Dr. Tom Locke addressed the concerns related to the County’s potential variance offered by the governor, for moving into Phase 2 of the Safe Start plan. Department of Emergency Director Willie Bence discussed emergency planning issues in light of the potential for tourism here in upcoming days and weeks.

KPTZ broadcast via 91.9FM and streamed at KPTZ.org this timely COVID-19 information, which was also videostreamed live and recorded for online viewing any time thereafter at the Jefferson County website.

On Tossed Salad, host Phil Andrus and guest, Kate Keenan, Retired Communicable Disease Investigator from San Diego County, discussed a recent article by Dr.  Erin Bromage characterizing elements of environments that provide from the safest to the most risky chance of exposure to an infected person with COVID-19…..where as many as 50% of people with active infection are asymptomatic. 

As the state proceeds through the four phases of re-opening our community, outside settings with continued social distancing appear to provide the least risk of exposure, while small crowded settings with poor ventilation and crowded with people appear to be the most risky.  All individuals 65 of age and older are still advised to shelter in place and limit themselves to essential outings.  Outdoor activities still remain a good source of protection as well as a boost to one’s mental  health to everyone, along with continued hand-washing, masks and social distancing.

Lynn Sorensen, RN, BSN joins Chris Bricker for a conversation and to share new developments related to the variance potentially offered to Jefferson County. On Morning on the Salish, host Chris Bricker and she discussed various aspects of the phased re-opening process defined by Governor Inslee and the possible option of a variance for Jefferson County. Expanded testing, increased hospital surge capacity, expanded capacity to conduct contact tracing, and support for those isolated and quarantined all need to be in place as a condition for application. All communities are moving from drastic mitigation practices to manageable suppression of COVID-19 infections.

Dr. Tom Locke discussed the new, 29th COVID-19 case that surfaced in Jefferson County on Friday, May 8, including the impact this may have on the County’s potential variance offered by the governor, for moving into Phase 2 of the Safe Start plan. Department of Emergency Director Willie Bence expressed concerns over the availability of PPE in upcoming days and weeks.

KPTZ broadcast via 91.9FM and streamed at KPTZ.org this timely COVID-19 information, which was also videostreamed live and recorded for online viewing any time thereafter at the Jefferson County website.

On Thursday, May 7, KPTZ aired a joint COVID-19 emergency situation meeting. Jefferson County Commissioners, County Board of Health, Port Townsend City Council convened together to address the option of applying for a variance for Jefferson County to move sooner to the governor’s Safe Start Phase-2 reopening activities.

Featured speakers were Dr. Tom Locke of Jefferson County Public Health Officer, Willie Bence, Director of Jefferson County’s Emergency Operations Center and Mike Glenn, CEO of Jefferson Healthcare. Dr. Locke discussed the attributes of Inslee’s Phase-2 plan, to be determined by our elected leaders. The next step will be a special County Public Health meeting scheduled for Thursday, May 14.