Although our City Hall is closed to the public, our services are not. We’ve created this newsletter as a one-stop shop and weekly update of coronavirus news that you may have missed. For additional info & updates, please visit our webpage at novato.org/coronavirus.
New Guidance for Reopening Businesses in Marin
On May 15, the Public Health Officer for Marin County issued a new order which includes allowing curbside retail and manufacturing to open on May 18.
This new order includes guidance on how business can safely resume and tools that will make reopening easier. To open in compliance with public health orders, curbside retailers must create and post a COVID-19 Site Specific Protection Plan. The plan includes accommodations for social distancing requirements, disinfectant protocols, and employee training for the new reopening conditions as well as for essential businesses who are required to complete a reopening plan as business practices change, such as when restaurants are permitted to host on-site dining. The COVID-19 Site Specific Protection Plan is required by the State of California to reopen whether opening curbside or an eventual full reopening.
Marin County’s reopening guidelines are aligned with state and local public health requirements with the goal of ensuring that every business owner is well prepared to protect both employees and customers when they reopen. Additional details, resources for businesses and reopening guidelines for curbside retailers are available at marinrecovers.com.
The decision to move forward with allowing a business sector to reopen is based on the available data and the status of COVID-19 in Marin and across the Bay Area region at any given time. To measure this, Bay Area counties have set indicators that measure rates of local cases, testing rates, hospital bed and PPE capacity, among other important factors. These indicators are continually reevaluated based on COVID-19 status, and Marin’s indicators show that progress is underway.
“The most important thing that we recognize is that reopening does not mean the virus is gone,” said Dr. Matt Willis, Marin’s Public Health Officer. “It means we believe we are prepared to take the next step, knowing that the virus is here and that we remain at risk. We have no zero-risk options.”
Continued loosening of the shelter-in-place order requires that both residents and businesses stay vigilant in reducing the spread of COVID-19. This includes frequent hand washing, staying home when sick, wearing a face covering in public spaces, and maintaining physical distance of at least six feet from people who are not part of your household.
Download a PDF of the Marin County COVID-19 Recovery Plan in English or Español.
Stay Informed
Visit the City of Novato COVID-19 webpage at novato.org/coronavirus to sign up for email or text message updates from the City, as well as for information on impacts to City services, City facility closures and cancelled and postponed events, what to do if you are feeling sick, and tips on how to reduce your risk of exposure.
Novato businesses and workers impacted by COVID-19, visit novato.org/COVID19biz for a listing of resources including information regarding unemployment, disability and paid family leave benefits; small business loans and grants; tax assistance; non-profit support; as well as information on workplace health and safety.
For up-to-date information on what other local agencies are doing in response to COVID-19, please visit the following websites:
Marin Health and Human Services: marinhhs.org/coronavirus
Novato Unified School District: nusd.org/coronavirus-covid-19
North Marin Water District: nmwd.com
Novato Sanitary District: novatosan.com
Marin Transit: marintransit.org
Golden Gate Transit: goldengate.org/district/news-media
SMART: sonomamarintrain.org
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Novato Parks Reopen to Motorized Access, Some Restrictions Still in Place
Post Date:05/15/2020 5:24 PM
On May 15, 2020, the County of Marin released a new Park Closure and Parking Restrictions Order that supersedes the previous order issued on April 29.
On May 18, Novato’s parks and open space will reopen to motorized access. This means that community members will be allowed to drive a vehicle to many of Marin’s parks and open spaces to enjoy a hike or recreate. However, to continue to protect the health and safety of our community and per Marin County’s new order, the following areas with high-touch equipment or that encourage gathering will remain closed:
Dog parks
Playgrounds
Picnic & barbecue areas
Benches
Pools
Additionally, there will be no loosening of access at some Marin locations that tend to draw larger crowds from across the Bay Area, creating conditions where visitors cannot feasibly comply with social distancing requirements.Facilities that remain closed to motorized access throughout Marin County, except for those with state-issued disabled vehicle placards on display, are:
Point Reyes National Seashore
Golden Gate National Recreation Area (including Muir Woods National Monument)
Mount Tamalpais State Park
Tomales Bay State Park
Samuel P Taylor State Park
Chicken Ranch Beach (along Tomales Bay)
Miller Park (along Tomales Bay)
White House Pool Park in Point Reyes Station
Bolinas Lagoon Open Space Preserve (including Bolinas County Park)
All Marin Municipal Water District lands
All beaches or inlets along the Pacific Ocean
While certain aspects of the Parks Closure Order have loosened, Marin’s Public Health Order concerning use of face coverings remains in effect, and residents should remain vigilant in limiting the spread of COVID-19 with the following practices:
Frequent handwashing or use of hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available
Staying home when showing symptoms of illness
Limiting unnecessary travel around the County and greater Bay Area
Continuing to physically distance at least 6 feet from someone outside a person’s household.
Thank you for continuing to do your part to help your community.
Stay Informed
Visit the City of Novato COVID-19 webpage at novato.org/coronavirus to sign up for email or text message updates from the City, as well as for information on impacts to City services, City facility closures and cancelled and postponed events, what to do if you are feeling sick, and tips on how to reduce your risk of exposure.
Novato businesses and workers impacted by COVID-19, visit novato.org/COVID19biz for a listing of resources including information regarding unemployment, disability and paid family leave benefits; small business loans and grants; tax assistance; non-profit support; as well as information on workplace health and safety.
For up-to-date information on what other local agencies are doing in response to COVID-19, please visit the following websites:
Marin Health and Human Services: marinhhs.org/coronavirus
Novato Unified School District: nusd.org/coronavirus-covid-19
North Marin Water District: nmwd.com
Novato Sanitary District: novatosan.com
Marin Transit: marintransit.org
Golden Gate Transit: goldengate.org/district/news-media
SMART: sonomamarintrain.org
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