Sonoma County Not Likely to Reach Less Restrictive Coronavirus Tier

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As coronavirus cases surge nationally and here in California, Sonoma County’s bid to drop from the state’s Purple Tier to the less restrictive Red Tier looks unlikely to succeed. Not only has the state put all such “adjudication” requests on hold, but Sonoma County’s case numbers have now risen as well.

In the most recent period, which includes last weekend, the county’s daily case rate per 100 thousand had risen to more than 15, well above the state’s threshold of 7 per 100 thousand per day.

On Wednesday, Sonoma County’s health officer Dr. Sundari Mase said that the state had effectively stopped approving requests for adjudication due to the rapid spike in coronavirus infections and hospitalizations across California. And she said that Sonoma County is now in a watch and wait mode, waiting to see if the rise in cases and positivity being seen elsewhere across the state materializes here.

As cases rise, this week 40 additional counties slipped backward in the California coronavirus tier system, joining Sonoma County in the most restrictive Purple Tier. And the governor and state health officials stressed additional measures, possibly including stay at home orders may be recommended or imposed if the coronavirus surge worsens further.

Meantime, according to state figures, trends in Sonoma County’s case rate and reported virus deaths are both tracking close to that of California as a whole.

In terms of tests and positivity, Sonoma County is doing better than the state as a whole, with test numbers up and positivity declining. This is likely due to the county getting credit for previously unreported tests from private labs, which also impacts the positivity rate.

In terms of hospitalizations, Sonoma County has been holding relatively steady, while the state rate has begun to climb. However with a rise in the local case rate, health officials are bracing for a rise in hospitalizations in the weeks ahead.