Shelter in your place of residence, except for essential needs.

Santa Rosa urges all residents to heed the Sonoma County Public Health Officer’s Shelter in Place Order and stay home, except for essential needs, in order to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. The Order, effective March 17th allows residents to leave their homes only for essential services, essential activities, and essential work, including:

• Health and safety, such as obtaining medical supplies or visiting a healthcare professional
• Services and supplies, such as groceries, cleaning supplies, and pet food
• Outdoor activity, provided residents comply with social distancing requirements
• Essential work or business
• Care for a family member or pet in another household

People at high risk of severe illness from the coronavirus are urged to stay in their residence to the extent possible, except as necessary to seek medical care.

This Order excludes individuals experiencing homelessness. The City is actively working with our homeless service providers to urge individuals experiencing homelessness into our shelters where social distancing measures have been implemented to help ensure their health and safety. If you or someone you know is experiencing homelessness, call 1-866-542-5480.

All other activities, work, and travel deemed non-essential are expected to be suspended in an community-wide effort to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus in our community and to protect the health and well-being of those most at risk of becoming very sick.  At this time, ALL businesses and governmental agencies are to cease non-essential operations at physical locations.

State-wide Shelter in Place Order Issued by Governor Newsom

Additionally, on March 19, 2020, California Governor Gavin Newson issued a Shelter in Place Order that is in effect until further notice.The order means all Californians must stay home, except for essential reasons. The Governor’s Order underscores the severity of the situation all communities are facing. While much of the Governor’s Order aligns with Sonoma County’s Order, the City of Santa Rosa is working in partnership with other local jurisdictions to analyze it more closely. Once City officials determine if there are additional restrictive measures that need to be implemented locally, an update will be provided to the community.

Preventing the Spread of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

The novel coronavirus, which causes the respiratory disease known as COVID-19, is a member of the same family of viruses that causes colds. COVID-19 was first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, and has now been detected internationally, including some cases in the United States. Because COVID-19 is new, we are learning more each day about how it spreads, and therefore, updates and information may change frequently.

Santa Rosa residents, students, workers, and visitors are urged to practice good hygiene, as this is the height of flu season across Sonoma County. Residents should contact healthcare providers if they have symptoms such as fever and cough and had close contact with someone with symptoms who returned in the last 14 days from traveling abroad. For more details, including the latest developments on COVID-19, visit socoemergency.org/coronavirus.

Working Together to Protect Public Health 

The County of Sonoma declared a Local Public Health Emergency as well as a Local Emergency to respond to COVID-19.Following suit with the County, the City of Santa Rosa has declared a local emergency to proactively respond to COVID-19 (view proclamation). By declaring a local emergency, the City of Santa Rosa is better prepared to respond to community spread of COVID-19. 

The City of Santa Rosa remains in close communication with the Sonoma County Department of Health Services, who is working with other Bay Area health departments, the California Department of Public Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to monitor COVID-19 in Sonoma County. The County Department of Health Services is also working closely with local healthcare providers to take action to isolate and test any high-risk individuals to prevent the spread of disease and protect the public’s health. 

Prevent the Spread  by Practicing Good Hygiene  

Practice good hygiene to reduce your risk of becoming infected with a respiratory virus, such as influenza or COVID-19. Recommendation from the CDC include:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
• Stay home when you are sick
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
  • If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty
  • For information about hand washing, see CDC’s Hand washing website
  • For information specific to healthcare, see CDC’s Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings
• Get your flu shot to protect against flu if you have not done so this year. The flu shot, will not protect against the coronavirus, but is encouraged for the following reasons:
  • Fewer people getting ill frees up medical resources, and
  • Avoiding the flu will help keep your immune system healthy
• Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a face mask.
  • CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a face mask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.
  • Face masks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to  others. The use of face masks is also crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).