Stay-At-Home Order Likely To Be Extended In Marin County

MARIN COUNTY, CA — Although a regional stay-at-home order is set to expire Friday, Marin County public health officials expect the state to extend restrictions intended to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Due to dwindling intensive care unit capacity at hospitals across the region, the state implemented a stay-at-home order for the Bay Area region, which includes Marin, on Dec. 17 for a minimum of three weeks. The order will be lifted once the region's ICU capacity forecast meets or exceeds 15 percent.

"As case rates increase, ICU capacity decreases, and the numbers are still moving in the wrong direction," said Dr. Matt Willis, the county's public health officer.

"The Bay Area is down to 4 percent ICU capacity, the lowest it's ever been," he added. "We feel it's best to inform our communities that the stay-home order likely will remain in place until we reverse the trend across the region. We can all do our part to reopen our community by sticking to the stay-home order and preventing new infections."

A virtual town hall is scheduled at 2 p.m. Friday so county public health officials can provide an update about the stay-at-home order and COVID-19 vaccine progress. Willis and Dr. Tyler Evans are slated to provide an update during the live online session and participants will be allowed to submit questions.