Last week, Marin County Public Health issued a Public Health Advisory to local clinicians after xylazine, a potent tranquilizer, was detected in Marin County wastewater.
Wastewater has emerged as a valuable tool for measuring virus levels and detecting substances of concern.
Xylazine is causing an increase in overdose events nationally. While no xylazine overdoses have been reported within Marin, early detection in wastewater allowed for timely response to protect those at risk.
OD Free Marin has developed Xylazine FAQs for our community.
Also, the World Health Organization last week declared the End of the Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). Also for the first time in 2023, Marin COVID Level transitioned from Medium to Low based on declining hospitalizations and virus levels in wastewater. On Thursday, May 11, the Federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) Declaration will end.
- Information about End of Global Pandemic Emergency
- Information about End of Federal Public Health Emergency
- Information about Low Marin COVID-19 Level
Today’s World Health Organization statement accurately summarizes what these changes mean for us; “COVID-19 is now an established and ongoing health issue which no longer constitutes a public health emergency.” We are in between a pandemic state of emergency and an endemic state of predictability. While we celebrate our progress, it’s important to remember, virus transmission is still active in Marin and COVID-19 remains a leading cause of infectious disease hospitalization. High-risk individuals should stay up-to-date with vaccinations and seek prompt treatment if infected.
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