Corte Madera Current Updates, Information and Resources on Coronavirus - Updated 11/4/20

Press release from the Town of Corte Madera:

November 04, 2020

What’s Open Around Town? Support our local businesses. Click here to view list of stores, restaurants and other essential businesses that are open to serve our community.

Food Resources for Vulnerable Populations: Marin County Health and Human Services reminds residents in need that access to healthy food is available through a number of resources. Click here to read their recently published press release.

Virtual Recreation Center: Click here to visit the Corte Madera Parks and Recreation Department’s Virtual Recreation Center and Resource Point, which has suggestions and resources to keep you and your family entertained, active, and informed during the Shelter In Place Order.

Temporary Outdoor Use and Encroachment Permits: The Town Council recently adopted an urgency ordinance allowing restaurants and other commercial businesses to provide outdoor business operations on private and public property following approval of a Temporary Outdoor Use or Temporary Operations Encroachment permit by the Town.

Helpful Information for Small Businesses: Click here to visit the Marin Small Business Development Center’s website.

Updated "Shelter in Place" Order: Updated "Stay at Home" and Parks Closure Orders in effect through May 31, 2020. Read news release from Marin County HHS, Regional Shelter-in-Place Orders Extended as Some Rules Ease .

New Program Provides Free Restaurant Meals to Older Adults: Check out information on this program by clicking here.

Daily Update from Marin County Health and Human Services: As of November 3, 2020, there are 4,941 confirmed cases of COVID-19 among Marin County residents, 149,647 tests completed, 176 cumulative hospitalizations (of positive patients), 5 current hospitalizations, and 99 COVID-19 related deaths. As of November 3, 2020, there are 934,672 cases and 17,686 deaths in California, according to the California Department of Public Health. For information specific to Marin County, visit the Marin HHS Data website.

**San Quentin State Prison COVID-19 Activity: The County has seen an improvement in the COVID-19 outbreak situation at San Quentin, including no new cases reported for more than seven days. Marin Public Health will continue to monitor the situation at San Quentin, but at this point, they believe the outbreak of June 2020 is largely over. Therefore, as of 8/24/2020, they will no longer report San Quentin numbers in this status report (or on their surveillance page). However, you can continue to track all of San Quentin data at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. By clicking on the link you can view the data that is being reported to Marin Public Health. After clicking the link above, select "Institution View" in the COVID-19 Tracing Dashboard and filter to "CA State Prison, San Quentin" in the upper right hand corner. Total cumulative case and hospitalization counts do not include cases reported from San Quentin.

The County of Marin has shared a video where Dr. Willis, the County Health Officer, addresses our cities and towns, provides an overview of the Marin Recovers Industry Advisors process, and asks for continued vigilance from the public. Click here to view it and share it.

Update 5/18/2020: A Stay at Home Order is in place for Marin County until further notice. The new order, which takes effect May 17th, 2020 at 11:59 PM, will ease some additional restrictions while practices to strengthen containment of COVID-19 are put into place. All construction activities, certain businesses that operate primarily outdoors, and some outdoor activities continue to be allowed with the new Order. In addition, the new Order allows for curbside pickup for retail stores and retail supply chain businesses to open. To help you understand the restrictions of the order, please click here. In addition to the Stay at Home Order, Marin’s Public Health Officer has amended the order closing parks, campgrounds and open spaces to motorized access. Some locations will now be open to motorized access, with some remaining closed. Click here for details.

Update 4/29/20: This updated Order continues to restrict most activity to essential functions and needs. But because of progress we have collectively achieved in slowing the spread of the disease and limiting hospitalizations, the Order allows certain additional essential businesses and activities to resume, allows certain low-risk outdoor businesses to being operating again, and authorizes certain additional outdoor activities to take place even though they are not essential. The new Order also introduces a framework to guide the Health Officer’s decisions about further easing of restrictions, focusing on progress achieved addressing COVID-19 and ensuring that there are adequate health care resources available. This new Order replaces the shelter order issued on March 31, 2020. We refer to the March 31 order as the “Prior Order” and the April 29 Order as the “new Order” or “Order.”

The updated Order goes into effect on Monday, May 4. Town staff is currently analyzing the updates and how they will impact Town operations, particularly related to local construction projects and updates will be posted on the Town’s website when available. Thank you for your patience.

Update 4/17/20: The Marin County Public Health Officer issued a new Public Health Order requiring face coverings, such as a mask or bandana, be worn in public for those over the age of 12. You should wear a face covering when coming into contact (less than 6 feet) with people you don’t live with. Click here for additional guidance on the new order and information on how to make your own facial covering.

Update: 4/05/20: Marin County HHS issues new County Quarantine Order and Isolation Order, both effective April 5, 2020, and informational Guidance on Home Quarantine and Isolation Safety.

Update: 4/03/20: Public Health Releases Guidance on Face Coverings In response to new guidance from the California. Department of Public Health, the Marin County Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Bay Area health officials are recommending that residents cover their nose and mouth when leaving home for essential travel, such as doctor appointments, grocery shopping or pharmacy visits. Resident face coverings do not have to be hospital grade but need to cover the nose and mouth. 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. Due to the global demand for personal protective equipment (PPE), there is a severe shortage of PPE across the state. Local officials are prioritizing acquisitions of 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.

Update: 3/31/20: A “Shelter at Home” order is in place for Marin County and other Bay Area counties now through May 3. This legal order limits activity, travel and business functions to only the most essential needs. The purpose of this is to keep people at home – except to complete the most essential activities, such as visiting a doctor or buying groceries for your household – in order to slow the transmission of COVID-19. The more we stay at home, the less chance we have of exposing ourselves to this virus and spreading it from one household to another. This order applies to people of all ages and backgrounds because anyone can be a carrier of the COVID-19 virus, even if they do not show symptoms. We must adapt our daily routines for the health and safety of each other. To help you understand the restrictions of the order, please review the resources available on the County’s website.

Update from the Town of Corte Madera, 3/18/20: On March 13, 2020, Town Manager Todd Cusimano issued a Proclamation of Local Emergency. The Town Council, at its March 17, 2020 Special Town Council meeting, adopted Resolution No. 13/2020, ratifying and modifying the Town Manager/Emergency Operations Manager’s Proclamation of Local Emergency. The proclamation is a legal document that will mobilize resources, accelerate emergency planning, streamline staffing, and allow for future reimbursement by the state and federal governments. The proclamation reinforces that this is not business as usual and gives us more tools to be even more prepared so that we can be confident that our local readiness efforts are as robust as possible to protect the health of our community.

Public Health: Shelter in Place Order (March 16, 2020): In effect 12:01am March 17, 2020 through 11:59pm April 7, 2020. Frequently Asked Questions interactive website regarding the Shelter In Place Order.

This page includes updates and links to resources related to the global outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) as it affects Corte Madera residents. The Marin County Department of Health and Human Services is leading the local response to the coronavirus, in coordination with the California Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control.

If you have recently traveled to a geographic area with widespread or sustained community transmission and develop symptoms of a respiratory infection (cough or shortness of breath), stay home from school or work and contact your healthcare provider and inform them of your symptoms and travel history. Prior to planning travel, review the CDC’s travel guidelines.

Questions

• Marin Health and Human Services has launched a COVID-19 Information Line at (415) 473-7191. CA Relay Service, Dial 711. Phone calls will be answered Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Questions may also be submitted via email to COVID-19@marincounty.org

This press release was produced by the Town of Corte Madera. The views expressed are the author's own.