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Vaccination of Under-5-Year-Olds to Begin in Sonoma County
With federal & state regulators having now approved the use of COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 6mo-4yrs, Sonoma County is expected to begin vaccinating the roughly 21,000 children in this age range through primary care providers and health centers. Additional Info... -
June 8 Update of the California Public Health Officer Order for COVID-19
This is a summary of changes following the state's recent update to its public health order for COVID-19. Read on... -
Board of Supervisors Approve $39 Million in ARPA Funding for 27 Community Proposals
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors allocated $39M in American Rescue Plan Act funding to support disproportionately impacted individuals & households who have suffered economic impacts as well as disparities in public health outcomes due to COVID-19. Additional Info... -
COVID-19 Boosters Available to Anyone 5 and Older
With the recent federal approval of COVID-19 booster shots for younger children, anyone 5 and older is now eligible to receive a third dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Additional Info... -
Bay Area Health Officers urge public to take precautions as COVID levels rise
Twelve Bay Area health officers are stressing the importance of taking safety precautions, including continued masking indoors, as the region experiences a new swell of COVID cases and hospitalizations. Additional Info... -
TSA Extends Face Mask Requirement on Public Transportation Through May 3, 2022
At CDC's recommendation, TSA will extend the Security Directives and Emergency Amendment requiring mask use on public transportation and transportation hubs for 15 days through May 3, 2022. Additional Info... -
Updated CDPH Guidelines for Isolation and Quarantine
New guidelines remove the quarantine recommendations for an asymptomatic exposed person, add recommendations for work exclusion or restriction in certain specified high-risk settings, & include an updated definition for close contact & infectious period. Additional Info... -
California Issues New Guidelines for Hosting Events
The California Department of Public Health has issued its Safe and SMART Event Playbook, which provides new guidelines to assist businesses, municipalities, and communities on how to best prepare smaller events for this new stage of living with COVID. Additional Info... -
Second Booster Shots Available for Sonoma County Residents Age 50+
Residents age 50+ & those who are immunocompromised are now eligible to receive a second booster of the mRNA (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) COVID-19 vaccine at county-sponsored clinics as well as at local pharmacies & healthcare providers in Sonoma County. Additional Info... -
Deadline to Apply for Emergency Rental Assistance Program is March 31, 2022
Residents must have an application on file with the County’s portal on or before March 31, 2022, to take advantage of possible extensions of eviction protections currently being considered by the state. Additional Info... -
California Microbusiness COVID-19 Relief Grant Program
The Sonoma County Economic Development Board will launch the CA Microbusiness COVID-19 Relief Grant Program, which will provide grants up to $2,500 to local microbusinesses impacted by COVID-19. Application period is 4/1-5/1, or until funds exhausted. Additional Info... -
FDA Authorizes 2nd Booster Dose of Two COVID-19 Vaccines for Older & Immunocompromised Individuals
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized a second booster dose of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or the Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for older people and certain immunocompromised individuals. Additional Info... -
County Accepting Applications for American Rescue Plan Act Funding Through April 7
SoCo opened the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Notice of Funding Availability process to accept apps for ARPA funding thru 4/7 & has allocated $34 million to support community programs that address community needs identified as a result of COVID-19. Additional Info... -
Sonoma County Aligns with State on Masking Changes
As of 3/1, masks are no longer required for unvaccinated individuals in CA, but are strongly recommended for all individuals in most indoor settings. After 3/11, in schools & childcare facilities, masks will not be required but are strongly recommended. Additional Info... -
One Millionth Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine Administered in Sonoma County
One million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have now been administered in Sonoma County, a new milestone in the 14-month-long campaign to strengthen residents’ immune systems against the deadly virus. That includes first, second and booster doses. Additional Info... -
Rep. Mike Thompson Announces $4+ Million in Grants to SR for Secure Housing During COVID-19 Pandemic
City of SR receiving $4,313,977 grant from Federal Emergency Management Agency & Department of Homeland Security that will reimburse a program that relocated at-risk residents from Samuel L. Jones Hall Homeless Shelter to Sandman Hotel during COVID-19. Additional Info... -
County’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program Pauses Temporarily
Nearly $25 million in direct assistance has been provided to SoCo households thru SoCo’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program. More than 4,000 pending & completed apps are in the queue & are predicted to draw down the remainder funds assigned to SoCo. Additional Info... -
Eighty Percent of Eligible Sonoma County Residents Now Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19
Eighty percent of residents 5 and older in Sonoma County are now fully vaccinated, marking another major milestone in the 14-month-long campaign to protect Sonoma County residents from the worst outcomes of the COVID-19 virus. Additional Info... -
Twelve Bay Area Health Officers to Lift Most Indoor Mask Mandates on Feb. 16
In alignment with the State, twelve Bay Area counties, including Sonoma County, will lift universal mask requirements for most indoor public settings beginning Wednesday, Feb. 16. Additional Info... -
Sonoma County to let Restrictions on Large Gatherings Expire on Feb. 10
With COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations declining, Sonoma County Health Officer Dr. Sundari Mase made clear that a health order temporarily restricting the size of large gatherings will expire as scheduled at 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 10. Additional Info... -
Sonoma County Clarifies Health Order to Allow 50 Spectators at Indoor Events
Sonoma County Health Officer clarifies a recent health order that limited indoor public events to 50 people. As of today (1/27), indoor events can include 50 spectators. The total number of attendees does not include staff, media, players or performers. Additional Info... -
Sonoma County Announces Four Weekend COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics at Sonoma County Fairgrounds
The County of Sonoma will expand access to pediatric and adult COVID-19 vaccines and boosters through a series of large-scale vaccine clinics at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds on Jan. 29-30 and Feb. 5-6, 12-13, and 19-20 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Additional Info... -
COVID Cases at Santa Rosa Homeless Shelter
The City of Santa Rosa and Catholic Charities are working with the Sonoma County Department of Health Services – Public Health to respond to positive cases of COVID-19 at the City's Samuel L. Jones Hall Homeless Shelter (SJH). Read on... -
Order Your Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests
Residential households in the U.S. can order one set of four free at-home tests from covidtests.gov. Tests are limited to one order per residential address and include four individual rapid antigen COVID-19 tests. Additional Info... -
SoCo Health Officer Issues Appeal for Residents to Voluntarily Stay Home; Restricts Large Gatherings
Sonoma County Health Officer issues an appeal to residents to stay home as much as possible for the next 30 days and limit interactions with those outside of their immediate household, and also issues a Health Order canceling large gatherings. Additional Info... -
Sonoma County Issues COVID-19 Guidance for New Year’s Gatherings
People planning to travel and attend gatherings on the New Year’s Eve holiday should take steps to protect themselves and their families from COVID-19. Additional Info... -
Sonoma County Rescinds Face Mask Exemption for Fully Vaccinated Groups
Sonoma County joined four other Bay Area counties in rescinding exemptions to local public health orders that allowed stable groups of fully vaccinated people to remove their masks indoors in some workplaces, gyms, churches and other public settings. Additional Info... -
SoCo Urges Employers to Require Proof of COVID-19 Booster Shot or at least Twice Weekly Testing
Employers should immediately require all workers to get a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, if eligible for one, or get tested at least twice weekly under new guidelines issued by SoCo Health Officer. Guidelines are voluntary but strongly recommended. Additional Info... -
SoCo to Require Proof of COVID-19 Booster Shot or At Least Twice Weekly Testing for School Workers
Sonoma County Health Officer issues a health order for all schools in Sonoma County to require employees to provide satisfactory evidence that, when eligible, they have received a booster for COVID-19 or begin testing at least twice weekly. Additional Info... -
SoCo to Require Proof of COVID-19 Booster Shot or At Least Twice Weekly Testing for High-Risk Groups
New health order for employers of fire, law enforcement, emergency medical service workers, pharmacies, dental offices & operators of temp disaster shelters in SoCo to require testing at least twice weekly or provide evidence that a booster was received. Additional Info... -
Sonoma County and Bay Area Health Officers Urge Boosters to Protect Against Omicron Variant
Public health agencies across the Bay Area urge everyone eligible to get vaccinated and, if eligible, get a booster shot right away to protect against the rapidly spreading Omicron variant. Additional Info... -
Masking Rules Remain Unchanged in Sonoma County Under New State Requirements
Indoor masking requirements in Sonoma County, including its exemptions for indoor dining and some stable groups of fully vaccinated people, remain unchanged under a new statewide mask mandate from the California Department of Public Health. Additional Info... -
Sonoma County Approves Initial ARPA Allocations for County and Community
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors this week began the process of approving the allocation of $96 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, grounding their decisions in community recommendations. Additional Info... -
Sonoma County Issues Guidance on COVID-19 Booster Shots for 16- and 17-year-olds
Sonoma County will immediately make 16- and 17-year-olds eligible for booster shots of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, aligning the county with new federal and state guidelines. Additional Info... -
Sonoma County Department of Health Services Awarded $6 Million to Scale Grassroots COVID-19 Response
The SoCo Dept of Health Services received a three-year, $6 million grant from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention to increase resources & services for health workers to better respond to the COVID-19 pandemic & combat health care inequities. Additional Info... -
25% of Sonoma County Children Ages 5-11 Now Partially or Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19
One in four Sonoma County children ages 5-11 are now fully or partially vaccinated against COVID-19, an important milestone that means the county has achieved the first goal set by the Sonoma County Office of Education and county health officials. Additional Info... -
Sonoma County Issues COVID-19 Guidance for Thanksgiving Gatherings & Travel
People planning to travel & attend gatherings over Thanksgiving should take steps to protect themselves/families from COVID-19 & ensure they have proper documents required by some destinations, airlines & events to prove their vaccination/testing status. Additional Info... -
Sonoma County Opens COVID-19 Boosters Broadly to Adults to Avoid Winter Surge
Sonoma County is opening-up COVID-19 boosters to all adults 18 years and older, provided they qualify based on the timing of their last dose of the vaccine. Additional Info... -
New Sonoma County Health Order Requires Flu Shots for Senior Care and In-Home Care Workers
Sonoma County Health Officer Dr. Sundari Mase has expanded the scope of an Oct. 1 health order requiring workers at certain health care and congregate facilities to get vaccinated against influenza. Additional Info... -
Sonoma County Issues COVID-19 Guidance for Holiday Gatherings and Travel
People planning to travel & attend gatherings over the holidays should take steps now to protect themselves from COVID-19 & ensure they have proper documents required by some destinations, airlines & events to prove their vaccination or testing status. Additional Info... -
Vaccinations of 5-11-year-olds to Begin in Sonoma County During Week of Nov. 8
With federal and state regulators having now approved the use of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11, Sonoma County is expected to begin vaccinating the roughly 37,000 children in this age range beginning the week of Nov. 8. Additional Info... -
Sonoma County Issues Guidance on COVID-19 Booster Shots, Mix-and-Match Boosters
Sonoma County residents who received any of the three COVID-19 vaccines are now eligible for a booster shot if they meet new criteria outlined by the county Department of Health Services. Additional Info... -
Sonoma County Health Officer Allows Some Groups Option to go Maskless Indoors
SoCo Health Officer amends health order to allow certain stable groups of people, such as those in gyms, classes & offices, the option of lifting the mandate on wearing masks indoors if they verify that all members of the group are fully vaccinated. Additional Info... -
Sonoma County Outlines Plan to Deliver COVID-19 Vaccinations to Children Ages 5-11 in Sonoma County
In tandem with the SoCo Office of Education & other community partners, SoCo health officials unveiled plans to deliver free COVID-19 vaccinations to children in the county between the ages of 5-11 as soon as the doses are approved by federal regulators. Additional Info... -
Sonoma County Seeks Community Input on Allocating $96 Million in ARPA Funding
What are the challenges you and your family and friends have faced - or are still experiencing - during the COVID-19 pandemic? What kind of financial support, if any, did you receive during this health crisis and what was missing? Additional Info... -
Outdoor Trick-Or-Treating in Sonoma County is Safe This Halloween With Precautions
Families can confidently enjoy outdoor trick-or-treating on Halloween and outdoor Día De los Muertos celebrations this year, provided they take some simple precautions to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19. Additional Info... -
Bay Area Health Officers Issue Criteria for Lifting COVID-19 Indoor Masking Requirements
As vaccinations & wearing face coverings indoors drive down COVID-19 case rates & hospitalizations, health officers for 9 Bay Area jurisdictions requiring face coverings in most indoor public spaces reached consensus on criteria to lift the health orders. Additional Info... -
Sonoma County Campaign Delivers 700,000th Vaccination
Reaching another major milestone in the battle against COVID-19, the campaign to protect Sonoma County residents from the virus delivered its 700,000th dose of vaccine. Additional Info... -
County’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program to Receive $13.8 Million in Additional State Funding
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors voted to authorize the Sonoma County Community Development Commission to accept up to $13,787,577.78 of State Block Grant funds from the California Department of Housing and Community Development. Additional Info... -
Sonoma County Health Officer Requires Flu Shots for Health Care Workers, Recommends Them for Public
Sonoma County Health Officer Dr. Sundari Mase issued a health order requiring workers at certain health care and congregate facilities to get vaccinated against influenza. Additional Info... -
California Becomes First State in Nation to Announce COVID-19 Vaccine Requirements for Schools
After implementing first-in-the-nation school masking and staff vaccination measures, California becomes the first state to announce plans to require student vaccinations – adding the COVID-19 vaccine to list of vaccinations required for school. Additional Info... -
Sonoma County Rolls Out COVID-19 Booster Shots
COVID-19 booster shots are available for eligible seniors, health care workers, public safety personnel & others who are at increased risk due to occupational or institutional setting, & who received the Pfizer-BioNTech second dose at least 6 months ago. Additional Info... -
Pfizer Says Vaccine Safe for Ages 5-11, to Seek Approval for Use
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has been shown to be safe and highly effective in young children aged 5 to 11 years. Additional Info... -
President Biden Implements COVID-19 Six-Pronged Action Plan
President Biden is implementing a six-pronged, comprehensive national strategy to successfully combat COVID-19, including requiring employers with 100+ employees to provide proof of vaccination or submit to weekly testing. Additional Info... -
Seventy-Five Percent of Eligible Sonoma County Residents are now Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19
Three of four eligible Sonoma County residents are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19, an important milestone reached amid efforts to keep everyone safe from the highly contagious Delta variant. Additional Info... -
Sonoma County Health Officer Issues Health Order Requiring Testing for Jail Inmates
Sonoma County Health Officer Dr. Sundari Mase today issued a health order requiring jail inmates to be tested for COVID-19 upon entry. The measure is designed to curb the spread of the virus and prevent outbreaks at county detention facilities. Additional Info... -
So. County Health Order on Vaccinations & Sports Guidelines Issued Sept. 3, 2021
The Sonoma County health officer issued a health order for pharmacists, home health care worker vaccination; and issued youth sports guidelines on Friday, September 3, 2021. Read on... -
City of Santa Rosa Announces COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement for City Employees
The Santa Rosa City Council has directed the City Manager to adopt a policy requiring that all City employees provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 or submit to weekly testing, effective October 1, 2021. Read on... -
ARPA Community Work Group Seeking Members to Distribute Funds
Sonoma County is seeking residents to serve on a work group that will help allocate $96 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to provide relief from public health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional Info... -
Santa Rosa Homeless Shelter to Reopen for Intakes
Samuel L. Jones Hall Homeless Shelter will reopen Friday, Aug. 27 with enhanced safety protocols to protect residents and staff and to help prevent future COVID transmission Read on... -
County and SCOE Announce Local Recommendations to Mitigate COVID-19 on Campus
The SoCo Dept. of Health Services & the SoCo Office of Education have issued 3 local recommendations to SoCo schools to help minimize the spread of COVID-19 on campus & enable students to have the fewest possible interruptions to in-person learning. Additional Info... -
FDA Approves First COVID-19 Vaccine
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first COVID-19 vaccine, which is known as the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, but will now be marketed as Comirnaty, for the prevention of COVID-19 disease in individuals 16 years of age and older. Additional Info... -
Sonoma County to Follow State Guidance on Boosters
Sonoma County will follow the guidance of the California Department of Public Health and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in providing booster shots of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines to certain immunocompromised individuals in Sonoma County. Additional Info... -
California Implements Nation-Leading Vaccine Verification Measure for Large Events
Beginning 9/20, proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test will be required for indoor events with 1,000 or more attending. This new measure will help encourage more vaccinations and increase safety at events while ensuring businesses can thrive. Additional Info... -
COVID Cases at City’s Homeless Shelter
Updated as of August 25th to provide the status on COVID cases at Samuel L. Jones Hall Homeless Shelter, and to announce plans for the reopening of the shelter for new residents Read on... -
80% of Eligible Sonoma County Residents Are Now at Least Partially Vaccinated Against COVID-19
Four out of five eligible Sonoma County residents are now either fully or partially vaccinated against COVID-19, Sonoma County Department of Health Services reported to the Board of Supervisors as part of an update on the County’s pandemic response. Additional Info... -
Sonoma County Supervisors Require Employee Vaccinations or Testing
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors approved a policy requiring all county employees to either show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or submit to weekly testing. Additional Info... -
Sonoma County Expands Testing Options, Shifts Focus to PCR Tests
In response to growing demand for testing amid the current surge of COVID cases, the SoCo Dept of Health Services has expanded testing opportunities through private providers while freeing County Health to focus on outbreak and surveillance testing. Additional Info... -
First-in-the-Nation Measure to Encourage Teachers and School Staff to Get Vaccinated
In order to best protect students & staff as CA starts the school year fully in-person, the CA Dept. of Public Health issued a new public health order requiring all school staff to either show proof of full vaccination or be tested at least once per week. Additional Info... -
County to Require Proof of Vaccination for Emergency Personnel, Encourages Employers to do the Same
Health order requiring all fire, law enforcement & emergency medical service workers & staff at disaster shelters to show proof of vaccination. If proof of vaccination is not available, weekly COVID-19 testing is required. Order takes effect 9/24. Additional Info... -
Sonoma County Partners With Private Providers to Expand COVID-19 Testing Opportunities
Due to increasing case rates and testing demand, the Sonoma County Department of Health Services is partnering with four trusted providers - Curative, LHI, Molecular Matrix, and Fox Home Health - to offer expanded COVID-19 testing services for residents. Additional Info... -
Bay Area Health Officials Issue Orders Requiring Use of Face Coverings Indoors
Counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Sonoma, and the City of Berkeley Indoor Masking Orders Take Effect Tuesday (8/3). Additional Info... -
Sonoma County Expands Emergency Rental Assistance Program
With the passage of Assembly Bill 832, Sonoma County has expanded financial support available to tenants and landlords through the Emergency Rental Assistance Program. Additional Info... -
CDPH Recommends Masking for Public Indoor Settings to Slow Spread of COVID-19 & Delta Variant
In response to the spike in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, and new CDC guidance, the California Department of Public Health updated its Guidance for Face Coverings, recommending mask use for indoor public settings, regardless of vaccination status. Additional Info... -
First-in-the-Nation Measures to Encourage State Employees and Health Care Workers to Get Vaccinated
The State of California is implementing a first-in-the-nation standard to require all state workers and workers in health care and high-risk congregate settings to either show proof of full vaccination or be tested at least once per week. Additional Info... -
County Testing Sites Now Offer BinaxNOW ‘Rapid’ Tests
The Sonoma County Department of Health Services is now offering BinaxNOW “rapid” antigen testing at all DHS testing sites. Additional Info... -
Sonoma County Supervisors Announce Vaccination Rollout is Ramping Up
Sonoma County’s COVID-19 vaccination efforts are kicking into high gear with five clinics now activated throughout the County and at least two more planned for the coming weeks, Sonoma County supervisors announced today. Read on... -
Sonoma County Adopts Enhanced Program to Reduce COVID-19 Transmission & Supporting The Most Impacted
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors unanimously endorsed a suite of actions to support those most negatively impacted by the spread of coronavirus including those in low-income, essential worker and Latinx communities. Additional Info...
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