San Rafael, CA – Marin County is moving into the next round of its COVID-19 pandemic response, with further reopenings under the shelter-in-place order. Outdoor retail, office space, outdoor dining, and curbside library services join child care and summer/sports camps as business sectors allowed to reopen to patrons and employees as of June 1 if guidelines from Marin County Public Health are followed. New guidelines for those industries to safely reopen are available at MarinRecovers.com.
Businesses preparing to reopen must complete a Site-Specific Protection Plan (SPP) to define how a business will reopen in a safe and clean manner for patrons and employees. A SPP plan template is available on MarinRecovers.com to guide businesses through the planning process. The template combines state-level guidance published in the California State Resilience Roadmap and local Marin County public health policies.
Greater access to Marin’s parks and beaches will also be allowed beginning June 1. Marin’s Public Health Officer, Dr. Matt Willis, issued a new Public Health Order that lifts all previous restrictions on motorized access to parks and beaches in Marin County. The new order supersedes the May 15 order and provides local jurisdictions the authority to limit or prohibit motorized access as appropriate.
Since Marin began sequentially reopening the county on May 4, 19 sectors of business have been allowed to reopen with public health guidance. Guidelines for the next stage of openings will include outdoor religious services and indoor retail. Barring any surges in disease transmission, those are expected to be released by June 12 to begin June 15. An overview of Marin’s business reopenings to date can be accessed online.
Leaders from the Marin Recovers team provided an update to the Marin County Board of Supervisors on May 26, including its Safe & Measured Reopening Plan for businesses to reopen. The Board accepted the report from Willis, Marin County Parks Director Max Korten, Assistant County Administrator Angela Nicholson, Assistant City Manager Christine Alilovich and Vice Mayor of San Anselmo Brian Colbert. Marin Recovers’ Economic Recovery Committee, which includes Supervisors Judy Arnold and Damon Connolly, is ensuring the collaboration is partnering with towns, cities, and chambers of commerce to support local economic recovery efforts and that County emergency assistance is reaching Marin’s neediest residents.
The State of California continues to determine the limit for allowable activities, while being clear that counties are responsible for addressing local needs based on their individual circumstances. Marin County Public Health staff is constantly monitoring public indicators of COVID-19 to inform future business reopening phases. As the state allows for higher-risk activities, Marin County Public Health works with industry leaders to develop reopening guidelines that consider current COVID-19 activity and special considerations for Marin’s more vulnerable populations.
“Our challenge is to balance the risks of reopening with the harms associated with shelter-in-place restrictions,” Willis said. “COVID-19 is still with us. As we lift restrictions at the policy level, it’s more and more in our own hands as individuals to prevent spread. We are counting on all our residents and businesses to do their part as we move forward together.”
Reopening guidelines available on MarinRecovers.com:
The Marin County Department of Health and Human Services’ coronavirus website remains the authority for local COVID-19 case data and medical information.