Marinscope
Marin County tapped the brakes on its reopening plans after a surge of positive COVID-19 cases.
The county health officers said they have “slowed the pace for businesses reopenings.”
The county had planned to reopen this week with motels and short-term rentals; gyms and fitness studios; body art professionals, tattoo parlors, piercing shops, electrology services, estheticians, skin care and cosmetology services, non-medical massage services, and nail salons. But those businesses have been put on hold.
Businesses that were allowed to reopen include indoor dining, and hair salons and barbershops. Also coming online are campgrounds and RV parks, picnic and barbecue areas, outdoor vehicle-based gatherings.
As Marin has slowly reopened, residents have begun to venture out to restaurants who are adapting to a safer, new landscape by providing outdoor dining. Downtown Novato has blocked off the lower part of Grant Avenue in the evenings to provide a kind of street fair atmosphere. San Anselmo, Fairfax, Larkspur, San Rafael and Sausalito have made similar moves.
Health officials said “a spike in coronavirus cases has led Marin County to delay the reopening of certain businesses … Marin County is witnessing an increase in COVID-19 case activity. On June 25, Marin recorded 54 new cases, the highest number in any one day thus far in Marin’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This corresponds to record-high numbers of people hospitalized, at 12, and in intensive care, at five. Recent spikes in cases have been observed across the State of California, and local counties — such as San Francisco and Contra Costa – have also announced delays in business reopening plans due to regional surges in cases.”
The “large outbreak” at San Quentin State prison (more than 500 infected inmates in two weeks) also factored into the decision to delay reopening for some businesses.
“The transfer of critically ill inmates from that facility has created stress on local hospitals. Over 75 staff, some of whom live in Marin County, have also been infected.”
Dr. Matt Willis, Marin’s Public Health Officer, stressed that “we’re seeing patterns we need to pay attention to. We’re not closing anything down. We’re just slowing the pace in response to the data.”
The death count in Marin stands at 18 total since the pandemic. Confirmed cases stand at 1,091 with 737 of those fully recovered. There are currently 12 people hospitalized with the COVID-19.
Dr. Willis also said “We want to remind you that COVID-19 testing is available in Marin County. If you are experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19, you should immediately call your medical provider and seek testing. Even if you are not experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, Marin County Public Health recommends you seek testing.”
“We’re all eager to move forward out of the shelter in place, but the pandemic is far from over,” said Max Korten, Director of Marin County Parks and Acting Coordinator for the Marin Recovers Industry Advisors. “We have a shared responsibility in this. Everyone in Marin County needs to wear a face covering, maintain social distance, and practice good hygiene. These are simple tools, and our ability to reopen further depends a lot on following these practices as a community.
Also this week, Gov. Gavin Newsom lowered the boom on bars in seven counties that have allowed bars to open. He told Los Angeles County and Fresno, San Joaquin, Kings, Kern, Imperial and Tulare counties to close the bars immediately.
He also urged the counties of Contra Costa, Santa Clara, Sacramento, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara and Stanislaus to issue orders and close the bars there.
“COVID-19 is still circulating in California, and in some parts of the state, growing stronger. That’s why it is critical we take this step to limit the spread of the virus in the counties that are seeing the biggest increases,” the governor said in a press statement.
The Associated Press reported that “Public health officials consider bars to be the highest-risk businesses during the pandemic because alcohol consumption reduces inhibition and impairs judgment, leading people to forget using face coverings or keep a safe distance from each other. Raising one’s voice in a loud bar leads to greater projection of droplets.”
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