Marin County enters purple zone threatening reopening of school

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Fiona Swan

California’s color coding, a system used to establish safety protocols county-by-county.

On Tuesday Dec. 10, Marin County re-entered the purple zone as COVID-19 cases resurged in California. Initially, Marin County was one of the only counties in the state reporting low enough cases to remain in the red zone. Regardless, a four-week county shutdown was planned as a preemptive attempt to relieve pressure on the healthcare system before the holidays.

Now with holidays steadily approaching, the Marin County government has issued a stay-at-home order similar to the one issued in March. The stay-at-home order prohibits all gatherings outside of immediate family members. 

Restaurants may only operate for take-out or curbside pickup. Outdoor recreation facilities (tennis courts, basketball courts, etc.) can only be used by members of the same household. 

High School 1327 (HS 1327)  plans to return to school on Jan. 6 via hybrid model. While the first day of school is scheduled after the shelter-in-place order ends, the Tamalpais Union High School District (TUHSD) prohibits any in-person learning until the county has been out of the purple zone for two weeks.

So, if Marin County remains in the purple zone through Dec. 23, HS 1327, along with other TUHSD schools will have to push back the reopening date to comply with their COVID-19 policy. 

“I don’t necessarily think that sticking with online learning would be a bad thing,” said senior class president Landon Schopp. “I have been enjoying the laid back-ness of distance learning but I understand the frustration from students not entering their second semester senior year that want to go back to school.”

While many students are eager to return to school, until Marin County is out of the purple zone for two weeks, they will have to wait.