Rohnert Park officials detail plans to use university campus for COVID-19 sequestering

More detailed information was released Friday about plans to use parts of the Sonoma State University campus in Rohnert Park to meet public health needs during the novel coronavirus emergency, with an initial group of people set to be placed in a dormitory this week.

The agreement between the county and the university, originally announced three weeks ago, "will provide a secure facility for people who are COVID positive or have tests pending, and a place for individuals experiencing homelessness who are highly vulnerable and are unable to shelter in place," according to a news release from the City of Rohnert Park.

The university's student center and recreational facilities have been designated as space to sequester people who have tested positive should hospitals require additional capacity.

"These patients will have lower levels of need than those at the hospitals," according to the announcement. "They will be restricted to the designated area on campus, which will be fenced off with security on site to ensure patients do not leave."

The Sauvignon dormitory is designated for use by people awaiting the results of COVID-19 tests, and possibly for infected patients with lower care needs. The dorm has a capacity of about 200 and the area around it will be fenced off and secured, with staff from the Petaluma Health Center on-site around the clock, officials said.

The Verdot Village dormitory has a capacity of about 140 and will be used for those higher risk people who are homeless and 65 or older, and/or have underlying health conditions to reduce their risk of infection and the likelihood of spreading the virus, officials said. 

Plans call for 35 people to move into the Verdot Village dorm this week, with as many as 70 more the following week.

"Some of these individuals may have mental health and/or addiction challenges," the announcement noted. "They will not be allowed to bring weapons, drugs, or alcohol onto the site, and will have their belongings searched every time that they arrive at the site."

People placed at Verdot Village will receive meals and medical supplies, but will not be tested for COVID-19.

Residents there will be restricted from leaving the site for more than an hour at a time except for medical appointments or jobs, officials said.

Staff assigned to the site will assist residents in accessing services to address their homelessness, according to the announcement.