Coronavirus: Marin County Public Health Officer Tests Positive

MARIN COUNTY, CA — Marin County's public health officer has tested positive for the new coronavirus.

In a video message, Dr. Matt Willis announced that he has been diagnosed with COVID-19. Willis recorded the message from his home on Sunday night, where he has been self-quarantined from his wife and three children since he first started having symptoms late last week. His test results were confirmed Sunday afternoon.

"My case is further proof that COVID-19 is with us," Willis said in the video. "While my symptoms are now mild, as most people's will be, we also know that for many, especially our elders, this same illness can be life threatening."

Willis stressed the importance of staying at home, especially for the safety of seniors and other vulnerable residents as well as to help ease the burden on health care workers.

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It is not known how Willis was exposed to the virus. He had been actively meeting with health care workers around the Bay Area as part of his work to coordinate Marin's response to coronavirus.

"Either way, it's a clear sign of what we've been saying all along," Willis said. "I didn't necessarily think I would be such an early example of the fact this is in our community."

As part of his work, Willis had been working in the county's Emergency Operations Center. According to the county, EOC staff will be checked daily for symptoms.

Dr. Lisa Santora, the county's deputy public health officer, will lead the operations as Willis recovers.

As of Sunday, there were 38 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Marin. Willis is the county's 39th confirmed case. A total of 430 people have been tested at the county's drive-through testing facility.

In his message, Willis appealed to community members to do everything possible to flatten the curve in the county and across the state.

"Stay in place, shelter at home, and limit anything outside the home to only essential trips," Willis said.

"Because we're seeing signs of our responders being exposed and pulled away from duty, we need to double down on our efforts to limit countywide exposures. You can help us lessen the burden on our health care system by simply slowing the rate of spread. That we do have some control over."

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