Coronavirus: Local Health Emergency Declared In Marin County

MARIN COUNTY, CA — Marin County health officials have declared a health emergency and a local emergency to make it easier to combat the new coronavirus and prepare for a potential outbreak.

There have been no cases of coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19, among Marin residents, public health officials said. Last week, however, a coronavirus patient who was quarantined at Travis Air Force Base in Solano County was transferred to a hospital in Marin. The patient, who is not a resident of Marin, was among the passengers evacuated from the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan.

Also see: Coronavirus Patient Transferred To Hospital In Marin County

"This declaration is about preparedness," said Dr. Matt Willis, the county's public health officer. "Our COVID-19 preparation is bringing together partners from across the community, in public health, first responders, our hospitals and health care workers, our schools and businesses. As we allocate more resources to protect residents, this will help ensure we have the support we need."

The county's Department of Health and Human Services issued the health emergency proclamation Tuesday and recommended that the Board of Supervisors ratify the proclamation during the March 10 meeting. The board will also consider ratifying a local state of emergency proclamation, a step that would make the county eligible to receive reimbursement for costs incurred because of the COVID-19 threat.

Also see: Coronavirus: Marin County Schools Plan For Potential Outbreak

Marin joins a growing number of Bay Area jurisdictions taking similar actions, including Alameda, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Solano and Sonoma counties.

The declaration is designed to allow for greater coordination between local agencies and state and federal officials. The move will also help the county get reimbursed by state and federal governments for money it spends on preparedness.

"As the epidemic spreads globally, we're prioritizing local readiness," said Benita McLarin, director of the Department of Health and Human Services. "This declaration will allow even stronger interagency collaboration."

Health officials advised residents to take precautions such as practicing good hygiene:

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially before eating, after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing;
• Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and water is not available;
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue or crook of your elbow (not your hands). If you use a tissue, throw it away and wash your hands afterward;
• Avoid touching your face;
• Stay home from work or school if you have a fever or are feeling sick;
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick;
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe;
• Get your flu shot to protect against flu.

Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that include the common cold as well as much more serious diseases. The COVID-19 strain that emerged in China in late 2019 is related to others that have caused serious outbreaks in recent years, including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the U.S. was on Jan. 21.

The disease, which apparently originated in animals, is now transferring from person to person, although the mechanism is not yet fully understood. Symptoms include fever, coughing and shortness of breath, and many patients develop pneumonia. There currently is no vaccine against COVID-19 it and no antiviral treatment.