of Face Coverings in Workplaces and Public Settings and the June 14, 2021 Order of the Health Officer Mandating Isolation and Quarantine for Certain Individuals to Control the Spread of COVID-19 are rescinded.
3. Businesses and individuals in the County of Marin must continue to follow the California Department of Public Health’s (“CDPH”) Guidance on the Use of Face Coverings, as may be updated from time to time, the CDPH’s Guidance on Isolation and Quarantine for COVID-19 Contact Tracing, as may be updated from time to time, and Cal/OSHA’s COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards, as may be updated from time to time, if applicable. Pursuant to the CDPH’s Guidance on the Use of Face Coverings, all individuals must wear face coverings in indoor public settings through January 15, 2022, regardless of vaccination status.
4. Copies of this Order shall promptly be: (1) made available at the Bulletin Board adjacent to the entrance to the Chambers of the Board of Supervisors, Room 330, Administration Building, and in the display case in the center arch of the Hall of Justice, Marin County Civic Center, San Rafael, California; (2) posted on the County of Marin website (www.marincounty.org) as well as the County of Marin Department of Health and Human Services website (www.marinhhs.org); and (3) provided to any member of the public requesting a copy of this Order.
IT IS SO ORDERED:
_______________________________
Matt Willis MD, MPH
Health Officer of the County of Marin
Dated: December 29, 2021