Friday, July 17, 2020 
David P. Donery, Town Manager

The California Department of Public Health, the County of Marin's Public Health Officer and the Town of San Anselmo Urge the Public to Wear Face Coverings in Most Settings Outside the Home

As per Californians Must Wear Face Coverings
When in Higher-Risk Situations, Especially Indoors
Face Coverings Help Reduce the Spread of COVID-19 
Governor Newsom: "Simply put, we are seeing too many people with faces uncovered – putting at risk the real progress we have made in fighting the disease."

Some Business Industries Closed Due to COVID-19

A spike in confirmed COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations across the State of California prompted Governor Gavin Newsom to close indoor operations of several industries. 

At his July 13th press conference, Governor Newsom announced the immediate closure of the following industries for all counties:

• indoor dining at restaurants

• wineries and tasting rooms

• movie theaters

• family entertainment centers

• zoos and museums

• card rooms

• bars (including both indoor and outdoor operations of bars, brewpubs, breweries and pubs).

In addition, Marin County and more than 30 other counties on the state’s watch list are required to close additional industries, including indoor gyms and fitness centers, indoor worship services, indoor office space for noncritical sectors, indoor personal care services, indoor hair salons and barbershops, and indoor malls.

Businesses affected by the announcement are to remain closed until the restrictions are lifted. In his remarks, the Governor estimated that 80% of Californians would be impacted by the overall closure decision.

In Marin, this effects office space for non-critical services, indoor hair salons and barbershops, and indoor malls. Noncritical services are defined as non-essential businesses as listed in Section 15.f of the current shelter-in-place order. In addition, wineries, tasting rooms, bars, brewpubs, breweries and pubs that did not provide on-site dining prior to the March sheltering order must close all operations, including outdoor settings.

Marin joined the state’s watch list July 2 because of a rise in local confirmed COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, partially influenced by the outbreak at San Quentin State Prison. On July 5, local indoor dining establishments were forced to stop operating as a result of the watch list classification.  

Fewer Marin industries are impacted by the announcement due to Marin’s cautious approach and pace to reopening local businesses. On June 26, Marin slowed its reopening pace, pausing some planned reopenings and stopping additional reopenings until further notice.

The updated status of businesses and industries reopenings in Marin County can be found at MarinRecovers.com. Additional details about the Governor’s directive can be found at COVID19.CA.gov.

The California Grocer Association is Striking a Balance with Reusables

The California Grocer Association has asked that we pass along a message about reusables. As one of the few public-facing industries that has remained open throughout the pandemic, California's grocery community was the first to implement social distancing and a number of transmission protection practices. From markings six feet apart on the floor to plexiglass partitions at checkout, many new procedures have been implemented quickly and we expect these to remain in place for some time.
 
Reusable bags and other items, like mugs, have also been restricted in order to keep consumers and employees safe. Gov. Gavin Newsom's executive order banning the use of reusable bags at grocery stores has expired, but this does not mean back to business as usual at the checkout stand.
 
According to Cal/OSHA, the passing of reusable bags back and forth to employees for packaging groceries presents a high public health risk. The risk is similar to why contactless payment is encouraged.
 
Cal/OSHA “COVID-19 Infection Prevention in Grocery Stores” states that when customers bring their own bags the safety protocols are the following:
 
· Bags make no contact with employees
· Customers are to leave their own bags in the shopping cart.
· Bags are not placed on conveyor belts or other area outside shopping cart
· Customers do not bag groceries in the checkout area
· Groceries can be placed in a cart and bagged elsewhere by the customers

Town Hall Office Hours

Town Hall will be reopening for in-person services. Permits, Planning and Business Licenses will be available from 8:30 am - 12 pm Monday through Thursdays. 
Social distancing and masks will be required while in the building. 

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