Joining growing list, Marin County issues first responder vaccine, test mandate

First responders in Marin County will have to show proof of vaccination against the Covid-19 virus or take weekly tests starting Sept. 15.

Marin County Public Health issued an order Friday that will require vaccinations or weekly testing for law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMS personnel and “related staff” who work in or respond to calls at “high-risk settings.”

Those settings include hospitals, jails and nursing homes, among other places.

Marin County Public Health Officer Dr. Matt Willis said:

“We’ve seen that outbreaks in high-risk settings, when they occur, are often sparked by infected staff or visitors who unknowingly bring the virus into the facility.” 

Friday’s order also requires all public sector employers to verify the vaccination status of all employees but doesn’t mandate Covid tests for unvaccinated public sector employees.

The announcement is partially in response to increases in Covid cases in Marin County, more than 90 percent of which are people infected with the Delta variant, county officials said.

Health officials said in a news release:

“There are currently 18 people hospitalized with COVID-19 in Marin County, which is the highest number since March of 2021. … More than 90 percent of the county’s hospitalized COVID-19 patients in the past two months have been unvaccinated.”

For more information about vaccines and information on where to find a Marin County Public Health vaccine clinic, people can visit GetVaccinatedMarin.org.