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The Marin County Department of Health and Human Services is conducting on-going surveillance of respiratory illness in Marin County to increase sensitivity in detecting potential COVID-19 activity. We will provide timely surveillance updates at marinhhs.org/coronavirus/data.
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There are two main indicators of potential COVID-19 virus transmission locally — the number of confirmed cases and the number of people experiencing severe respiratory illness. Tracking this will help our healthcare providers and partners know when COVID-19 activity may be increasing in Marin. Marin County Public Health receives regular updates on respiratory illness cases from all Marin County emergency departments (ED) and from Emergency Medical Services (EMS), our countywide 911 ambulance response system. We track these over time and evaluate these trends by age because older adults infected with COVID-19 experience more severe disease. Knowing there's always ups and downs in our usual activity, we're looking for significant changes.
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As of March 18th, 15 cases of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been identified. The level of respiratory illness activity in Marin County is consistent with prior trends. For additional information on current activity and Marin County's response visit marinhhs.org/coronavirus. Respiratory illness and COVID-19 surveillance updates will be available at marinhhs.org/coronavirus/data.
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Confirmed COVID-19 Cases: As of March 18th, there have been 15 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 0 reported deaths in Marin County. Some of these cases are a result of community transmission, meaning that these cases are unrelated to travel and have no identifiable contact with a known case, indicating likely infection within our community.
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At this time, individuals must be referred for COVID-19 testing by a medical provider so that the provider can assess symptoms and evaluate other possible conditions (e.g., influenza). Many providers are now performing these assessments over the telephone. Once a provider determines the individual should be tested, the testing will be coordinated with Marin Public Health.
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Respiratory illness activity: Common symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. Respiratory illness activity will capture visits that may be due to COVID-19 and influenza-like illnesses. Approximately 6% of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) dispatches and 5% of Emergency Department (ED) visits were due to respiratory illnesses (Figure 1).
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Figures 1A-B. Proportion of Visits due to Respiratory Illnesses
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THROUGH MARCH 17TH: Marin County Emergency Medical Services Dispatches (1A)
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THROUGH MARCH 15TH*: Kaiser San Rafael, MarinHealth Medical Center, and Novato Community Hospital Emergency Department Visits (1B)
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*Discharge data from Kaiser San Rafael, MarinHealth, and Novato Community Hospital show trends in ED visits due to respiratory illnesses and are updated as soon as data are available for all three hospitals.
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Age Distribution of Respiratory Illness Visits: The majority of respiratory illness-related EMS dispatches occur among those 65 years and older, while the majority of ED visits due to respiratory illnesses occur among those less than 65 years of age (Figures 2A-B).
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Figures 2A-B. Daily Age Distribution of Visits due to Respiratory Illness
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THROUGH MARCH 17TH: Marin County Emergency Medical Services Dispatches (2A)
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THROUGH MARCH 15TH*: Kaiser San Rafael, MarinHealth Medical Center, and Novato Community Hospital Emergency Department Visits (2B)
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The best way to reduce the risk of becoming infected with a respiratory virus is to practice good hygiene:
- Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially before eating, after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing;
- Use an alcohol-based (at least 60%) hand sanitizer when soap and water is not available;
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue or crook of your elbow (not your hands). If you use a tissue, throw it away and wash your hands afterward;
- Avoid touching your face;
- Stay home from work or school if you have a fever or are feeling sick;
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick;
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe;
- Get your flu shot to protect against influenza.
This is a rapidly evolving situation, up-to-date information about Marin County's current COVID-19 prevention and testing recommendations can be found on the Marin County COVID-19 webpage.
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California
As of March 17th at 6 p.m., there are 598 confirmed cases and 13 deaths in California. View full updates at the California Department of Public Health's COVID-19 website.
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United States
National COVID-19 activity is increasing, with 7,038 confirmed cases and 97 deaths across 54 states and territories (50 states, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and US Virgin Islands) as of March 18th at 4 p.m. View more detailed information at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's COVID-19 website.
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