Marin County officials will suspend meals indoors for at least three weeks amid an influx of new coronavirus infections, revoking the course a week after giving restaurants the green light to serve customers inside .
The decision, effective at midnight Monday, comes days after the state added Marin County to its watch list, which closely tracks counties struggling to suppress an increase in cases and hospitalizations. The county’s decision was based on a lack of improvement in the case count, officials said in a statement Sunday.
Marín had 2,861 total cases of coronavirus and 21 deaths as of Sunday afternoon. There were 29,174 cases and 601 deaths across the Bay Area.
Governor Gavin Newsom has directed counties on the watch list to reimpose parts of their requests to stay home.
Last week, the governor ordered 19 counties with increasing coronavirus outbreaks, including Contra Costa, Santa Clara and Solano, to close restaurants, wineries, movie theaters and other closed locations, and said California must prevent the pandemic from spiraling out of control.
Twenty-two counties remained on the list through Saturday.
Restaurants in Marin County can continue outdoor seating and takeaway service, officials said.
Teams with the state health department will patrol restaurants and other companies that do not comply with COVID-19 measures.
“Using face covers in public, washing your hands often, adhering to the guidelines of the social bubble and practicing social distancing are some of the practices that will help reduce the coronavirus outbreak and lead to more openings in the economic sectors”, Marin officials said.
Tatiana Sánchez is a writer for the San Francisco Chronicle staff. Email: [email protected]. Twitter: @TatianaYSanchez.
