Marin County health officials will allow residents to gather outdoors in “social bubbles” of up to 12 people beginning next week.
“A social bubble is a stable group of 12 people or less who have collectively agreed to limit their in-person social activities to only each other for at least three weeks,” the county’s public health department said Friday in an announcement.
The new guidelines, effective Monday, “strongly” encourage people to gather with others in their bubble outdoors, where the risk of coronavirus transmission is lower than indoor spaces. Members of the group should wear face coverings and keep six feet of distance from each other if they don’t live in the same household, officials said.
Individuals can belong to only one social bubble at a time, officials said. However, children who are in childcare or summer camps, or children who live in two different households, can belong to a second social bubble.
Marin’s stay-at-home order, which was first implemented on March 17 and now has no expiration date, encourages residents to stay at home unless they are going to work or doing “essential” errands. But as time wears on, health officials recognize that people are increasingly venturing out, said county Public Health Officer Dr. Matt Willis.
Following up on a plan announced by Willis during Tuesday’s supervisors meeting, the county crystalized a plan to allow more indoor businesses, including gyms and fitness studios, hair salons and barber shops, nail salons, hotels and short-term lodging facilities, as well as indoor seating at restaurants, to reopen June 29. Complete guidelines for each kind of business are listed on MarinRecovers.org/personal-services.
“We know families and friends miss each other and want to socialize together,” Willis said in a statement. “We also know people are already congregating outside their households in more risky ways. This model provides guardrails so small gatherings can occur in a safe way, especially as we move into the summer season.”
The new guidelines come as coronavirus cases in Marin continue to climb. The county reported three of its four highest one-day jumps in cases this week.
“I think it’s really important to ensure the guidance is followed and people are safe,” said Jai Africa, the county’s director of behavioral health and recovery services. “But we’re social beings. It’s human nature.”
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June 20, 2020 at 07:17AM
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Marin County to allow ‘social bubbles’ under new coronavirus rules - Marin Independent Journal
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