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March 27, 2020

City Manager's Office

Help Us Flatten the Curve

Maintain 6 ft. between you and other people

These next few weeks are critical to prevent the coronavirus from spreading. Now is the time to do everything we can to prevent the situation from getting much worse. Help your neighbors, loved ones, and our community by staying home to slow the spread and not overwhelm our hospitals and health care centers. Here’s what you can do:

When going to stores to buy essential items, do not linger and shop -- this is not a time to browse. Get in and get out -- this is for your safety and the safety of the employees in these stores.
Youth have been called the “hidden carriers” of the disease because they may not show symptoms. So, it is extremely important for everyone in the community to stay at home, including and perhaps especially, children, teens, and young adults.
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors passed an Urgency Eviction Defense Ordinance that could give renters protection against eviction. Residents may contact Legal Aid Sonoma County at 707-542-1290 or California Rural Legal Assistance at (707) 528-9941 for more information.

Sonoma County Coronavirus Resources

Call 2-1-1 for information about the coronavirus in Sonoma County

The Sonoma County Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) dashboard gives daily updates on the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Sonoma County as well as in California, the United States, and the world.

SoCoEmergency.org is the official County website for centralized information about the current coronavirus emergency. In addition, the 2-1-1 Sonoma Information & Resource Hotline is a number the public can call for information and resources on the County’s response to the Coronavirus. People can call 2-1-1 or text their zip code to 898-211 to connect with a call taker.

Scam Alerts on the Coronavirus

Scammers are leveraging the COVID-19 pandemic to steal money and personal information from the public via fraudulent calls, robocalls, and emails (even fake CDC emails). These scams offer sales of vaccines, cures, and test kits, fraudulent cleaning services and online charities as well as phishing emails and phone calls to get your personal information and money. Protect yourself:

• Be wary of any business, charity, or individual requesting payments in cash, by wire transfer, gift card or through the mail. Don’t pay them.
• Never share your personal or financial information over email, text, or the phone.
• Know that government agencies will never call you to ask for money.
• The Justice Department urges Americans to report suspected fraud schemes related to COVID-19 to the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) hotline at 1-866-720-5721 or by emailing the NCDF at disaster@leo.gov.

For more info, see this PSA from the FBI: https://www.ic3.gov/media/2020/200320.aspx

Homelessness Update

City staff are collaborating with the County EOC’s Homeless Coordination Team to ensure that our homeless population has continuity of services. Additionally, the EOC is establishing plans to protect the most vulnerable of our homeless population from exposure to COVID-19 by providing alternative homeless housing. The City is also placing three port-o-potties and handwashing stations in areas in which our homeless community can access them. This is in addition to services being provided by St. Paul's Episcopal Church. The goal is to ensure that we protect our most vulnerable homeless residents from exposure and to provide them a safe place to shelter-in-place.

In addition, Reach for Home, in partnership with the Redwood Empire Food Bank, is providing food to our homeless community. Reach for Home will provide Redwood Empire Food Bank with weekly orders, which are delivered to the Healdsburg Community Center and then the food distributed by Reach for Home.

Sonoma County Parks Closure

The Sonoma County Public Health Officer issued a health order closing all parks within Sonoma County – including in Healdsburg -- beginning March 24 until further notice. It comes after parks, trails and beaches countywide were crowded with visitors following the shelter-in-place orders issued by the county and state. To slow the spread, we need everyone to adhere to the intent of the health order, and only access outdoor activities available from our homes. Practice social distancing and maintain 6 ft from others while doing so. FAQs related to the parks closures have been added to the Health Order: h ttps://socoemergency.org/order-of-the-health-officer-closing-parks/

Rec@Home Online Resource for Activities

Our Community Services Department just launched REC@Home, an online resource of indoor activities for all ages. While nothing compares with getting outside and enjoying nature, fresh air, and our public parks, indoors can be a space for learning, fun, and staying active too!

Please visit https://www.ci.healdsburg.ca.us/976/NEW---RECHome for ideas on how to stay active at home and check back often as new content will be added regularly.

Wipes Clog Pipes

Our Utility Department would like to remind you that disinfecting wipes, baby wipes -- even so called "flushable" wipes -- should not go down the toilet. They clog pipes, our sewer system and could create a backup in your home. Instead, please throw them in the trash.

See this Youtube video for more information.

Groceries for Families

Our Community Services and Public Works departments set up, organized, and distributed groceries to 170 local families this week in conjunction with Corazon Healdsburg and the Redwood Empire Food Bank. Many thanks also to Sonoma Family Meal and Farm To Fight Hunger for their help.

If you can, we encourage you to please donate food, money, or time to help your neighbors. Go to www.refb.org/ways-to-give or https://refb.org/volunteer-opportunities/. You can also contact volunteers@refb.org.