San Rafael, CA – The "triple-demic" of respiratory viruses — influenza (flu), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and COVID-19 — is rapidly filling local hospital beds and emergency rooms. Marin County Public Health is urging residents to take steps to prevent infections and protect health care resources.
Less than half of eligible Marin residents have received the updated COVID-19 booster. (Photo credit: California Department of Public Health)Throughout this week, emergency departments in all three Marin County hospitals — Sutter Health/Novato Community Hospital, Kaiser Permanente San Rafael Medical Center, and MarinHealth Medical Center — have been functioning at near maximum capacity. Because regional hospital bed capacity is tight, patients who require hospitalization are spending more time in emergency departments, awaiting a bed opening.
“The biggest contributor to this surge is respiratory illness,” said Dr. Matt Willis, Marin County’s Public Health Officer. “With virus levels rising just as gatherings get into full swing, it's vital to take the basic steps we know are protective.”
Marin County Public Health is reminding everyone that masking in indoor public places, among other safety measures, is effective at slowing the spread of respiratory viruses that are making children, and the elderly, very sick.
Here are the Top 5 Tips to Protect Against Winter Viruses:
- Get Vaccinated, Boosted (and Treated)
- Stay Home if You're Sick, and Test for COVID-19
- Wear a Mask
- Wash Your Hands
- Cover Your Cough or Sneeze
Choose a high-quality mask.Marin Health officials strongly recommend that all residents wear a high-quality mask like a KN95, KF94 or N95 - in indoor public places. Wear a mask to protect both yourself and others -especially those with compromised immune systems, undergoing chemo treatment, or those with conditions like asthma.
“Our community should know that our local health care system is being stressed by preventable infections,” said Dr. Melanie Thompson, Chief Medical Officer for Marin Community Clinics. “We hope this will lead people to make safe choices as we come into the heart of the holidays.”
Marin County Public Health is encouraging everyone, both adults and children, to get their annual flu shot and updated COVID-19 booster as soon as possible.
Upward trends in virus levels do not show signs of abating. Wastewater levels of influenza, RSV and COVID-19 continue to rise in Marin. Influenza percent positivity — the percent of tests performed on patients with symptoms that are positive for flu -- is the highest level ever for the month of December.
While Marin has a high COVID-19 vaccination rate – for the primary vaccine series – only about half of residents who are eligible have been vaccinated with the updated booster. The new booster, which protects against the Omicron strains currently circulating, has been available since September.
Local data shows that receiving the updated booster cuts the risk of being hospitalized by one half among Marin residents, and no one who had received the updated booster has died from COVID-19 in Marin. Free COVID-19 shots are widely available in Marin, including at health care providers, medical clinics, and neighborhood pharmacies.
Community members can visit the Vaccine Finder online a GetVaccinatedMarin.org to identify a drop-in site or to schedule an appointment. Alternatively, the California COVID-19 Hotline is available every day at (833) 422-4255 for help on making a vaccination appointment. Language assistance is available.