Businesses

These are stressful times.  Together we can get through this.

Marin County’s COVID-19 response is divided into three broad phases. Each phase has criteria that must be met before moving to the next phase to continue our successful mitigation of COVID-19 while building the infrastructure needed to move forward. Marin County has launched a variety of working groups, comprised of industry professionals, to advise and support the reopening of local businesses. This process is driven by monitoring public health and behavior, business input and expertise, and adherence to the latest public health requirements.

Marin began sequentially reopening the county on May 4, 2021. Businesses must create, adopt, and implement a written COVID-19 Site-Specific Protection Plan that incorporates and addresses all applicable Public Health Order requirements. Templates and “Best Practices” are also available to help local businesses reopen and be compliant with the Marin County Shelter in Place Public Health Order.

Our essential, frontline, and service industry workforce is particularly vulnerable right now, but there are things that can be done to help keep everyone as safe as possible.

Do

• Train your employees to conduct health-checks before every shift
• Encourage your employees to get tested for COVID-19 and provide them with information about how and where to get tested
• Let your employees know that if they test positive, there are resources and services available through government and community organizations to support them.
• Provide supplies for frequent hand washing (sink with soap and disposable towels or hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol).
• Ensure that employees and customers are wearing face coverings over their nose and mouth.
• Remind employees to maintain 6 feet from others, especially during break time.
• Report all positive COVID-19 cases to the County health department at 415-472-2957 or covid19results@marincounty.org

Don't

• Require employees to show up for work if they exhibit COVID-19 symptoms, have been exposed to someone with symptoms, or test positive for COVID-19.
• Release any sick person’s name at work unless they give you permission.
• Let someone return to work after testing positive COVID-19 unless it has been 10 days since positive test AND had no fever/use of medications for 3 days.
• Let someone return to work if they have been in direct contact with someone with COVID unless it has been 14 days since exposure.

Marin Economic Forum (MEF) has compiled a useful private assistance resource guide for businesses, and includes non-federal grant and loan programs from a variety of different foundations, organizations, and large businesses.  If your business has been unable to apply for or qualify for governmental assistance programs, these private assistance programs may be an option for your business.

As the dynamic COVID-19 emergency continues to evolve, measures are being taken to bring housing and commercial security to residents and businesses who have been economically impacted by the crisis. On Tuesday, March 24, 2020 the Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to adopt an emergency resolution issuing a temporary moratorium on residential and commercial evictions for non-payment of rent due to direct impacts of the COVID-19 crisis.

The eviction resolution prevents residents and business owners from being evicted because of a sudden loss of income tied to the COVID-19 pandemic. The moratorium will be in effect until May 31, 2020 and applies to all of Marin, including residential and commercial tenants within the City of San Rafael, as well as unincorporated areas of the City.

You are protected if you are suffering from a substantial loss of income due to:

• Business closure
• Loss of work or wages
• Layoffs
• Missed work or childcare expenditures due to school closure
• Medical Expenses related to being ill with COVID-19 or caring for a member of the household ill with COVID-19
• Other similarly caused reasons resulting in a loss of income due to COVID-19

The resolution requires renters and lease holders to notify their landlord within 30 days after the rent is due that they are unable to pay because of financial impacts related to COVID-19. It does not relieve the residential or commercial tenant of the liability for the unpaid rent, and the landlord may seek payment after the expiration of the local emergency.

Learn more:

• County Press Release
• Eviction Ban Information
• Renter & Landlord Resources

If you have lost your job as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the State of California has launched Onward CA, a one-stop resource guide for Californians impacted by job loss during this crisis to help you get back to work as quickly as possible.  Onward CA consists of a coalition of companies, foundations, and humans who want to help; help you get money or groceries or child care; help you upskill, reskill, or refresh; and help you land a great new job.

All construction work must immediately cease and desist unless authorized by the City of San Rafael's Chief Building Official. Only essential construction projects are allowed to continue under the Order of the Health Officer.

Learn more about permits and construction during the shelter in place order.

The Bay Area Urban Manufacturing (BAUM) Initiative has collected a wealth of information for manufacturers during the COVID-19 pandemic.  They include impact resources for manufacturers, funding resources, rent relief negotiating tactics, workforce concerns, and if you are able to supply, contribute, or donate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and medical equipment in response to the current COVID-19 pandemic, please complete this survey form to share information with emergency procurement specialists.  This effort is spearheaded by the California Office of Emergency Services (OES).