D-5 Update, Face Coverings/Mask & Library Offerings!

 

Face Coverings/Masks

 

In response to guidance from the California Department of Public Health, the Marin County Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is recommending that residents cover their nose and mouth when leaving home for essential outings.

 

Due to the global demand for hospital grade face masks (personal protective equipment/PPE), there is a severe shortage of PPE across the state. Local officials are prioritizing PPE for healthcare workers on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

 

Marin HHS asks residents to refrain from purchasing PPE for their own use and to utilize homemade face coverings instead. Home-sewn fabric coverings, bandanas, a “DIY” mask from an old t-shirt and neck gaiters are examples of acceptable face coverings, especially because they can be washed and worn again.

 

Resources for residents looking for homemade face covering options: 

Without sewing machine, https://youtu.be/tPx1yqvJgf4

With sewing machine, https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/31/opinion/coronavirus-n95-mask.html

The rationale for covering one’s face comes from a US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention belief that COVID-19 spreads through droplets from an infected individual, whether sneezing or breathing, which fabrics can easily filter. This not only helps to reduce the risk of a well person breathing those droplets in, but also protects others around someone with mild symptoms who may not yet realize they have the illness (or is suffering from other illnesses, such as the flu). Covering the nose and mouth also may be beneficial as a reminder to keep physical distancing.

 

It is recommended that a face covering should be worn anytime a person is outside of their home, even in offices of essential businesses. Face coverings should be washed after each use with detergent and hot water and dried on a hot cycle. For more information, visit the HHS Website.

 

If you have excess inventory of PPE you wish to donate to support our healthcare and first responder workers, please fill out our online donation form. Alternatively, donations can be dropped off Monday through Friday, 1:00pm to 4:00pm, at The Salvation Army (351 Mission Avenue, San Rafael), who is collecting on behalf of Marin County Office of Emergency Services and all of its coordinating partners. Only donations of new, unopened boxes of N95 masks, surgical masks, isolation masks, disposable gowns, and latex gloves will be accepted at this time. Unfortunately, we cannot accept homemade masks. Please keep those for yourself, your family or a neighbor! 

Stay Connected with Marin County Free Library (MCFL)

While the physical branches of the MCFL are closed, the library has loads of online options for you, your family and friends to utilize during the shelter-in-place. If you haven’t checked out some of the offerings, I highly recommend you do. 

Some of the content is accessible without a library card, however, if you don’t have one, you can still register for a library card here to get full online access.

A few examples of what you’ll find online with MCFL:

The daily Library Blog is chockful of activities and recommendations for children and adults and you can subscribe here to receive it via email.

Ancestry Library Edition is free during the month of April using your library card number and PIN/password: https://marinlibrary.org/expanded-access-to-ancestry-com/

 

STEM & Social Studies Activities for Kids at Home: https://marinlibrary.org/kids-at-home-stem-social-studies/

A wonderful collection of digital materials including eBooks, audio books, digital magazines, streaming movies and TV, and more: https://marinlibrary.org/access-the-library-from-home/

Have questions? The library is working hard to help patrons through an online contact form and have also established a new chat feature. Both can be found here.

COVID-19 Updates

General COVID-19 information, including FAQ's, is available on the Marin Health & Human Services Coronavirus website. You can also direct questions to the COVID-19 Information Line at 415-473-7191 (CA Relay Service Dial 711). Phone calls are answered Monday-Friday, 9:30am-12:00pm and 1:00pm-5:00pm. Questions can also be emailed to: COVID-19@marincounty.org

 

I know these are challenging times and I thank you all for doing your part to adhere to the shelter-in-place order. All of your efforts are critical to "flattening" the curve and protecting our health care system.  

 

 

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