Sherman R. Frederick
Marinscope
When a public health officer speaks about an ever-changing health crisis such as COVID-19, expect a lot of charts and graphs.
Dr. Matt Willis did not disappoint during a public health Zoom update with the Outdoor Club in Mill Valley last Thursday.
He told the group that Marin is in the beginning of another surge in coronavirus cases that could be steeper and deeper than the surge the county experienced in July.
The surge in cases in early November is starting faster and elevating quicker than the one in July, he said, adding, “That’s why you’re seeing more aggressive action.”
While the county is still in the less restrictive Orange Tier, the health department has ordered restrictions elevated to Red Tier level in an attempt to reduce the rise in cases.
The event was moderated by Allison Lang. Dr. Willis told the meeting that as of Monday, Nov. 16, there were just over 5,000 Coronavirus cases in Marin. Although California has one of the lower infection rates in the county, and Marin is one of the lowest counties in the state, “we watching hospitalizations very carefully.”
Dr. Willis said that 82 schools are open in Marin and so far there has not been a student-to-student transmission of the virus.
He also told the group that the two vaccines recently announced provide great hope that the nation can get this pandemic under control in 2021.
The best case, he thinks, is that the vaccine will be available to the general population in Marin by late April. In that scenario, the county would probably remain in a restrictive state to one degree or another for gatherings well into 2021.
Responding to a question, Dr. Willis said that if someone in Marin dies of, say, a heart attack, but also had the COVID-19, the cause of death will be listed as COVID-19.
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