The following is a summary of the presentation during the Public Health briefings at this week’s Board of County Commissioners meeting made by Jefferson and Clallam County Public Health Officer Dr. Allison Berry. Spokespeople from Jefferson Healthcare joined to address the meeting. Also Willie Bence, Director, Director of Emergency Management, gave a report. The summary was provided by and used with the permission of Jefferson County Government.
County Health Officer Dr. Allison Berry told the Commissioners this morning that both Jefferson and Clallam counties are leading the way in the Puget Sound area with some of the largest decreases in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. Currently, Jefferson Healthcare has no positive inpatients for the first time in a long time. Dr. Berry reported there are two county residents who are currently hospitalized in out-of-county facilities. Clallam County has 8 people in the hospital, down from a peak of 21.
From Dr. Allison Berry today in her briefing to Commissioners:
Washington State cases decreased by 12% in the last week, but that does not tell the regional trend story. There are still “incredibly high case rates” on the east side of the mountains. Jefferson County’s case rate is up to 1019 cases, 276 per 100,000. Dr. Berry said we are “still very high, not as high as it was, but so much higher than we would like it to be.”
Currently, there are two people in the hospital at Jefferson Healthcare – both were unvaccinated. There is one other resident hospitalized out of county. Jefferson Healthcare now has bed space, which is a dramatic change from where have been. Some elective and non-urgent procedures will begin again. Dr. Berry said we are seeing many more cases that are related to primarily unvaccinated out-of-county or out-of-state travel, or by having guests from out-of-town. “We are investigating a cluster of cases in the Brinnon area among kids, and so we’ll be working very closely with the school district on that,” she said. “It does look like there’s some social transmission, some sports transmission, and we’re going to be doing some close investigation to assure that there’s not any in school transmission.”
Appointments at Jefferson DEM’s large-scale booster dose clinics this Saturday at the Chimacum School District’s Multi Purpose room and next weekend at Blue Heron Middle School are filled. About 600 people have signed up for boosters for the Pfizer vaccine only. Space currently is available at the Quilcene clinic on October 23, with about 200 appointments available. It will be at the Quilcene School. Go to the Jefferson County Public Health website or call DEM at 360-344- 9791 for scheduling.
PLEASE BRING YOUR VACCINATION CARD WITH YOU TO THE APPOINTMENT.
Here’s a link to the Washington My IR database. You can register and have your immunization record available on this website: https://wa.myir.net.
Pharmacies have been offering booster doses as well. Check with your local pharmacists or call DEM for details. If you are still in need of a first dose, call DEM and we’ll help you find a way to get it. Some pharmacies and primary care providers are helping accommodate those people. DEM is working on clinic details for 5-11 year old vaccination clinics when it is approved and available for this age group.
Submit your Public Health questions to Dr. Allison Berry and to Willie Bence by emailing contactus@kptz.org. Note: The weekly deadline for these to be submitted is on Fridays at noon, to be answered at the following Monday’s BOCC meeting.
