Marin tightens restrictions on indoor activities – Effective November 17

With COVID-19 transmission and hospitalizations on the rise across the region, Bay Area health officers are tightening local rules for higher-risk indoor activities where the virus can spread more easily.

In Marin County, case rates have nearly doubled in the past 10 days and continue to rise, prompting Public Health Officer Dr. Matt Willis to issue an order to tighten restrictions to limit further spread of the virus.

Under the order, the following industries should reduce operations to match the “red” Tier 2 allowances under the State of California’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy, effective Tuesday, November 17: 

• Retail / malls – reduce capacity to 50%
• Libraries – reduce capacity to 50%
• Museums – reduce capacity to 25%
• Places of worship – reduce capacity to 25% or 100 people (whichever is fewer)
• Gyms and fitness centers – reduce capacity to 10%
• Wineries – operate outdoor only
• Family entertainment centers – operate outdoor only
• Cardrooms – operate outdoor only
• Indoor pools – close
• Bars and breweries (with no meal option) – close

In addition, Marin will join counties across the region to close all indoor dining operations, including: 

• Indoor dining at restaurants – close
• Indoor movie theater concessions – close
• Indoor food courts – close

If Marin’s average daily case rate continues at its current momentum, projections show Marin could return to “purple” Tier 1 status as early as November 24. Hopefully, with proactive measures, we can prevent that from happening.

With flu season and the holidays approaching, there is a concern that we may see a surge in Covid-19 cases – prompting Marin and other Bay Area jurisdictions, as well as the State of California, to issue recommendations for holiday travel and gatherings. Holiday travel is considered non-essential and it is recommended that holiday gatherings are kept small, short, and outside to the extent possible. Marin’s guidance for holiday travel, gatherings, and a list of safe alternatives for holiday celebrations, can be found at Coronavirus.MarinHHS.org/Celebrate-Safely.

It is a good time to remember the basics and continue to be vigilant with social distancing, hand washing and wearing face coverings while in public. These measures will go a long way in helping slow the spread of COVID-19.

Register online to receive a daily COVID-19 update from Marin HHS.

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