Marin is one of just six California counties which aren’t in the purple tier of Californiaâs COVID-19 blueprint, the tier representing widespread risk. But the county could wind up in the purple tier in the next one to two weeks, said county Public Health Officer Matt Willis.
âOur slope is less steep than others, but itâs important to remember, thatâs faint praise,â Willis told KQED on Thursday. âWe are part of this regional surge in cases.â
Marin â which currently has 15 COVID-19 hospitalizations and over 5,600 total cases, as of 2 p.m. Thursday â is the only Bay Area county that has remained in the red tier, so far. That means gyms and other businesses are still allowed to operate at reduced capacity indoors.
The county also recently closed indoor dining, even though thatâs allowed under the red tier.
âWeâve been wondering what it would mean for us if we stayed in the red tier where things are allowable but not elsewhere to be a destination for those activities,â he said. âIâm not eager to impose restrictions in Marin that wouldnât otherwise be necessary.â
Like most public health officials, Dr. Willis is urging folks to continue following public health guidelines to avoid overwhelming the health care system. On Thursday, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a new stay-at-home order based on intensive care unit bed capacity.
âItâs really a matter of the community taking steps to prevent infections,â Dr. Willis said. âThe last thing we need on top of that already fatigued workforce is to be having to face surges in cases.â
Dr. Willis said a vaccine could arrive in Marin County in two weeks â and would be available for essential health care workers. Gov. Newsom tweeted Thursday that California will receive 327,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine in mid-December.
– Alexander Gonzalez (@alexgonz10)
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