Community Response Team Newsletter Public Health & Emergency Preparedness Updates
May 31, 2022
Dear Community,
After two years of hiatus, Western Weekend is nearly upon us, with festivities on Saturday, June 4th, and Sunday 5th to celebrate West Marin's agricultural roots. While it is exciting to have this well-loved local celebration return, please remember there are high levels of COVID circulation in the community right now. The event planners and West Marin Community Response Team are asking everyone attending to test the day of, before attending the event. This will help keep us all safer to enjoy the festivities. If you need take-home rapid tests, we now have a good network of locations that regularly distribute free take-home tests in your area of West Marin. Please see our testing distribution locations below. Also, the West Marin Community Response Team will indeed have a booth at this event. We will also be distributing take-home tests, and masks and helping people sign up for Alert Marin and Nixle, with a chance to earn prizes! We look forward to seeing you there and let's do what we can to keep each other safe.
In other public health news, here is what Marin County Public Health Officer, Dr. Matt Willis has to say on the multi-country outbreak of Monkeypox and what it may mean for us locally here. Marin County Public Health has issued a Public Health Advisory regarding "COVID-19 rebound" after the use of treatment with Paxlovid, which still remains a very effective treatment to help prevent severe illness.
Preparedness for other emergencies such as fires and earthquakes is also key. Have you updated your Go-Bag? Check out this Go-Bag checklist to help ensure you have everything in it you may need. Preparing your property for fire season is as important as ever and there are Resident Grants from the Marin Wildlife Prevention Authority to help with costs. And be sure to read about new grant opportunities for small businesses.
Take care and stay safe,
West Marin Community Response Team
What is CDC’s COVID-19 Community Level?
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently revised the main method for evaluating the COVID-19 burden at the county level. “Community Level”considers both case rates and the burden of hospitalizations, as a combined metric, and ranks counties as Low (green), Medium(yellow), or High (red). Marin County is at the Mediumnow.
Stay Up to Date on Public Health Information:
For the latest information from the County for testing locations, vaccines, and public health updates, we highly recommend you subscribe for daily updates at https://coronavirus.marinhhs.org/subscribe
Dr. Matt Willis on Monkeypox
Marin’s Public Health Officer, Dr. Matt Willis, shares a video update about the multi-country outbreak of monkeypox and what that might mean for Marin County. In addition, Marin County Public Health issued a public health advisory regarding the status of monkeypox in the United States, symptoms of the virus, and tips for anyone who has been exposed.
Vaccination Appointments
Bolstering our immunity against COVID-19 is of utmost importance, especially with the continued presence of the Omicron variant in our community and the more highly contagious BA2 circulating. Fortunately, we have access to vaccines which are a FREE and effective resource for keeping us protected. If you know someone who is still in need of a vaccine or booster shot, please share the list below with them!
ALL LOCATIONS OFFER 2ND BOOSTERS FOR 50+
Pop-Up: San Geronimo
Thursday, June 2
11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
San Geronimo Presbyterian Church
6001 Sir Francis Drake Blvd
San Geronimo, CA 94963
Ages 5 to 11, Pfizer
Ages 12 or older, J&J, Moderna, Pfizer
Flyers in English and Spanish here
You can schedule an appointment here
Pop-Up: Point Reyes Station
Thursday, June 9 and 23
2 PM - 5 PM
West Marin Community Services
11431 Highway One
Point Reyes Station, CA 94956 (Vaccines will be located in the back parking lot of the Creamery Building)
Ages 5 to 11, Pfizer
Ages 12 or older, J&J, Moderna, Pfizer
Appointments Available; Walk-Ins Welcome
Flyers in English and Spanish here
You can schedule an appointment here
Pop-Up: Bolinas
Thursday, June 14
11 AM - 1 PM
Bolinas Community Center
14 Wharf Rd.
Bolinas, CA 94924
Ages 5 to 11, Pfizer
Ages 12 or older, J&J, Moderna, Pfizer
Flyers in English and Spanish here
You can schedule an appointment here
Additional vaccine options in your community include:
Free Take-Home COVID Rapid Testing
West Marin Locations
If you have tested positive, whether by rapid take-home test or PCR, please do not come to testing distribution for a take-home test until day 5 - 10 from your initial positive test result. Please do not test until at least 2 days from exposure if exposed and test again on day 5.
Bolinas
Thursdays, 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM, and Upon Request
Bolinas Community Center
14 Wharf Street
Bolinas, CA 94924
New! Inverness Firehouse Monday thru Friday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM 50 Inverness Way, Inverness, CA 94937 Please call ahead for an appointment to pick up tests at 415-669-7151.
Updated! Point Reyes Station Mondays and Wednesdays
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Fridays,1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
West Marin Community Services
11431 Highway 1
Point Reyes Station, CA 94956
San Geronimo Valley
Thursdays, 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
The San Geronimo Commons (formerly the golf course)
At the Drive-Thru Food Pantry
5800 Sir Francis Drake Blvd
San Geronimo, CA 94963 Learn More >
Tomales
Thursdays, 2:00 - 3:00 PM
Tomales Town Hall (Food Pantry)
27150 Highway 1
Tomales, CA 94971
West Marin Community Services and San Geronimo Valley Community Center distribute masks to local community-based organizations and individuals. Masks are available during testing hours at both locations. Make sure you have enough masks on hand.
Should I Get a COVID Test?
Download the testing tree infographic in English and Spanish.
Marin Microbusiness $2500 Grant Program
Marin County microbusinesses with fewer than five full-time employees may now apply for $2,500 grants through a partnership dedicated to assisting the economy through the lingering COVID-19 pandemic. Learn More here.
Keep Your Medi-Cal
The Public Health Emergency declaration will end soon and millions of Medi-Cal beneficiaries may lose their coverage. Continuous coverage requirement expires at the end of the Public Health Emergency. California will need to conduct a full redetermination for all beneficiaries who would have otherwise been subject to redetermination.
Make sure you contact your local county office to report any changes to your contact information.
This will ensure redetermination paperwork will be sent to you to keep your Medi-Cal coverage.
Admittedly, most of us either have no go-bags or have go-bags that we have not looked at in a year or longer. When a disaster hits, having an up-to-date go-bag for every household member with all the essentials and your household’s important documents is critical. Remember kids grow and so can we, so updating your go-bag assures everything fits properly and all of an individual's current essentials are included. Don’t forget to pack one for your animal family members too. Please don’t wait for a disaster - pack your go-bags today! Get your Go-Bag Checklist here.
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