Health and Wellness
Coronavirus: What You Need to Know
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Marin County school leaders are in close contact with the County Department of Health and Human Services to obtain the most current guidance related to the Coronavirus/COVID-19. Check the Marin County Public Health website for the latest updates and guidance related to our community
General Guidelines for Public Safety
The Center for Disease Control outlines ways for members of the public to protect themselves and others in this challenging time. These include:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick
- Stay home as much as possible [Español]
- Put distance between yourself and other people.
- Remember that some people without symptoms may be able to spread virus.
- Keeping distance from others is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick.
- Clean AND disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks.
- If surfaces are dirty, clean them. Use detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.
- Then, use a household disinfectant. Most common EPA-registered household disinfectant will work.
Public Communications
- 7/17/20 State Outlines Path to Resume Classroom Learning
- 4/29/20 Marin County Public Health Order Extending Shelter at Home through May 31
- 4/14/20 Governor Newsom's Six Critical Indicators for Modifying Stay at Home Order
- 4/7/20 Press Release to Suspend Classroon Instruction through Academic Year June 20 (Spanish)
- 3/31/09 Marin County Public Health Order to Shelter in Place thru May 3
- 3/25/20 Marin County Schools Extend Suspension of School Classroom Instruction through May 1(Spanish)
- 3/19/20 - CA Executive Order to Shelter at Home statewide
Resources for Schools, Families and the Community
Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others
On April 17, Marin County Public Health announced a new public health order requiring the use of face coverings when completing essential activities. The new order will go into effect at 12:00p.m., Wednesday, April 22. Everyone is asked to wear a face-covering when they are interacting with others who are not members of their household in public and private spaces. Specifically, the order states that people must wear face coverings when:
- Inside public spaces or waiting in line to enter public spaces
- Seeking health care
- Waiting for or riding on mass transit or other shared transportation
- In common areas of buildings, such as hallways, stairways, elevators and parking facilities.
- Workers at businesses physically open and in areas where the public is present, likely to be present, or at any time when others are nearby.
- Workers in any space where food is being prepared and/or packaged for sale.
- Drivers/Operators of public transit.
Video on how to make your own face covering
News release with more details about the face-covering order
COVID-19 Guidance for Masks and Gloves
Cleaning tools and techniques
- How to clean your home to prevent the spread of COVID-19 (CDC)
- Good handwashing techniques (videos) Show me the Science (CDC)
- Posters, Graphics and Fact Sheets - CDC
- How to Clean and Disinfect Schools to Slow the Spread of the Flu
- Stay Healthy Marin graphic -Marin County Department of Health (Spanish)
Talking to Kids about the Coronavirus/COVID-19
- Interview with Don Cohon re: talking to kids in the time of COVID-19
- COVID-19 Time Capsule
- COVID-19 Workbook for kids and teens
- Video: Talking to kids about the coronavirus
- Comic: What Kids Want to Know about Coronavirus (National Public Radio)
Food Security
Social-Emotional Support
- The California Parent & Youth Helpline and Online Parents Anonymous® Support Groups in response to the Coronavirus provide free trauma-informed, evidenced-based emotional support to Parents, Children and Youth in any language via calls, text, live chat and email.
- The Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has dedicated information related to coping with stress during infectious disease outbreaks.
- Head Space is offering free supportive meditations to help cope with stress during this time.
- Pure Edge, Inc. offers a series of videos that focus on the mind and body during this challenging time.
- The Children's Institute offers resources for social and emotional health specifically for children.
Resources for Current Information:
- California Department of Public Health
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention
- Marin Health and Human Services
- Questions from the public can be directed to (415)473-7191 or COVID-19@marincounty.org
- California Department of Education
- Rethinking Marin County Schools - Guidelines and Resources for the Return to Site-Based Instruction
- Questions related to schools can be directed to rapidresponse@marinschools.org
Distance Learning - Teacher Resources for Extended Absences/School Dismissal
Resources to support teaching and learning in the event of extended student absence or school dismissal. Resources based on guidance provided by the U.S. Department of Education.
Press Release
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On August 3, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) released detailed criteria for public, private, independent and parochial schools to apply for a waiver of the state’s distance learning mandate announced on July 17. The waiver, if approved by the local Public Health Officer, will enable schools serving students from transitional kindergarten through sixth grade to provide in-person instruction assuming certain criteria have been met. READ MORE
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On July 17, Governor Gavin Newsom announced plans for how TK-12 public, private, independent and parochial students across California will begin the new school year in light of rising COVID-19 infections. The plan focuses on the use of local data to determine when
students can safely return to classroom-based instruction. Most importantly, counties on the state’s monitoring list, Marin County included, are required to implement distance learning until the data shows infection rates are under control.
Reopening Schools
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All resources related to the Guidelines for returning to site-based instruction including trainings, Public Health discussions and templates are available on the MCOE Rethinking Schools web page.
