By Derek Wilson
Marinscope
The numbers of COVID-19 cases in Marin County have increased significantly over the past month, just as they have across California, raising concerns that we could be heading quickly toward the second wave in the spread of Coronavirus.
There is hope of a vaccine to be released to the public before the end of the year, but hospital workers are hoping we can lower the number of COVID-19 cases before then.
MarinHealth hospital officials estimate they were seeing 3-6 COVID-19 patients per day back in May. During July, that number has jumped to around 15 positive cases per day, including some from San Quentin State Prison staff and inmates. The largest outbreak in Marin County has been at San Quentin, where as of Friday there were 864 positive cases among inmates.
There have been 2,482 confirmed Covid-19 cases in Marin County since the pandemic started, and 39 deaths. County officials estimate a total of 29 patients are currently hospitalized at MarinHealth and Kaiser. Twenty-one were from the community and 8 were from San Quentin.
“Really it’s still the first wave of COVID-19,” said Lee Domanico, outgoing CEO of MarinHealth. “We did a good job of social distancing at first. The numbers were dampened and we bent the curve, but then we opened the state. Residents got lax on wearing masks and social distancing, and we had holidays in the summertime. Now we’re seeing a significant increase in the infection rate and hospitalization rate.”
The Marin County Board of Supervisors on July 21 approved an urgency ordinance that created new civil penalties for violations of orders issued by County Public Health Officer Dr. Matt Willis. Efforts will focus on business violations, but jurisdictions will have discretion to enforce where they see the greatest risk to public health in their communities.
Domanico supports the enforcement, saying “we’ve got to go back to basics. We can’t take the risks. We’ve got to hunker down and everyone has to wear masks. With each person wearing masks that lowers the public risk significantly.”
Domanico says the Greenbrae hospital is “fully open and at 85 percent of operating capacity of pre-Covid levels.”
Domanico continued: “The hospital is safe. We have not had any one individual contract the virus at the hospital to date. We know how to take care of our patients safely. There is no clinical reason not to come to the hospital if you are in need of care… We are delivering babies like we always have.”
Meanwhile, MarinHealth care workers are out in the community at clinics and in a mobile van at senior care facilities, nursing homes and neighborhoods that could be at risk to prevent outbreaks of the virus.
“I want to commend the doctors, nurses and others on the front lines who are putting themselves in harm’s way for our sake,” Domanico said. “It’s a challenge, not knowing where the end is at with the quarantine and the pandemic. Thus far, people are still up for the challenge and I’m proud of the way the hospital has been able to respond.”
Domanico also lauds the community for its support of healthcare workers with well wishes and donations of food and funds.
Domanico is expected to leave his post on September 30. David G. Klein, M.D. has been tabbed to succeed Domanico as CEO.
Dr. Klein comes to MarinHealth after serving as President and CEO of Dignity Health’s Saint Francis Memorial Hospital and St. Mary’s Medical Center in San Francisco.
Dr. Klein has stated that his highest priorities for MarinHealth are maintaining safety, excellent outcomes, and creating an outstanding patient-centric experience.
Leave a Reply