Sonoma County Public Health Officer Sundari Mase announced a new Shelter-in-Place order for the county late Friday. The order will be effective starting Monday morning both aligns with California Governor Gavin Newsom’s most recent statewide guidance as well as loosening restrictions on some business to be able to operate. The new areas of business able to operate include construction, landscaping services, nurseries, car and bicycle sales.
The new order does not include a specified end date, so the County says it can respond and make modifications as necessary, as changes in the data and state orders may dictate.
“We have made important progress in our fight against the virus. Opening the County up further is contingent upon our ability to keep up our efforts and reach critical milestones,” said Mase in a statement, “our latest data shows staying at home prevented community spread of the virus. It is important that we now work to scale up testing and contact tracing to limit the spread of COVID-19 and keep people safe.”
According to a press release, the Order eases restrictions on construction businesses, allowing all new construction, and all construction work on unoccupied structures. The Order also eases restrictions on real estate rental viewing if there is strict compliance with sector specific social distancing and hygiene requirements.
The Order’s provision regarding minimum basic operations allowed for non-essential businesses remains unchanged. Those non-essential businesses may continue to sell existing inventory for delivery or shipping, but not curbside pickup.
“We all are eager to open up more businesses. To be successful we must be deliberate in how we open up our economy, while working to protect the safety of everyone involved,” Board of Supervisors Chair Susan Gorin commented on the new Order. “This involves extensive planning, which we have begun doing with our local businesses.”
