City Cancels Healdsburg Senior Center Events: Coronavirus

HEALDSBURG, CA — Beginning Friday, all programs at the Healdsburg Senior Center are suspended through March 31. The decision was made based on guidance from the California Department of Public Health and Gov. Gavin Newsom about canceling or postponing large gatherings to prevent person-to-person spread of the coronavirus in communities, officials with the city of Healdsburg said in a news release.

City spokeswoman Rhea Borja said although Senior Center programs and events are canceled the rest of this month, the following essential senior services to the community are still being offered: including to-go lunch, Meals on Wheels, Redwood Empire Food Bank senior food distribution, DASH volunteer driver program, and legal aid and health insurance counseling.

Additionally, Senior Center staff are available to provided general information and referrals for the city's older adult community, Borja said.

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According to an executive order from Gov. Newsom and guidance from the California Department of Public Health:

• Large gatherings that include 250 people or more should be postponed or canceled. This includes concerts, conferences, and professional, college, and school sporting events.
• Smaller gatherings held in venues that do not allow social distancing of six feet per person should be postponed or canceled. This includes gatherings in crowded auditoriums, rooms or other venues.
• Gatherings of people at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19 should be limited to no more than 10 people. This includes gatherings at retirement facilities, assisted living facilities, developmental homes, and support groups for people with health conditions.
• A “gathering” is any event or convening that brings together people in a single room or space at the same time, such as an auditorium, stadium, arena, large conference room, meeting hall, cafeteria, or any other indoor or outdoor space.

As the coronavirus situation evolves, the city is posting updates to its website and to the Senior Center's Facebook page.

Anyone questions can call the Senior Center at 707-431-3324 or send an email to senior@cityofhealdsburg.org.