During the weekly Public Health Briefing from Jefferson County Public Health Officer Dr. Tom Locke, we learned that Jefferson County last week added 6 COVID-19 cases. The count is now 38. Four of the recent added cases were asymptomatic and were discovered through test screening prior to medical or dental procedures. Also discussed: masking use, enforcement, and the efficacy of face shields. The four key facets for mitigating disease spread continue to include masking, physical distancing, hand washing and sanitizing, and not touching faces.

In addition, Willie Bence, Director of the Jefferson County Department of Emergency Management, delivered a briefing on potential arrival of masks with clear plastic over the mouth, for ease of communication with deaf people. He also spoke about face shields, and the availability of PPE. 

To submit your questions to Dr. Locke in the following week’s Board of County Commissioners meeting, send them to contactus@kptz.org.

Shortly following the nearly complete meeting broadcast on KPTZ, the County Commissioners voted to submit an application for Safe Start Phase 3 reopening to the WA State Department of Health. The almost two-hour special meeting held today focused on the concerns about gatherings of up to 50 people indoors and out, and the concern of outbreaks around the region. It was agreed that once approval is received from the state, the Board of Health may revisit the elements of Phase 3 — or any phase — and put a hold any activity that they deem concerning.

KPTZ broadcasted 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.

Lynn Sorensen, RN, joined Chris Bricker and had a lively conversation regarding recent developments of the pandemic. They discussed the rise in young adults testing positive for Covid 19 and possible reasons for it. Politics have played a significant role in the country’s response to the pandemic and the wearing of masks has been front and center to a divisive controversy. June 26th is the first day of the governor’s order mandating the wearing of masks in public. Also the Jefferson County Phase 3 application has yet to be sent to the DOH. Jefferson County and Clallam County are still in Phase 2 and may be there until after the 4th of July weekend.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Jefferson Community Foundation President and CEO Siobhan Canty is a regular guest of Chris Bricker on Morning on the Salish, at 10:30am Tuesdays. Each week Siobhan shares updates on JCF’s work to strengthen the landscape of services available to people and the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, which has raised over $542,000 as of June 23. New donations are quickly relayed from the Fund to worthy nonprofits affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Learn more at JCFgives.org

During our weekly interview with Jefferson County Public Health Officer Dr. Tom Locke, we learned that Jefferson County now has an additional COVID-19 case. The count is now 33. As of yet no real case count increase has occurred following the recent protests. We expect our district to return to school in fall 2020. Also discussed: masking use, enforcement, and availability.

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.

KPTZ live broadcast Wednesday’s special joint meeting of the Jefferson Board of County Commissioners, Port Commissioners, PUD, and the Port Townsend City Council. Elected officials of our four local governmental agencies unanimously agreed to establish a multi-governmental process for establishing a COVID-19 Recovery and Resilience Plan.

The Intergovernmental Collaborative Committee (ICC) was formed, composed of elected officials County Commissioner Kate Dean, City Council Deputy Mayor David Faber, Port Commissioner Pete Hanke and PUD Commissioner Jeff Randall; and executive staff County Administrator Philip Morley, City Manager John Mauro, Port Executive Director Eron Berg and PUD Executive Director Kevin Streett.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Jefferson Community Foundation President and CEO Siobhan Canty is a regular guest of Chris Bricker on Morning on the Salish, at 10:30am Tuesdays. Each week Siobhan shares updates on JCF’s work to strengthen the landscape of services available to people and the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, which has raised almost $530,000 from over 560 people as of June 12. New donations are quickly relayed from the Fund to worthy nonprofits affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Learn more at JCFgives.org.

Jefferson County Public Health Officer Dr. Tom Locke addressed concerns related to COVID-19 testing for people attending the recent protest rallies, as well as reporting a new confirmed case in Jefferson County. Potential timing for the County’s move into Phase 3 of the governor’s Safe Start Recovery Plan and expectations for the public, were addressed. Both Dr. Locke and Department of Emergency Management Director Willie Bence relayed guidance about the recommendation for face coverings when in public.

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.

Lynn Sorensen, RN, retired is a long-time community member of Port Townsend and an advocate for public health awareness and promotion. She is also a member of KPTZ’s Virus Watch and Emergency Response Team and offers information and commentary on the current COVID-19 pandemic response during interviews every other Friday this summer. Lynn and Chris Bricker, DJ host of Morning on the Salish continue KPTZ’s Through Science to Health series in a new time slot and day.

Their major topic of discussion this day was about Dr Tom Locke’s county-wide directive for people to wear a cloth mask if inside a business or outside when a 6-foot separation is not possible. Dr Locke issued a press release FAQ on June 9 about the mask directive that is now available on the Jefferson County website. The Black Lives Matter protests in Seattle and within Jefferson County are also addressed in the FAQ document. The reopening of Jefferson County to Phase 3 next week along with Clallam and Kitsap Counties will allow for larger group gatherings, thereby increasing the importance of wearing a mask. Cloth masks provide the most effective “source control” measure we have against the spread of the coronavirus.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Jefferson Community Foundation President and CEO Siobhan Canty is a regular guest of Chris Bricker on Morning on the Salish, at 10:30am Tuesdays. Each week Siobhan shares updates on JCF’s work to strengthen the landscape of services available to people and the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, which has raised more than $521,634 to date. If you belong to a nonprofit working to help those in need as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, grant applications will be accepted on a weekly rolling basis for emergency funding. Go to JCFgives.org to learn more.