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Public Health Emergency Quarantine Order for COVID-19

DATE OF ORDER: June 4, 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:

• This revised Order supersedes the County of Sonoma Health Officer Order C19-18-QR dated January 28, 2021, and is in effect beginning at 12:01 a.m. on June 5, 2021 until rescinded, superseded, or amended in writing by the Health Officer.
• All persons who must quarantine under the Quarantine Guidance, attached to this Order, should carefully review and closely follow all requirements. They should also carefully review all requirements listed in the “Home Quarantine Instructions,” posted on https://socoemergency.org/emergency/novel- coronavirus/quarantine-instructions/.
• Any person who must quarantine under the Quarantine Guidance must stay in their home, or another residence, for the entirety of their quarantine period because they are at high risk for developing and spreading COVID-19. 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.
• If a quarantined person becomes sick with fever (fever is a body temperature of 100.4F, or higher), cough, shortness of breath, or any other symptom consistent with COVID-19 (even if their symptoms are very mild), they should isolate themselves at home and away from other people in accordance with Blanket Isolation Order (C19-16-I) and follow the “Home Isolation Instructions,” posted on https://socoemergency.org/emergency/novel-coronavirus/isolation-instructions/. This is because they are likely to have COVID-19, and if so, can spread it to vulnerable people. If a medical professional determines, based upon testing for COVID-19, that their symptoms are not due to COVID-19, then the person may discontinue home isolation but shall continue to follow the Quarantine Guidance.
• Notwithstanding the foregoing, 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 that the essential operations of the workplace would be compromised by quarantine of the worker and that no alternate staff can perform the same role.
  • 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 isolate and comply with Section 4 above.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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 County of Sonoma

QUARANTINE GUIDANCE

Quarantine separates and restricts interactions within six feet with others, for people who were in close contact with someone who has COVID-19, to see if they become ill or infected. Someone who may have been exposed to COVID-19 but does not know it, or they may have the disease but do not show symptoms. People who are fully vaccinated or who have had COVID-19 within the past 3 months usually do not have to quarantine unless they exhibit symptoms.

For purposes of this order, “close contact” means a person who was exposed to someone with active COVID-19 infection for over 15 minutes cumulative in a 24-hour period or had contact with them when no face coverings were worn.

If you have been fully vaccinated:

If you have been in “close contact” with someone who has COVID-19, you do not need to stay away from others, or test, unless you have symptoms.

• However, if you live in a group or congregate setting (like a correctional or detention facility, group home or shelter) and are around someone who has COVID-19, you must quarantine from others for at least 10 days and get tested on day 8 or later, even if you don’t have symptoms.
• If you have severely altered immunocompetence, you should be tested but do not need to quarantine unless you develop symptoms.

If you have NOT been fully vaccinated:

 If you have been in “close contact” with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, you MUST
quarantine. The exposure may happen with:

• any household member
• persons that have shared a home within 10 days of a person’s COVID-19 diagnosis
• intimate partners
• caregivers
• co-workers
• attendees at gatherings

All exposed persons should quarantine and must monitor for symptoms thru day 14; if any symptoms develop, they should immediately self-isolate and be tested for COVID-19.

Exposed persons can reduce quarantine to 7 days if a diagnostic molecular test for COVID-19 (RT-PCR) is negative and if no symptoms have developed.

• • The specimen must be collected no earlier than 5 days after last contact with a person who has COVID-19.
  • Quarantine cannot be discontinued earlier than after day 7. An exposed person must have a negative COVID-19 test result in order to end quarantine in less than 10 days.

However, if you live in a group or congregate setting (like a correctional or detention facility, group home or shelter) and are around someone who has COVID-19, you must quarantine from others for 14 days and get tested on day 12 or later, even if you don’t have symptoms.
If you have severely altered immunocompetence, you must quarantine from others for 20 days and should be tested, even if you don’t have symptoms.