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Date of Order: April 10, 2020

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 This Order is in effect until rescinded, superseded, or amended in writing by the Health Officer or the State Health Officer.
2. California is in a State of Emergency because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The spread of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a substantial danger to the health of the public within the County of Sonoma (“County”). COVID-19 can easily spread between people who are in close contact with one another. This Order is based on scientific evidence and best practices as currently known from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the State of California, and the Sonoma County Health Officer. This Order is intended to protect vulnerable members of the public from avoidable risk of serious illness or death resulting from exposure to COVID-19.
3. The age, condition, and health of a significant portion of the population of the 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. Currently, there is no vaccine available to protect against COVID-19 and no specific treatment.
4. To help slow COVID-19’s spread, protect vulnerable individuals, and prevent the healthcare system in the County from being overwhelmed, it is necessary for the Health Officer to isolate persons with or likely to have COVID-19.
5. All healthcare providers and testing facilities within the County are requested to provide a copy of this Order to all individuals who have been diagnosed with or suspected to have COVID-19, fill out the Documentation of Service of the Health Officer Order No. C19-06-I form, and send the filled out Order to the Sonoma County Department of Health at the contact information provided in the Health Alert.

Under the Authority of the California Health and Safety Code Sections 101040, 101085, and 120175, the County of Sonoma Health Officer Orders:

All individuals who have been diagnosed with or suspected to have COVID-19 must isolate themselves. These persons are required to follow all instructions in this Order and the Home Isolation and Quarantine Instructions guidance documents referenced in this Order.

Violation of this Order is a crime, punishable by a fine, imprisonment or both. (Health & Safety Code §§ 120275 et seq.)

Isolation Requirements for Individuals Diagnosed With or Suspected to Have COVID-19

1. All individuals who have been diagnosed with or suspected to have COVID-19 must immediately take the following actions:
   1. Isolate themselves in their home or another residence at the direction of their healthcare provider, or at a location identified by the County. They may not leave their place of isolation or enter any other public or private place, except to receive necessary medical care.
   2. Carefully review and closely follow all requirements listed in the “Home Isolation and Quarantine Instructions” posted on https://socoemergency.org/ and attached to this order.
   3. Tell their close contacts that they need to quarantine themselves. Close contacts who should be notified to self-quarantine are people who were with them during their infectious period. The infectious period starts from 48 hours before symptoms began (or the date of the positive test if no symptoms) and ends when the isolation period is over (see Section C below). Close contacts are persons who:
      • Live in or have stayed at their residence; or
      • Are intimate sexual partners; or
      • Provide or provided care to them without wearing a mask, gown, and gloves.
   4. Refer them to the “Home Quarantine Instructions” posted on https://socoemergency.org/ and attached to this order, which describe steps that household contacts, intimate partners, caregivers and others as determined by the disease control program must take to prevent spread of COVID-19. Close contacts have likely been exposed to COVID-19 and if infected, can easily spread COVID-19 to others, even if they have only mild symptoms.
2. Individuals who have been diagnosed or suspected to have COVID-19 are required to isolate themselves.
   This determination is based on one or more of the following factors:
   1. A healthcare provider has diagnosed the individual with COVID-19; or
   2. A healthcare provider has informed the individual that they are likely to have COVID-19; or
   3. The individual is notified that they have a positive lab test for COVID-19; or
   4. The individual is testing for COVID-19; or
   5. The individual has symptoms that are consistent with COVID-19 within 14 days of being in close contact with a person who had COVID-19.
      Self-isolation is required because a person infected with or likely to have COVID-19 can easily spread the virus to others. Isolation separates these ill individuals from others to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
3. Isolated individuals must isolate themselves in a residence and follow all directions in this Order until they are no longer at risk for spreading COVID-19 based on any one of the following criteria:
   1. Individuals with a positive test who never develops symptoms consistent with COVID-19 must isolate for 10 days from date of their positive test (which is the date the test sample was collected).
   2. Individuals with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 must isolate until:
      • The individual has had no fever (fever is a body temperature of 100.0F, or higher) for at least 72 hours (that is 3 full days of no fever without the use medicine that reduces fevers); and
      • Other symptoms have improved (for example, when cough or shortness of breath have improved); and
      • At least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared.
   3. Individuals with a negative test for COVID-19 who have been identified as a close contact to a confirmed COVID-19 case must continue to practice Social Distancing and Hygiene and monitor their symptoms for 15 days after last contact.

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.

The individual or the individual’s authorized lawful representative may contact the Public Health, Disease Control Nurses if the individual has any questions or seeks clarification of any part of this order. If the individual or their authorized lawful representative believes that they are not a person described in the order, then the individual or their lawful authorized representative may submit a written objection to DHSDOCLEGAL-Appeal@sonoma-county.org.

IT IS SO ORDERED:

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