Hello Petaluma!  We hope you had a wonderful weekend and were able find ways to be social while sticking to social distancing guidelines.  We love seeing the creative ways people are staying connected – like trivia night via videoconference! Today, we have updates for you on new demographic data available regarding COVID-19, straight-talk interview featuring the nation’s foremost expert on this pandemic, Dr. Anthony Fauci, and, heartwarming news of generous Petaluma landlords and more.  Enjoy!

NEW DATA NOW AVAILABLE!

Last week, we shared the Sonoma County Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Cases Dashboard, a wonderful resource put together to share accurate, up-to-date information on COVID-19 and how it is affecting our local communities.  Today, the County has expanded the data to include interesting information on demographics, such as the location, gender, age, and more of people currently infected by COVID-19.

Check out the dashboard to see what coronavirus currently looks like in our community.

KEEPING SCORE ON SOCIAL DISTANCING

Wondering how Petaluma is doing with social distancing efforts?  This virtual scoreboard from Unacast is a great tool to empower our community to understand the impact our efforts are having.  Counties are assigned a score based on change in average mobility (Sonoma County currently has an A!).  Simply CLICK HERE and click on a state to get started.  From there click on Sonoma County, then Petaluma.

PLEASE TAKE A FEW MINUTES FOR THE 2020 CENSUS

A quick reminder to please use a few minutes of your time at home to fill out your census report.  While this may feel like an odd time to be thinking about the census, making sure you are counted is hugely important!  So far, Petaluma’s response rate has been stellar with an Internet Self Response rate of 37.2%!  Of the 9 cities in Sonoma County, we are second only to Sebastopol – and a very close second, at that, as they show 37.4%.  Yet another reason to be #petalumaproud!

Below are the latest Internet Self Response rates for Sonoma County and surrounding counties, as well as response rates for cities in Sonoma County.

Sonoma County’s Internet Self Response (ISR) rate of 30.7% exceeds the overall State of California ISR rate of 29.4%. For the seven counties we are tracking Sonoma County is second only to Napa County.

For the nine cities in Sonoma County all have an Internet Self Response (ISR) rates greater than the State of California.

If you are interested in tracking the 2020 Census Response Rates you can do so at the following link:

https://2020census.gov/en/response-rates.html

Census data is used to direct billions of dollars in federal funds to local communities for schools, roads, and other public services – things we all care very much about.  The data also helps inform government decisions during emergencies like the coronavirus.  It’s very simple and can be done easily online.  Please CLICK HERE to get counted today!

WANT TO KNOW THE BASICS ABOUT COVID-19?  WATCH THIS!

With all the information and misinformation swirling about COVID-19, we think this recent interview with (via videoconference, of course) Dr. Anthony Fauci, infectious disease expert, is very factual and easy to understand.  Dr. Fauci shares what it is that makes COVID-19 so insidious, busts myths about the virus, and breaks down why adhering to public health guidelines is so important.  A must watch!

CELEBRATING GENEROUS LANDLORDS

Along with the rest of our community, small businesses have been hit hard by the restrictions put in place as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.  Downtown building owners, such as the Petaluma Oddfellows, recognize these challenges and have come through with help in a big way: free rent for their tenants for the month of April!

The Petaluma Oddfellows, one of an international fraternity of lodges, is based on the principles of personal and social development, as well as helping those in need.  This generous show of support for local business is a wonderful reminder of what our Petaluma community is all about.  Read more HERE.

DON’T MISS SONOMA COUNTY’S CORONAVIRUS VIRTUAL TOWN HALL TOMORROW!

Curious how our local government is handling the COVID-19 outbreak?  County Supervisors and leaders from Health Services and Emergency Management will update the community and answer questions during a special livestream broadcast tomorrow, March 31, from 7 PM – 8 PM.  It will also be available in Spanish.  Be sure to tune in!

Watch the livestream here: https://norcalpublicmedia.org

COMING SOON: Stay tuned for City of Petaluma video messages and an upcoming virtual town hall!

COPING WITH STRESS

It goes without saying that a global pandemic adds an unusual amount of stress to our already hectic lives.  Luckily, there are simple things each of us can do to help reduce feelings of anxiety and overwhelm.  The County of Sonoma has put together a list of healthy ways children and adults can cope with stress during this abnormal time.  CLICK HERE to check it out.