SANTA ROSA, CA — Three officers with the Santa Rosa Police Department have tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus, the city’s police chief said Tuesday. Two officers received word Friday they tested positive; they received medical attention and were in stable condition Tuesday, SRPD Chief Rainier Navarro said in a video briefing to the community. [See video below.]
A third officer who self-quarantined while awaiting test results for flu-like symptoms found out Tuesday afternoon the coronavirus test was positive, the chief now says.
One of the three officers who tested positive is a patrol officer who has limited contact with the public while at work, and another is a patrol officer assigned to a position in the Police Department who has not had contact with the public. The third is a detective who had limited contact with the public over the past two weeks during shifts, Navarro said.
Six additional employees — some officers and some civilians — were self-quarantined as of Tuesday, according to the chief.
The department increased safety precautions and implemented employee education at the onset of the coronavirus in the community a few weeks ago, Navarro said. As part of Santa Rosa PD’s ongoing protocols, employees continue to self-quarantine when they show signs of illness or believe they have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or who has flu-like symptoms, the chief said.
“Let this be proof that the threat of this pandemic in our community is real,” Navarro said. “While the news of these cases is concerning, I want to ensure Santa Rosa Police Department will continue to answer calls for service to help meet the needs of our community.”
The police chief noted that only essential staff have been reporting for duty since the county and state shelter-at-home orders went into effect, and he urged members of the community to adhere to the public health order — not only for the health and safety of themselves but the community as a whole.
At the time of this posting, there were 31 active cases of coronavirus in Sonoma County. Cumulatively, there have been 34 cases in the county; two people have since recovered, and one person died.
In an effort to slow the spread of coronavirus, the county’s interim public health officer issued an order closing all parks, trails, beaches and open spaces in Sonoma County effective Tuesday.
Sonoma County officials are hosting another virtual town hall at 7 p.m. Tuesday to discuss the county’s current coronavirus situation. The town hall is set to air on KRCB TV 22, KPJK TV 60 and KRCB FM Radio 91. Community members can watch a livestream of the virtual town hall on NorCal Public Media’s YouTube page, NorCal Public Media’s Facebook page or NorCal Public Media’s Website.