COVID-19 Status Update for 08/02/2021

Marin County COVID-19 Status Update for August 2, 2021 includes Bay Area Counties Require Masking Indoors for Everyone; Reduce Your Risk; and updated local COVID-19 data. 

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COVID-19 Testing

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When to get tested for COVID-19

Get tested for COVID-19 if you feel sick, whether you’re vaccinated or unvaccinated. Common symptoms consistent with COVID-19 are: 

  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Cough
  • Congestion
  • Sore throat
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Headache
  • Fatigue
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • New loss of taste or smell. 

If you are unvaccinated or 2 weeks have not passed after your final dose, you should get tested for COVID-19 if you:

  • Have a known exposure, but have no symptoms. Marin Public Health will contact you if someone who has COVID-19 tells them they were in close contact with you.
  • Work in a high-risk setting, such as a hospital or medical clinic, long-term care facility, homeless shelter or prison.
  • Work in an occupation where you experience frequent contact with the public on a daily basis, including jobs as first responders, teachers, personal caregivers, housekeepers, construction workers, food service / restaurant workers, gas station and grocery store workers.

If you do not meet this criteria but believe you need testing -- or need testing for travel or medical-related procedures -- please consult your insurance provider, medical provider or neighborhood medical clinic.

On this page

Frequent questions

I'm vaccinated. Do I still need to get tested?

If you feel sick, you should still get tested for COVID-19. 

You are fully vaccinated 2 weeks after your final dose. Until those 2 weeks have passed, you should continue to get tested if you work in a high-risk setting or experience frequent contact with the public.

What about false positive testing results?

No test is perfect, yet fortunately false positives are relatively rare. Marin County Public Health will determine that a positive test is a false positive only when

  1. The initial positive test is a rapid antigen test, and
  2. A subsequent molecular test (i.e. PCR test, is negative and collected within 24 hours of the initial positive rapid antigen test.

An initial positive PCR result cannot be overturned by subsequent negative PCR tests, even if collected on the same day.

My doctor told me I don't need to isolate or quarantine, but Marin Public Health says I do. What should I do?

Isolation and quarantine are legal public health orders and can't be overturned by your primary care provider. If your doctor disagrees with an isolation or quarantine order, please ask them to contact the state COVID-19 CA Hotline (833)422-4255.

More testing FAQs

 

 

Marin County Testing Options

There are a variety of testing options in Marin County, either through a local healthcare provider, commercial pharmacy, urgent care clinic, take-home tests, or community test sites.  Review the list  below to find the right testing option for you.

Testing through your healthcare provider

If you have health insurance, schedule a test with your doctor. If you have symptoms or a known exposure, your healthcare provider is required by law to get you a test. Contact your provider or neighborhood clinic to discuss your need for testing, including testing required for travel or medical procedures.

If you don’t have health insurance

Marin County residents can get free COVID-19 testing at community testing sites. Access is prioritized for people who do not have health insurance, but is open to all.  Note: Travel-related and medical procedure testing are not allowed at community testing sites.

Self-referral providers

You can get a test at these sites without a referral from a doctor. Most locations require appointments in advance. Some locations may charge a fee for testing, and some may accept insurance to cover the cost of testing.  Some self-referral providers may provide travel-related or medical procedure testing (inquire prior to making appointment).  All locations use a PCR test unless otherwise noted. Please see additional information listed below each location:

  • ADx Healthcare

    • Larkspur - 17 E Sir Francis Drake Blvd (833)508-1703
      Appointment required |Testing for all patients | Drive-thru

  • B12 LOVE

    • Mill Valley - 37 Miller Ave (415)569-2099
      Appointment required | Testing for all patients | Rapid Test only | Drive-thru
       

  • Carbon Health

  • COVID Clinic

    • Corte Madera - 1961 Redwood Highway (877)219-8378
      Appointment required | Testing for all patients | Rapid Test Available | Drive-thru

  • CVS Pharmacy

    • Tiburon - 1599 Tiburon Blvd (415)435-3843
      Appointment required | Testing for all patients | Drive-thru

  • Dignity Health GoHealth Urgent Care

    • Mill Valley - 750 Redwood Hwy Frontage Rd (415)384-4778
      Appointment required | Testing for all patients | Rapid Test Available

  • Medical Center of Marin Urgent Care

  • One Medical

  • RiteAid

  • Walgreens

    • Mill Valley - 227 Shoreline Hwy (800)925-4733
      Appointment required | Testing limited to certain patients | Drive-thru
       
    • San Rafael - 155 Northgate One (415)479-2260
      Appointment required | Testing limited to certain patients | Drive-thru

Community testing sites

Community testing sites offer COVID-19 PCR Testing at no cost to Marin County residents.  Appointment access is prioritized for people who do not have health insurance. Appointments are strongly encouraged as PCR Testing is currently in high demand.

LHI (Logistics Health Incorporated) - NEW SCHEDULE

Appointments required. Call (888) 634-1123 or book an appointment online.

  • San Rafael - 1177 E. Francisco Blvd:  July 30, August 3, 5, & 6;   9:00am to 5:00pm
  • Novato (Margaret Todd Senior Center) - 1560 Hill Road: August 2 & 4;  9:00am to 5:00pm

 

Curative

Advance appointments encouraged; walk-ins available as daily testing supply allows. Book an appointment online.

  • Armory "Jury Duty" Parking Lot - NEW SCHEDULE  - Armory Drive, near the Marin Civic Center (open Sun, Tue, Thu, 8am to 3pm; Mon, Wed, 8am to 2pm) 
  • Downtown parking lot #2 - 50-98 Humboldt Ave, Sausalito (open Wednesdays, 10am to 4pm)
  • North Marin Community Services - 1907 Novato Blvd, Novato (open Wednesdays, 8am to 3 pm)
  • Novato Library - 1720 Novato Blvd, Novato (open Fridays, 10am to 4pm)
  • Piper Park - 250 Doherty Drive, Larkspur (open Thursdays, 10am to 4pm)
  • San Rafael Community Center - 618 B Street, San Rafael (open Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8am to 3pm)

  • Marin Health and Wellness Campus - 3260 Kerner Blvd, San Rafael (open Mondays, 10am to 4pm)

For additional Curative testing locations, please visit their website: https://curative.com/

Marin Community Clinics

Open to current patients of Marin Community Clinics only. Campus Clinic - 3260 Kerner Blvd, San Rafael. Schedule varies.

Marin City Health & Wellness Center

630 Drake Ave, Marin City (Testing offered Monday, Tuesday & Thursday; call 415-339-8813 to schedule an appointment).

 

At-home tests

There are now FDA-authorized COVID-19 tests available for purchase online or in a store that can be used completely at home. At-home tests allow you to collect your own sample and test it with a system that gives you results in minutes at home.

Additionally, the FDA has authorized some tests that can be purchased online or in a store that allow you to collect your own sample and then send it to a laboratory for analysis.

Most insurance carriers cover the cost of at-home testing.  

WARNING: The FDA has warned of companies selling fake or unproven COVID-19 tests. If you order an at-home test kit online, make sure it's authorized by the FDA.

 

Before and after travel

Some states and countries require a negative COVID-19 viral test or proof of vaccination before entry. These tests typically must be completed within 24-72 hours before arrival.

State Travel Guidance

 

Conditions for entry vary by destination. Research the latest travel and health restrictions for your planned destination (or verify requirements with your airline) prior to scheduling your COVID-19 test.

Some destinations – such as Hawaii – only accept test results from select providers. Before scheduling your COVID-19 test, check with your test provider to see if they meet the required test result certification.

There are several COVID-19 test providers in Marin County or at local airports that provide travel-related testing (this is not an exhaustive list of travel-test options):

 

Medical and dental procedures

Some healthcare facilities require a negative COVID-19 viral test before undergoing a medical, dental or surgical procedure. This is because most procedures involve close contact between you and your practitioner.  

Confirm testing and test result requirements with your medical provider before scheduling your COVID-19 test.

 

Test result timing

Getting your test results back varies greatly by the company, provider, and laboratory performing the COVID-19 test. On average, you can expect to receive your test results within 2-3 business days. Some medical providers are able to get results faster. 

Results may be provided to you by phone, email or text message, depending on the provider. You should confirm your preferred communication method when scheduling your test.

 

Types of COVID-19 tests

There are different types of tests – diagnostic tests and antibody tests.

Diagnostic tests can show if you have an active COVID-19 infection and need to take steps to quarantine or isolate yourself from others. Molecular and antigen tests are types of diagnostic tests that can detect if you have an active  COVID-19 infection. Samples for diagnostic tests are typically collected with a nasal or throat swab, or saliva collected by spitting into a tube.

Antibody tests look for antibodies in your immune system produced in response to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Antibody tests should not be used to diagnose an active COVID-19 infection.

COVID-19 Testing Information from the FDA

 

Overview of COVID-19 Tests (Video)

 

 

Contact tracing

Marin Public Health has a team of "contact investigators" who play a crucial role to stop the spread of COVID-19.  When a person tests positive for COVID-19, the team calls the person to gather a list of close contacts who are at high risk of exposure. 

Everyone on that list is then contacted to arrange for testing and quarantine.  While these close contacts are awaiting test results, they are commonly referred to as a Person Under Investigation (PUI).

In addition to gathering a list of close contacts, the contact investigation team evaluates their symptoms. They also provide information about quarantine and/or isolation to people with COVID-19, close contacts, and members of their households.

How contact tracing works (Video)