Sonoma County Health Officer Moves to Isolate COVID-19 Cases, Contacts

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Sonoma County’s Public Health Officer Dr. Sundari Mase moved more aggressively Friday to isolate those known to have been infected with the coronavirus, and those who’ve been exposed, from the general population.

The new “blanket order” issued on Friday means that anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 is now forbidden from leaving their place of residence, except to receive medical care. It also orders all those who have had contact with COVID-19 positive individuals to immediately quarantine themselves. This includes all household members, caregivers and known contacts of confirmed COVID-19 infected individuals.

Previously according to Mase, those diagnosed with COVID-19 were ordered to isolate on a case by case basis. Now she says, the isolation order will apply to everyone who has received a positive test result, and will extend quarantine to all who’ve come in contact with that person.

The Health Officer says those potentially exposed and under quarantine will be checked by public health staff to determine if they become symptomatic over time. Previously Mase said all contacts would be tested, so it is assumed that contact tracing will continue to lead to tests for all individuals determined to have a connection to an infected individual.

As of Friday, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Sonoma County reached 142, with 89 active cases, 52 recovered individuals, and one death. According to the Public Health Officer, 3251 tests had been conducted.

On Thursday county health officials revealed that most new cases in Sonoma County are being found by contact tracing, and not by community spread.