Through Science to Health, a continuing bi-monthly interview and commentary with Lynn Sorensen, RN and KPTZ Host Chris Bricker began today with a public service announcement from the Jefferson County Public Health Dept. The announcement, authorized by Dr Tom Locke, Health Officer, was sent to KPTZ on August 20 asking for people who had attended a social gathering at Tarboo Lake on August 15 and 16 to contact their provider or call the Nurse Hotline at JHC at 360-344-3094 for possible exposure to coronavirus. Two persons from these gatherings were positive for COVID-19. The Health Dept has already identified 23 contacts at this party and is working quickly to get these people into isolation and quarantine.

Other topics include clinical studies of trial therapeutics for those already infected with coronavirus: Convalescent Plasma Therapy, and Remdesivir (antiviral) and Interferon beta in combination. Both of these therapies may prove to shorten hospital stays for those with COVID-19 by 4 days. The ongoing issue of masking included the care and feeding of your mask. Local case numbers are compared with Kitsap and Clallam county.

Public Health Officer Dr Tom Locke discussed the latest national and local case statistics, including two additional Jefferson County instances bringing the count to 59. He also gave guidance for using public restrooms and for planning holiday gatherings. DEM Director Willie Bence explained how county masking surveys are conducted.

At today’s meeting, County Health Officer Dr. Tom Locke said we’d gone a whole week without another case.

Today’s Through Science to Health program with KPTZ host Chris Bricker and Lynn Sorensen, RN discussed local and national news regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Articles from the National Institute for Health (NIH), NPR, and The Atlantic were sources for their discussion regarding vaccine development, therapeutic tests, infection and death projection numbers through 2020, and the human immune system – its usual response to pathogens and its unusual response to coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) where it over-performs, causing more damage to the human body. The question of school re-opening is still that – a question. Local school districts have yet to announce their plan for this academic year.

At today’s meeting, County Health Officer Dr. Tom Locke said Jefferson County added two new cases over the weekend, bringing the total to 53, after having gone two weeks without a new case. Locke said the leading cause of transmission in Jefferson is visitors who come who come here from out-of-state who found out they were infected when they went home. DEM Director Willie Bence reported on the shipment of masks received and slated for distribution to county residents 

Today’s County Public Health Briefings began with a song encouraging masking, performed by Commission Chair Greg Brotherton. Dr. Locke shared updates on the need for and efficacy of face coverings, in recommending ways to “crush the curve” for which modeling recommends 95% masking compliance. He also looked at potential plans for opening schools in our area, with final determinations still not made. DEM Director Willie Bence spoke about masking enforcement.

Today’s Public Health briefing from Dr. Tom Locke addressed various concerns about the masking requirement, as well as interpretation of the impact of the most recent case count uptick both national and in smaller measure, in our county.

In the Emergency Management briefing, Director Willie Bence announced the upcoming potential difficulty in obtaining PPE, based on the recent national upswing in cases, and anticipation of receiving cloth masks to distribute, and a reminder to cover nostrils as well as mouth when wearing face coverings, as is now mandatory.