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County Administrator's Office

Weekly Roundup for February 10, 2022

Published: February 10, 2022

With COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations declining, Sonoma County health officials confirmed Tuesday that a local health order restricting the size of large gatherings will expire as scheduled at 11:59 p.m. today, Thursday, February 10. 

In addition, Sonoma County and other Bay Area counties will lift universal mask requirements for most indoor public settings beginning Wednesday, February 16. Unvaccinated individuals over age 2 will continue to be required to wear masks in all indoor public settings. 

Read the full press release here:
https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/CAO/Press-Releases/Twelve-Bay-Area-Health-Officers-to-Lift-Most-Indoor-Mask-Mandates-on-February-16/

Importantly, COVID-19 is still spreading twice as fast in our community today as it was during the peak of the Delta surge last August. We are still averaging more than 350 new cases per day, down from 1,200 on Jan. 13. There were 66 COVID-related hospitalizations in the county as of Tuesday, with 15 of those COVID patients in ICU beds. 

COVID-related deaths are also mounting, which is expected to continue as deaths often lag hospitalizations by a month or more. There were 31 reported deaths in January and one in February so far. Since Dec. 1, 94 percent of the local deaths have been people ages 65 and older; 98 percent were unvaccinated, partially vaccinated or not up to date on their vaccines; 92 percent had underlying conditions. Sonoma County residents who are unvaccinated are 17.6 times more likely to be hospitalized if they get COVID and 12.8 times more likely to die from the virus. 

While wearing a mask indoors is no longer mandatory for people who are vaccinated, it remains a smart and simple way to protect yourself and the people around you, including those who face the greatest risk of illness — our seniors, essential workers and people with underlying health conditions.

Today’s digest provides helpful and important updates on the following:

  1. Sonoma County Fairgrounds vaccine clinics
  2. What to do if you contract COVID-19
  3. Vaccine & testing clinics in Sonoma County
  4. COVID-19 community resources & support

Weekend Vaccine Clinics at Sonoma County Fairgrounds

The County of Sonoma has expanded access to pediatric and adult COVID-19 vaccines and boosters through a series of free large-scale weekend clinics at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds. 

Up to 500 vaccines can be administered per day at these clinics, which will be held in the Garrett Building, which is on the east side of the Fairgrounds, accessible from the Brookwood Avenue entrance. 

Clinics will be on Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. on the following weekends:

  • February 12 & 13
  • February 19 & 20 

The clinics are open to everyone in the community, and families with children and those 12 years and older who still need their boosters are particularly encouraged to attend. 

Though appointments are not needed, you can guarantee a spot by signing up here:
https://myturn.ca.gov/

Vaccines are free, the clinics are open to all and proof of citizenship status is not required. 

What to Do If You Contract COVID-19

If you test positive, the first thing you should do is isolate yourself for at least five days to protect your health and avoid infecting others. 

While isolating:

  • Stay in a separate room from those not infected.
  • Use a separate bathroom if you can.
  • Wear a mask around others, even at home, and ask others in your home to do the same.
  • Use an N-95, KF-94, or a three-ply surgical mask if possible.
  • Open the windows, when possible.
  • If your residence has an HVAC system, make sure it has a fresh filter.

Get a test on day five, and if it is negative you can end your isolation. The California Department of Public Health recommends a rapid antigen test, not a PCR test, to determine if you can exit isolation. If you can’t get tested, you can end your isolation after 10 days if you don’t have symptoms.

If you used an at-home test, you should report the results to the county health department at (707) 565-4667. Notify close contacts that they’ve been exposed. A close contact is someone who spent at least 15 minutes over a 24-hour period within 6 feet of a person who tested positive for COVID-19.

People who are fully vaccinated do not need to quarantine unless they have symptoms after contact with someone who had COVID-19. However, fully vaccinated people should get tested five to seven days after their exposure, even if they don’t have symptoms.

Unvaccinated people should stay home for 14 days after your last contact with a person who has COVID-19. If you have symptoms, immediately self-isolate and contact your health care provider if you have trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, confusion, inability to wake or stay awake, pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds.

Learn more about home isolation instructions at SoCoEmergency.org:
https://socoemergency.org/emergency/novel-coronavirus/health-orders/home-isolation-instructions/

Local Vaccine & Testing Opportunities

Vaccination and testing clinics are being held throughout the county to serve people who do not have convenient or affordable access to healthcare providers. 

Visit the Sonoma County Office of Education to learn about clinics for students and families:
https://www.scoe.org/pub/htdocs/school_staff_immunization.html

View the county’s vaccine clinics and appointment page here:
https://socoemergency.org/emergency/novel-coronavirus/vaccine-information/clinics/

For details or appointments at COVID-19 testing clinics, including a pop-up testing calendar, please visit:
https://socoemergency.org/emergency/novel-coronavirus/testing-and-tracing/

Residents who test positive using an at-home antigen test are urged to report the result by calling the county’s COVID hotline at (707) 565-4667 (4701 in Spanish). Anyone who needs help making a vaccination or testing appointment may also contact the hotline. 

COVID-19 Community Resources and Support

  • Free COVID-19 testing is available for tribal communities at Sonoma County Indian Health Project. Call (707) 521-4500 for details.