Marin County had its first brush with the novel
coronavirus at the end of February. The individual
was transported to a Marin hospital from Travis
Air Force Base and was among the American
evacuees from the Diamond Princess cruise ship
quarantined off Japan. The Marin County hospital and Marin County Public Health are working
closely with the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) and the California Department
of Public Health to coordinate testing and monitoring. In March, another cruise ship was held
outside the Golden Gate until passengers could
be offloaded in Oakland and moved to quarantine.
Many international flights to Bay Area airports
are being screened by the CDC and the agency
is working directly with pre-identified hospitals
according to disease prevention and containment
procedures. Marin County residents are still at
low risk of becoming infected with COVID- 19, and
infectious-disease experts warn that face masks
can offer only slight protection against airborne
illness. Currently, there is no vaccine available
to protect against the novel coronavirus. Aside
from avoiding all nonessential travel, here are
preventative actions, pertaining to all infections,
recommended by the CDC.
CORONAVIRUS 101
By Kasia Pawlowska
Census Through
the Decades
By Kasia Pawlowska
In Marin / CURRENTS
It’s a census year and one not quite like
the others — 2020 is considered to
be the first digital census, offering the
option of responding online, by mail or by
phone. The federal government uses census numbers to know where to allocate
more than $675 billion in funds annually. Undercounting on the census can
lead to loss of a seat in the U.S. House of
Representatives. Since the census started
in 1790, there have been many iterations
and styles of questioning, with some peculiar and racist queries. Here are a few of
those earlier questions. census.gov
The 1840 census asked: The number
of white persons in the household who
were insane and idiots (at public and
private charge).
The 1850 census asked: Slave owners
to assign a number (not a name) to each
slave. Numbering restarted with each
new owner. Listed in the same row as the
owner, the number of slaves freed from
bondage in the past year.
The 1870 census asked: Identify color —
enumerators could mark W for white, B
for black, M for mulatto, C for Chinese (a
category that included all East Asians) or
I for American Indian.
The 1890 census asked: Is the person a
prisoner, convict, homeless child, or pauper?
The 1910 census asked: Enumerators
were instructed to use a special expanded
questionnaire for American Indians living
on reservations or in family groups off of
reservations. A second question: Is this
person living in polygamy?
The 1930 census asked: Do you own a
radio set?
The 1960 census asked: Does the house-
hold have a home food freezer separate
from its refrigerator?
1970 census asked: Do you have a
battery-operated radio?
WASH YOUR HANDS often with soap and
water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and
water are not available, use a hand sani-
tizer containing at least 60 percent alcohol.
AVOID TOUCHING your eyes, nose
and mouth.
AVOID CLOSE CONTACT with people who
are sick.
COVER YOUR COUGH or sneeze with your
elbow — not your hand — or with a tissue,
then throw the tissue in the trash.
CLEAN AND DISINFECT frequently
touched objects and surfaces.
GET A FLU SHOT to prevent influenza,
which has similar symptoms to those of
the novel coronavirus.
The Coronavirus
