With the increase in the number of new COVID-19 infections in Marin and across the state, health officials on Tuesday announced a new emphasis on applying rules designed to slow the spread of the virus.
“We now have a way for citizens to report any violations of the shelter order in the place they see,” Marin County Public Health Officer Dr. Matt Willis told county supervisors at their weekly meeting. The email address is [email protected].
“That is an email address where anyone can briefly describe the nature of what they see as the nature of the infringement,” he said.
In the early afternoon of Tuesday, 30 violations were reported, said Angela Nicholson, Deputy Administrator of Marin County.
The violations cited include businesses that do not impose social distancing and wearing of masks, short-term rentals that operate without authorization, and people who do not wear masks while walking on outdoor trails, Nicholson said.
County officials will meet on Friday to discuss what type of action to take if it confirms that violations have occurred. Nicholson said that since the shelter-in-place order went into effect in March, the county has the authority to fine people up to $ 1,000 per violation.
Seaplane Adventures, a Mill Valley tourism business, stopped flying a week ago after the Marin County Sheriff’s Office responded to citizen complaints by threatening to fine the business $ 1,000 per flight if it continued to operate. Until now, county officials have advised anyone who sees a violation to call the sheriff’s department.
Mimi Willard of Kentfield, one of the members of the public to comment on during the meeting, said emails reporting violations should be monitored and responded to in real time.
“Suppose a person observes an event that should have immediate attention, such as a big party,” said Willard.
Nicholson said the state left the county with little choice but to become more involved in local enforcement.
“The state was very clear,” said Nicholson, “that they were starting a compliance effort and that if the county did not have a compliance methodology in place, they would not potentially give us CARES funds.”
The Federal Coronavirus Economic Aid, Relief, and Security Act sent $ 150 billion directly to large state and local governments across the country to cover the costs related to the spread. California received $ 9.8 billion, and cities and counties in the state with more than 500,000 residents earned about $ 5.8 billion.
However, jurisdictions with smaller populations, such as Marin County, did not receive a direct allocation from the federal government. They trust the state to share some of its $ 9.8 billion to help cover its pandemic costs.
Willis told supervisors: “If there are issues, especially around a certain business, that is something we can send to a newly established state strike team.”
Willis said the strike team has considerable compliance power, as it includes representatives from various state regulatory agencies that oversee businesses such as the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, which issues liquor licenses for restaurants and bars, and the State Board of Hairdressing and Cosmetology.
“This strike force began on July 3,” Willis said, “and in the first two days alone, they cited 54 companies across the state. They are moving through different communities starting in those counties that are on the state watch list. “
On July 3, the strike team ordered the closure of at least a dozen restaurants in Santa Clara.
“The reality here,” Willis said, “is that the governor has recognized that in the past two weeks alone, there has been a marked increase in incidents across the state of California, and that some of that may have resulted from the rate at which things opened up. “
Willis said Marin has been seeing more and more cases on average each day, posting record numbers in two to three days in the past week.
“That is happening nationally and across the state and region,” Willis said.
On Monday, Marin had 1,809 confirmed cases of COVID-19, an increase of 120 from Friday. On Tuesday, 1,856 cases were registered. There were 26 people on coronavirus treatment at Marin hospitals, up from a maximum of 35 last week.
Eight of those treated were inmates at the San Quintín State Prison, where there were 1,440 active COVID-19 cases detained as of Tuesday. Seven of those inmates were in intensive care. So far, 10 inmates have died.
Willis said the state has taken more control over the counties’ “shelter in place” orders as a result. Last week, due to her high rate of new infections, Marin was placed on a watch list of counties that are being closely monitored by the state. About 80% of Californians live in one of the counties on the list, Willis said.
As a result of being placed on the watch list, the state required Marin to shut down interior offices for nonessential businesses, closed shopping malls, and beauty salons on Monday. The state ordered the county to shut down indoor food last week.
Willis said state officials have told Marin not to open any new business sectors until they give the green light.
“So,” Willis said, “we are in a waiting pattern.”
