Marin County �COVID-19 Public Health Update

For the School Community

Back to School 2022-2023

August 15, 2022

Health Defined

•  “A state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.“

WHO Constitution (1948)

Evolution of Pandemic Priorities

Year 1 (2020): “Prevent infections”

• Physical wellbeing relatively higher priority
• Hospitals under threat, limited PPE
• 70% of deaths in Marin in Year 1
• No Vaccines / No Treatment / No Immunity
• Limited knowledge
• Still, Marin schools reopened early and safely

Year 3 (2022): “Rebuild our community”

• Mental and social wellbeing relatively higher priority
• Hospitals stable
• 20% of deaths (70% of cases)
• Measurable impacts of pandemic: substance use, self harm, loss of learning, social isolation, burnout and stress
• Vaccines / Treatments / Widespread immunity
• Better knowledge

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COVID versus Drug Overdose Mortality: �Marin County, 2021

5

COVID in Marin

Marin County Daily COVID-19 Cases

7

Updated 8/15/22

Marin County: SARS-CoV-2 Wastewater Monitoring

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8

Data accessed 8/15/22

Marin County COVID-19 Hospitalizations

9

Data accessed 8/15/22

Weekly Count of COVID-19 Deaths

10

Data accessed 8/15/22

Distribution of Variants Marin County; United States

11

Data accessed 8/15/2022

Vaccination Progress

Data accessed 8/15/22

Pediatric Vaccinations in First Month of Eligibility:�Marin County versus U.S.

3%

18%

28%

60%

MonkeyPox Situational Update

Current 2022 Outbreak Situation : August 15, 2022

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Global: 31,799

United States: 11,177

California: 1,945

Marin: 11 (2 probable and 9 confirmed)

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Data Resources:

Marin County Public Health Monkeypox

CDPH-Monkeypox (ca.gov)

2022 U.S. Map & Case Count | Monkeypox | Poxvirus | CDC

Monkeypox in Marin

• The risk to the general public is very low
• Highest risk population is men who have sex with men (MSM) with multiple partners
• Seek medical care immediately if you develop a new, unexplained skin rash 
• Limited supplies of vaccine
• Treatment available
• Visit https://www.marinhhs.org/monkeypox to stay up to date

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Back-to-School

Marin County SMARTER Schools Plan

• Starting our fourth School Year adapting to COVID in our community
• The 2022-23 Marin SMARTER Schools Plan reflects beginning the school year how we ended last year
• Prioritizing safe, in-person learning and mitigating the spread of COVID-19
• COVID-19 is here to stay, and we can manage and adapt to prevent broad disruption of in-person learning

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We know how to do this!

Stay Home When Symptomatic ~ Test as Recommended ~ Wash Your Hands ~ Stay Up to date with COVID vaccines & boosters ~ Wear a Mask

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SMARTER Plan

• Shots – Vaccines are safe and effective tools to prevent infection, long COVID, severe disease, and hospitalizations.
• Stay up to date with any newly recommended
• Masks – Masks are a simple and effective tool to prevent in-school transmission of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses.
• Wear the most protective mask that fits well and will be worn consistently.
• Awareness – Stay informed, understand your risks and implement public health recommended strategies to reduce your risk
• Reporting – Students and staff should stay home when they have signs or symptoms of any infectious illness and test for COVID-19. 
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SMARTER Plan

• Testing – Testing keeps students in school by detecting infections before they spread.

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• Education – We will keep schools open for in-person instruction, serve all students equitably and close the achievement gap.  We will build relationships that ensure all students experience a sense of belonging and feel supported. 

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• Readiness and Resilience – The Marin school community needs to be ready to respond quickly and implement individual-, household-, and community- level protective behaviors and prevention strategies for all hazards, including poor air quality and disease outbreaks. 

SMARTER | Shots

• Marin County Public Health recommends that everyone stay up to date
• Vulnerable populations (adults older than 50 years old and persons over 12 years old who are moderately or severely immunocompromised) should get 2nd booster
• MCPH planning for release of Omicron-containing bivalent booster vaccines early fall (mid- to late September)
• Novavax vaccine now available
• Appointments are readily available. Search by location here: https://coronavirus.marinhhs.org/vaccine

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SMARTER | Masks

• Marin County Public Health recommends wearing a mask at schools indoors when community transmission is high.
• People with symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with COVID-19 should wear a mask.
• COVID-19 community transmission in Marin County is currently HIGH | community transmission can be found on the CDC COVID Data Tracker webpage.
• Note: Marin County’s COVID-19 Community Level is medium.
• Respirator type masks are more protective than surgical masks and should be considered for adults on campus.

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“A Mask is Better than No Mask”

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Better

KN95

Good

Surgical

Best

N95

SMARTER |Reporting

• Schools must report weekly case counts and outbreaks using SPOT (School Portal for Outbreak Testing) and follow the instructions in the Positive Case Checklist when responding to a case or outbreak in their school.

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• Parents of students who test positive for COVID-19 should notify schools immediately and follow isolation and quarantine guidance

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• Schools are encouraged to register students and staff in Primary.Health for test reporting. Registration and reporting has been streamlined, and is user friendly and quick!

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SMARTER |Testing

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• Goal for all staff and families to maintain at least 2 Rapid Antigen test kits at home at all times

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• Prioritize symptomatic testing and/or as advised by Public Health, such as exposure and return to school / work

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• MCOE / Public Health will continue to work with the CDPH to keep schools stocked with tests

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• Everyone is encouraged to secure free tests at https://www.covid.gov/tests and your healthcare provider

Isolation and Quarantine Guidance

• Schools should continue to follow the Isolation, Quarantine, and Travel Guidance for TK-12 Schools, Child Care, Youth Programs/Activities, and Household/Community Exposures located on the Marin HHS and Rethinking Schools Websites.

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• Ending Isolation after being COVID positive:
• The individual may return on Day 5 (or later) with a negative test and symptoms resolving and no fever reducing medication.
• Isolation may end on after Day 10 regardless of test result.
• Masks should be worn indoors for 10 days following symptom onset.
• Additional guidance anticipated that may allow for reduced isolation.

Questions