Supervisor Susan Gorin shared these notes on the County’s response to the pandemic in this statement released Sunday:
“The County Health Department reported the good news that we have 5,000 new diagnostic tests arriving this week, with 100,000 tests on order. These new tests will go first to workers in healthcare facilities whose duties put them in regular contact with patients. This weekend, the first 200 healthcare workers can be tested, with or without symptoms, by calling 707-565-4667 for an appointment time.
“After that, tests will be administered for first responders with symptoms, then individuals age 65+ or with underlying health conditions, followed by symptomatic essential service workers and then any resident with symptoms. We understand the need to test everyone who’s symptomatic and, following this priority list, we believe we can test 80-100% of people with symptoms soon.
“Our local test results continue to look good, with no new positives at our county jail or among our unsheltered (homeless) residents as of this writing (4/26). With increased testing and our local surge still ahead of us, we will see more cases. We expect our case number to increase more rapidly in the days ahead, which you’ll be able to track at the top of our updated SoCoEmergency website.
Shelter in place order
“Testing is so important because of its ability to help us ease back on the Shelter In Place (SIP) order when the time is right, but that is not now. Our current SIP order ends on Sunday, May 3. It is our goal to align our any future local orders or extensions with the Governor’s order, as well as orders from other Bay Area counties. We want to move forward together as a region and with predictability, as much as possible considering this novel coronavirus.
“Up next, all of us at the County understand how important our parks are to our mental and physical health. We hope to ease our county order to allow for a soft opening of some parks, maintaining physical distance and mitigation measures, with more details to be announced next week.
“Also related to this, our public health officials are planning how we will allow some elective surgeries in the near future. This will likely include testing patients for coronavirus as they’re entering the healthcare facility, as part of the intake protocol. If local conditions change on the virus, however, elective surgeries could be stopped again if we need surge capacity or more hospital beds. More info to come on this as well.
“Quick update that the FEMA trailers at the Fairgrounds are now sheltering 20 at-risk people and more vulnerable homeless are moving into SSU dormitories this week.
“The County has also opened a new Mental Health Warm Line at 707-565-2652 to support stress management and anxiety, and connect callers with additional resources and services. Available to any Sonoma County resident, seven days a week, 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Service in Spanish and other languages is also available.”
I’m conserved that relaxing the SIP order here in Sonoma will encourage bay area residents to travel to Sonoma to enjoy looser restrictions which completely undermines the locals health and safety. The SF bay area has a much higher rate of infections and deaths and there presense here will further introduce the virus. No one can stop them from traveling into this community and circulating the virus especially if this area has lifted the SIP order and made the community much more accessible to their desire for a more relaxed and welcoming environment. HUGE MISTAKE.