Press Releases
Sonoma County Health Officer extends heat advisory through Friday
In response to the National Weather Service’s extension of the Excessive Heat Warning for the North Bay interior mountains and a Heat Advisory for the North Bay interior valleys, Sonoma County Health Officer Dr. Tanya Phares has extended the countywide Heat Advisory in place since Tuesday, July 2 to Friday, July 12. Read full story
Sonoma County Health Officer extends Heat Advisory
In response to the National Weather Service’s extension of the Excessive Heat Warning for much of the county, Sonoma County Health Officer Dr. Tanya Phares has extended the countywide Heat Advisory that began Tuesday, July 2 to Tuesday, July 9. The Advisory had been expected to end today. Read full story
Cooling centers to open during high heat event this week
Cooling centers, where residents can escape the heat, will be available at several locations in Sonoma County beginning Tuesday as the Sonoma County Department of Emergency Management activates its extreme temperature response. Read full story
Sonoma County Health Officer issues Heat Advisory
County of Sonoma Health Officer Dr. Tanya Phares has issued a Heat Advisory in response to the National Weather Service’s Excessive Heat Warning for much of the county from Tuesday morning, July 2 through Friday evening, July 5. Concurrently, a red flag warning is also in effect from Monday at 11 p.m. through Wednesday at 5 p.m. Read full story
Sonoma County issues health advisory due to poor air quality caused by current wildfires
The Sonoma County Health Officer today issued the following health advisory: Sonoma County residents are urged to limit outdoor activities in parts of the county with poor air quality caused by wildfire events both in and outside of Sonoma County. People may experience adverse health effects from the smoke over Sonoma County and across the region. Members of sensitive groups may experience effects that are more serious. Older adults, pregnant individuals, children and people with heart disease or respiratory illness should avoid prolonged outdoor exertion. Everyone else, especially children, should limit outdoor exertion. Take more breaks during outdoor activities. Read full story
Preliminary 2024 Point-in-Time homeless count numbers rise as COVID-era programs end
After registering a decrease of 22 percent of people experiencing homelessness in Sonoma County in 2023, preliminary results of the Sonoma County Point-in-Time count for 2024 recorded an overall 11 percent increase. The annual one-day snapshot, conducted on January 26 from 5 to 10 a.m. across Sonoma County, located a total of 2,522 people experiencing homelessness, up from 2,266 in 2023 Read full story
Sonoma County bans sale of e-cigarettes and flavored tobacco in unincorporated areas
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors today voted to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products and e-cigarettes in unincorporated areas of the county. The changes to the county’s tobacco retail ordinance are in response to public health data that show e-cigarettes and flavored tobacco use increasing among high school-aged youth. Read full story
Board of Supervisors unanimously approves resolution declaring racism as a public health crisis
By a unanimous 5-0 vote, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors Tuesday approved a resolution proposed by the Department of Health Services declaring racism to be a public health crisis. Read full story
Board of Supervisors set to discuss declaring racism as a public health crisis
Preparing to join hundreds of cities and counties across the United States, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors at its March 12 meeting will consider adopting a resolution declaring racism as a public health crisis. Naming racism as a health crisis and committing to eliminate it within Sonoma County is considered another important step on the path to equity. Read full story
Sonoma County health officials issue cold weather warning
The County of Sonoma today issued a cold weather warning in response to the National Weather Service frost advisory from midnight to 10 a.m. Sunday. The National Weather Service is also predicting sub-freezing wind chill temperatures from Sunday into early Monday. Officials recommend that residents limit time outdoors, as serious medical conditions including hypothermia and frostbite can develop with prolonged cold weather exposure. Read full story