alerts

Child abuse tends to spike in times of crisis. Calls to Marin County’s child abuse and neglect hotlines have plunged since the start of the COVID-19 shelter-in-place order, raising concerns of specialists with the Marin County Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). According to HHS’ Children and Family Services Division, calls to the Marin hotline (415-473-7153) averaged 23 per week in 2019, but the numbers have decreased sharply the past two months during the COVID-19 emergency. There were 12 phone referrals the week of March 23 and eight the week of March 30. Statewide, calls to similar hotlines are down 40% to 60%, according to the California Office of Child Abuse Prevention

HHS Child Welfare Director Bree Marchman said family members and friends need to be especially wary of tempers and tension flaring within sheltered households. 

Ntl Child Abuse Prevention Month: https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/preventing/preventionmonth/

Calif Office of Child Abuse Prevention: https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/ocap

Marin Children & Family Services: https://www.marinhhs.org/children-family-services

Special Guests: Mary Jane Burke, Marin County Office of Education; Dr. Steven Herrington, Sonoma County Office of Education

Call-in information: (605) 313-5111

Access code: 492901

Listen online: https://join.freeconferencecall.com/asmmarclevine

Please email questions to: Assemblymember.levine@assembly.ca.gov

Marin Office of Education: https://www.marinschools.org

Apr 21, San Rafael, CA – Marin County property owners needing relief from property tax penalties received welcome news April 21 regarding the tax collector’s COVID-19 penalty waiver process. The Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to give the Marin County Director of Finance the ability to waive property tax penalties for reasons that are specific to COVID-19.

The Board’s action is intended to address taxes that first became delinquent during the shelter-in-place order and includes reasons related to individual economic hardship. ... The Board resolution created a clear framework around the COVID-19 penalty waiver process and allows the Tax Collector’s Office to cancel penalties for reasons related to COVID-19 that are beyond the normal standard. It will also ensure accountability, equity, and uniformity in the process and will allow the County to quantify the financial impact of COVID-19 on property taxes should opportunities for reimbursement become available.

https://www.marincounty.org/depts/df/divisions/tax-collector/cancellation-of-pro...

"Covid-19 & Shelter-in Place: What Comes Next" 

Monday, April 20, 2020 at 6:30 PM. with FEATURED SPEAKERS: Matt Willis, M.D., Public Health Officer, County of Marin; Lisa Santora, M.D., Deputy Public Health Officer, County of Marin. Learn more about the virtual Community Conversation, including how to watch it live and submit questions; en Español: https://www.marincounty.org/main/covid-online-conversation-041320

One month has passed since the stay at home order went into effect. Residents and businesses have made major changes to minimize the spread of COVID-19, yet the virus still exists in our community and hospital surge is still a possibility. Will the shelter in place be lifted soon? How do face coverings factor into this? What is the next step? Join us for a community conversation as Marin’s top public health experts answer your questions about this important topic.

https://coronavirus.marinhhs.org/marin-public-health-order-face-coverings-41720

Everyone is asked to wear a face covering when they are interacting with others who are not members of their household in public and private spaces. Specifically, the new orderstates that people must wear face coverings when:

Inside public spaces or waiting in line to enter public spaces
Seeking health care
Waiting for or riding on mass transit or other shared transportation
In common areas of buildings, such as hallways, stairways, elevators and parking facilities.
Workers at businesses physically open and in areas where the public is present, likely to be present, or at any time when others are nearby.
Workers in any space where food is being prepared and/or packaged for sale.
Drivers/Operators of public transit.

Children aged 12 years old or younger are not required to wear a face covering.  In addition, individuals engaged in outdoor exercise such as walking, hiking, running or bicycling or running are not required to wear a face covering but should carry one with them and must continue to practice physical distancing.

Employers may to the extent already authorized by law refuse admission or service to any customer or visitor who refuses to comply with this Order and are encouraged to post signs at businesses entrances to remind customers of the requirement to wear face covering.

In requiring facial covering, Marin is joining other Bay Area counties that have instituted such measures to strengthen the regional shelter in place order.

“This does not change the current shelter in place order, which is in place at least until May 3.” said Dr. Matt Willis, Marin County Public Health Officer. “But we need to make sure we can interact more safely in public, before we consider any changes to the shelter in place order.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) people infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 may not have symptoms, but they can still be contagious. Many people with the COVID-19 virus have mild symptoms and do not recognize they are infected and contagious, and can unintentionally infect others. Wearing a face cover helps prevent the spread of droplets that might be infectious. Wearing a face covering, when combined with physical distancing of at least 6 feet, staying home when sick, and frequent hand washing, can help minimize the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19.

The health order will go into effect at 12:00p.m. Wednesday, April 22, 2020, to allow time for the general public to procure appropriate facial coverings.

Under the order, face coverings need to cover the nose and mouth.  The CDC suggestshome-sewn fabric coverings, bandanas, a “DIY” mask from an old t-shirt and neck gaiters are examples of acceptable face coverings, especially because they can be washed and worn again. Due to the severe shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) across the state, residents should refrain from trying to purchasing medical-grade masks for their own use and to utilize homemade face coverings instead. 

For more information about COVID-19 in Marin County, please visit the Corornavirus in Marin website. Individuals can contact Marin HHS with non-medical COVID-19 questions by calling 415-473-7191 weekdays between 9:30 a.m. and noon and 1-5 p.m. or by emailingCOVID-19@marincounty.org.