En español »

DATE OF AMENDMENT: January 28, 2021

Please read this Order carefully. Violation of or failure to comply with this Order is a misdemeanor punishable by fine, imprisonment, or both. (California Health and Safety Code § 120275, et seq.)

UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF CALIFORNIA HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE SECTIONS 101040, 101085, AND 120175, THE HEALTH OFFICER OF THE COUNTY OF SONOMA (“HEALTH OFFICER”) ORDERS:

1. This revised Order supersedes the County Of Sonoma Health Officer Order C19-18-Q dated December 22, 2020, and is in effect beginning at 12:01 a.m. on January 29, 2021 until rescinded, superseded, or amended in writing by the Health Officer. Any person who is subject to Quarantine Order C19-18-Q should continue to comply with the terms of that order.

2. California is in a State of Emergency because of the coronavirus pandemic. The spread of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a substantial danger to the health of the public within the County of Sonoma. COVID-19 can easily spread between people who are in close contact with one another. This Order is issued based on scientific evidence and best practices as currently known and available to protect vulnerable members of the public from avoidable risk of serious illness or death resulting from exposure to COVID-19. The age, condition, and health of a significant portion of the population of the County of Sonoma (“County”) places it at risk for serious health complications, including death, from COVID-19. There is growing evidence of transmission risk from infected persons before the onset of symptoms. Thus, all individuals who contract COVID-19, regardless of their level of symptoms (none, mild or severe), may place other vulnerable members of the public at significant risk.

3. To help slow COVID-19’s spread, protect vulnerable individuals, and prevent the healthcare system in Sonoma County from being overwhelmed, it is necessary for the Health Officer to require the quarantine of persons exposed to a person diagnosed with COVID-19, or likely to have COVID-19. Quarantine separates individuals who were exposed to COVID-19 from others, until it is determined that they are not at risk for spreading the disease.

4. All persons who have had close contact with a person subject to Isolation Order C19-12-I (person who has or is likely to have COVID-19 as defined), hereafter referred to as “Case,” must quarantine themselves. These persons are required to follow all instructions in this Order.

5. For purposes of this Order, a person is considered to have had close contact with a Case if, during the Case’s infectious period, the person was within six feet of the Case for a total of 15 minutes or longer over a 24-hour period. Examples are persons who:

• Live in, have visited, or have stayed overnight in the Case’s residence; or
• Are intimate sexual partners of the Case; or
• Worked within six feet of the Case; or
• Provide or provided care to the Case without wearing a mask, a face shield or goggles, gown and gloves; or
• Have been identified as close contacts by the Sonoma County Department of Health Services.

6. For purposes of this Order, a Case is infectious from 48 hours before his or her symptoms began (or in the absence of symptoms, from 48 hours before the date the test sample of a positive test was collected) and until they are released from isolation.

7. All persons who have had close contact with a Case must immediately take the following actions:

1. Stay in their home, or another residence, and quarantine themselves for the entirety of the quarantine period because they are at high risk for developing and spreading COVID-19.

1. 1. The quarantine period is defined as either:
      • 14-days from the last date that they were in contact with the Case. Individuals operating under this section are encouraged but are not required to obtain COVID-19 testing. Individuals operating under this section must continue to monitor their temperature and symptoms daily.
      • 10-days from the last date that they were in contact with the Case as long as the individual obtains COVID-19 testing 8-days or more since last contact with the Case, and the results are negative. Individuals operating under this section could still be carriers of COVID-19 for up to 14-days from the last date that they were in contact with the Case; therefore, they must monitor their temperature and symptoms daily and strictly comply with face covering, social distancing, and hygiene requirements, as well as avoid all gatherings outside their household until 14-days from the last date that they were in contact with the Case.
   2. If a quarantined person develops any symptoms consistent with COVID-19, or receives a positive test for COVID-19, within 14-days from the last date that they were in contact with the Case, then they must comply with the requirements of section 7(c) below.
   3. Carefully review and closely follow all requirements listed in the “Home Quarantine Instructions,” posted on https://socoemergency.org/ and attached to this Order.
      If a quarantined person becomes sick with fever (fever is a body temperature of 100.4F, or higher), cough, or shortness of breath (even if their symptoms are very mild), they should isolate themselves at home and away from other people and follow the “Home Isolation Instructions,” posted on https://socoemergency.org/ and attached to this Order. This is because they are likely to have COVID-19, and if so, can spread it to vulnerable individuals. If a medical professional examines a quarantined person and determines that their symptoms are not due to COVID-19, the person may discontinue home isolation but shall continue to follow the home quarantine order and instructions.
2. Quarantined persons may not leave their place of quarantine, or enter any other public or private place, except to receive necessary medical care or during an emergency that requires evacuation to protect the health and safety of the person.
3. Carefully review and closely follow all requirements listed in the “Home Quarantine Instructions,” posted on https://socoemergency.org/ and attached to this Order. If a quarantined person becomes sick with fever (fever is a body temperature of 100.4F, or higher), cough, or shortness of breath (even if their symptoms are very mild), they should isolate themselves at home and away from other people and follow the “Home Isolation Instructions,” posted on https://socoemergency.org/ and attached to this Order. This is because they are likely to have COVID-19, and if so, can spread it to vulnerable individuals. If a medical professional examines a quarantined person and determines that their symptoms are not due to COVID-19, the person may discontinue home isolation but shall continue to follow the home quarantine order and instructions.

8. Notwithstanding the foregoing, health care workers and first responder agency workers who are close contacts of a Case are not subject to this Order under the following circumstances:

• The worker informs their employer about the worker’s close contact to a lab-confirmed Case;
• The worker is asymptomatic, and the worker’s employer determines, based on staffing needs, that the worker needs to report to work;
• The worker receives a negative test for COVID-19 prior to returning to work;
• The worker receives a second test for COVID-19 anytime between day-8 and day-10 from the last date that they were in contact with the Case;
• The worker must monitor their temperature and symptoms daily and report any symptoms consistent with COVID-19 to their employer, wear full PPE including facemasks while working, avoid any invasive procedures while working during their quarantine period, and the worker may only go from home-to-work until 14-days from the last date that they were in contact with the Case.
• If the worker develops any symptoms consistent with COVID-19, or receives a positive test for COVID-19, within 14-days from the last date that they were in contact with the Case, then they must comply with the requirements of section 7(c) above.

9. Persons who reside or work in a high-risk congregate living setting (e.g. skilled nursing facilities, prisons, jails, shelters) or persons residing or working with severely immunosuppressed persons (eg. Bone marrow or solid organ transplants, chemotherapy) should quarantine for 14-days unless the worker’s employer determines, based on staffing needs, that the worker needs to report to work and the employee complies with the requirements in section 8 above.

10. The Sonoma County Health Officer may take additional action(s), which may include civil detention or requiring an individual to stay at a health facility or other location, to protect the public’s health if an individual who is subject to this Order violates or fails to comply with this Order. Violation of this Order is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment, fine or both.

11. Pursuant to Government Code sections 26602 and 41061 and Health and Safety Code section 101029, the Health Officer requests that the Sheriff and all chiefs of police in the County ensure compliance and enforce this Order. The violation of any provision of this Order constitutes an imminent threat to public health.

12. Copies of the Order shall promptly be made available (1) at the County Administration Center at 575 Administration Drive in Santa Rosa (2) by posting on the County’s website and (3) to any member of the public requesting a copy.

IT IS SO ORDERED:

Dr. Sundari R. Mase, MD MPH
Health Officer of the County of Sonoma