Marin has record 106 new infections

Largest one-day rise since start of virus

Marin County recorded its highest one-day jump in coronavirus cases on Thursday, surpassing 100 new cases for the first time.

The 106 new infections shattered the county’s previous record of 75 cases reported earlier this month. A month ago, the highest number of new cases in a day was 47. The county has recorded 2,015 coronavirus cases since the beginning of the pandemic.

The grim milestone comes on the same week the county recorded its deadliest day of the pandemic. Health officials on Monday reported that five more Marin County residents died of COVID-19, which was the largest increase in a day. A sixth death this week was reported Wednesday, bringing the total to 29.

“Since about mid-June, we’ve seen more rapid increases in cases each day,” said the county’s public health officer, Dr. Matt Willis, during an online briefing with the Marin County Office of Education on Wednesday.

Willis said the number of coronavirus tests administered each day in Marin is also rising. But the rate that tests are coming back with positive results

has shot up to an average of 8.2%, up from 4.2% a month ago. That suggests that the spike in cases isn't

directly correlated to increased testing, Willis said.

Cases are also climbing at San Quentin State Prison, where more than half of the inmates have contracted the virus. By Thursday, 2,063 inmates and 226 staff at the prison

had tested positive, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Twelve inmates have died of COVID-19, prison data show.

It is “the largest prison outbreak in the nation,” Willis said. Cases and

deaths at the prison are not included in Marin's tally, according to health officials.

Marin's hospitals were treating 29 COVID-19 patients Thursday, including seven San Quentin inmates.