Weekly Roundup for March 18, 2022

This week marks the two-year anniversary of the first shelter-in-place order issued in the County of Sonoma to reduce transmission of the COVID-19 virus, protect vulnerable residents from disease and ensure adequate regional hospital capacity.

Our collective success in that effort is the result of many partnerships, including local hospitals and federally qualified health centers, home health medical teams, community-based organizations, the Sonoma County Medical Association, education leaders, promotoras and the volunteers who worked tirelessly to educate and vaccinate the public.

In honor of their work, the County of Sonoma especially thanks and recognizes the county epidemiology and logistics teams; COVID-19 Urgent Response and Aid team (CURA Project, including Latino Service Providers, Corazón Healdsburg, IsoCare Network and La Luz Center, among others); La Familia Sana, Raizes Collective, River to Coast, NAACP, Sonoma County Black Forum and Pacific Islanders Task Force. 

Each of these groups plays a pivotal role in the distribution of information and resources to the most vulnerable members of the community. As a result of work by the county, its partners and the community, we remained safer and healthier than most places in California and the United States.

Read the full press release:  
https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/CAO/Press-Releases/County-thanks-health-care-workers-partners-community-on-two-year-anniversary-of-pandemic/

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

1. Local COVID vaccine and testing opportunities
2. Expanded supplemental paid sick leave
3. Other County of Sonoma news of note

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. 

Expanded Supplemental Paid Sick Leave for COVID-19

Workers impacted by COVID-19 have new rights under state law to supplemental paid sick leave. For many workers, a new law provides additional paid sick leave for COVID-19 related absences in 2022, filling the gap that was left by the expiration of a previous state law that expired Sept. 30, 2021.

The 2022 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave applies to workers at businesses with more than 25 employees. An employer must provide COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave to each covered employee if that covered employee is unable to work or telework due to any of the following reasons:  

• Subject to quarantine or isolation period related to COVID-19.
• Advised by a health provider to quarantine due to COVID-19.
• Attending an appointment for themselves or a family for vaccine or booster.
• Experiencing symptoms, or caring for a family member experiencing symptoms, related to a COVID-19 vaccine or vaccine booster.
• Experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and seeking a medical diagnosis.
• Caring for a family member who is subject to an order or guidance or who has been advised to isolate or quarantine.
• Caring for a child, whose school or place of care is closed or otherwise unavailable for reasons related to COVID-19 on the premises.

More information is available here:
https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/COVID19Resources/2022-SPSL-FAQs.html

Other County of Sonoma News

Board of Supervisors adopts temporary 45 percent reduction of local cannabis cultivation tax rates
https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/CAO/Press-Releases/Temporary-45-percent-reduction-cannabis-cultivation-tax/

Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office helicopter program funded for one year
https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/CAO/Press-Releases/Sheriffs-Office-helicopter-program-funded-for-one-year/

Permit Sonoma announces public meetings seeking input on Sonoma Development Center Specific Plan
https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/PRMD/Press-Release/Public-meetings-seeking-input-on-Sonoma-Development-Center-Specific-Plan/

Nomination period extended for select offices up for election in June
https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/CRA/Nomination-period-extended-for-select-offices-up-for-election-in-June/