Marin Health Officer Backs State's Mask Guidance

MARIN COUNTY, CA — Marin County’s top health official on Wednesday was among 12 Bay Area health officers to publicly back the state’s most mask guidance update.

Association of Bay Area Health Officials member Dr. Matt Willis joined his peers issued a joint statement in support of the California Department of Public Health’s strategy to continue with current masking guidance until June 15, when the state will align with the CDC’s updated masking guidance.

“The CDC’s updated masking guidance is grounded in evidence showing that vaccines are extremely effective in protecting vaccinated people from infection, severe illness, and death, and preventing them from spreading COVID-19 to others,” the association said in a statement.

“Additionally, increasing vaccination in our communities helps mitigate the spread of new variants that are more likely to infect those who are unvaccinated.

“This helps protect people who cannot yet get vaccinated, such as children younger than 12, as well as people who may not get full benefit from the vaccine, such as people with weakened immune systems.”

The association presented an upbeat view of the pandemic, noting that nearly half of California’s population over age 16 fully vaccinated, and close 65 percent have received at least one dose of vaccine.

Marin County’s vaccine rate is among the state’s best.

As of Wednesday 83.6 percent of the county's population 12 and over has received at least one dose of the vaccine and around 70.3 percent of the county's eligible population is fully vaccinated according to the county’s vaccine dashboard.

But despite what the association said has been “great progress” on the vaccine front, “large numbers of residents are still unvaccinated, not yet fully vaccinated, or not eligible to be vaccinated.”

“This next month is critical to ensuring more of our residents can access vaccinations, and that businesses and other entities are able to prepare for implementation of the CDC’s updated masking guidance.”

Because COVID-19 continues to circulate here and abroad, the best way for residents to protect themselves is to get vaccinated. A person is fully protected two weeks after they complete their vaccine series, which is a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, or two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.

“We’re already experiencing the benefits of the vaccine, dramatically reducing the COVID-19 death rate and reducing hospitalizations in Marin County,” Marin County Public Health Officer Dr. Matt Willis said in a statement.

“While 55 percent of our population are fully protected, we’re still vulnerable to outbreaks. These next few weeks are critical to increase our overall community immunity and help us pave a safer path toward a sense of normalcy.”

Safe, free, and effective COVID-19 vaccines are now available to everyone age 12 and up.

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