Sonoma County Extends Shelter-In-Place to May 3rd

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Moving to align itself with other Bay Area counties, Sonoma County’s Public Health Officer announced Tuesday afternoon the extension of shelter-in-place orders through May 3rd.

The order was widely expected after six Bay Area counties decided earlier in the day to extend and tighten up shelter-in-place restrictions that were due to end April 7th. Those restrictions are now in place through May 3rd.

The new order further restricts some businesses, including construction, effectively shutting down most residential and commercial construction activity, unless it relates to essential healthcare or public works projects. Also, other restrictions have been applied, as in the Bay Area order, to gatherings like funerals which now allow only 10 attendees, and to most other gatherings outside the home.

The new rules also restrict vacation rentals across the county to Sonoma County residents, a move designed to keep those from outside the county from entering the county to shelter during the coronavirus emergency.

The order also asks government to provide without delay shelter for homeless populations, which are considered among the most at risk due to the coronavirus.

The entire order can be viewed here.

The Sonoma Colunty public health officer, Dr. Sundari Mase, also announced during a virtual Town Hall that evidence shows the existing shelter-in-place orders, in place for the past two weeks in Sonoma County, have been effective in slowing coronavirus infections, and bending the curve of the virus in Sonoma County. Bay Area heath officials said today they also see evidence that the restrictions have helped to slow the rate of infection across the region.

Today the total number of coronavirus cases in Sonoma County jumped to 85, with 71 considered active, and 13 recovered. One Sonoma County resident had died as of Tuesday from the virus, a day which also saw the passing of Santa Rosa police detective Marylou Armer, the first death among the law enforcement community in the North Bay. Armer was a Napa county resident.