Shelter-at-Home Update

 

Coronavirus Update - Shelter-at-Home

Today, Marin County joined the Counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara, along with the City of Berkeley and announced a legal order directing residents to shelter at home for three weeks beginning March 17.  The order limits activity, travel and business functions to only the most essential needs. The guidance comes after substantial input from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and best practices from other health officials around the world.

The order defines essential activities as necessary for the health and safety for individuals and their families. Essential businesses allowed to operate during the recommended action include health care operations; businesses that provide food, shelter, and social services, and other necessities of life for economically disadvantaged or otherwise needy individuals; fresh and non-perishable food retailers (including convenience stores); pharmacies; child care facilities; gas stations; banks; laundry businesses and services necessary for maintaining the safety, sanitation and essential operation of a residence.  In addition, health care, law and safety, and essential government functions will continue under the recommended action. For the full list, please see section 10 of the order here.

Please find answers here: Frequently Asked Questions

Scientific evidence shows social distancing is one of the most effective approaches to slow the transmission of communicable disease.  The shelter-at-home order follows new data of increasing local transmission of COVID-19, including 258 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with four deaths shared by the seven jurisdictions, as of March 15.  The Bay Area’s collected confirmed cases is more than half of California’s case count. This does not account for the rapidly increasing number of assumed cases of community transmission. As testing capacity increases, the number of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases is expected to increase markedly.

“While the goal is to limit groups congregating together in a way that could further spread the virus, it is not complete social shutdown,” said Dr. Matt Willis, Marin County’s Public Health Officer. “You can still complete your most essential outings or even engage in outdoor activity, so long as you avoid close contact.”

It is important that we not panic, essential services will be available, but it is up to all of us to follow this shelter-at home directive. Please consider checking in on an elderly neighbor or someone you know with a compromised immune system. I know we can all support one another.

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Links to pages referenced (Order attached):

FAQ: https://coronavirus.marinhhs.org/faqs/en

Coronavirius webpage: https://coronavirus.marinhhs.org/

 

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/CAMARIN/bulletins/2818288

• Shelter in Place Order 16 March 2020.pdf