The following is a summary of the presentation made by Dr. Tom Locke, our local Public Health Officer and Willie Bence, Director, EOC, Jefferson County, during the Public Health briefings at this week’s Board of County Commissioners(BOCC) meeting.

Please note that the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) will not be in session next Monday, May 31 due to the Memorial Day holiday. They will meet the following week on June 7 to provide the public health update from Dr. Tom Locke and Willie Bence at the usual time, 9:45am here at KPTZ.

Click here to read complete notes on today’s briefings

Submit your Public Health questions to Dr. Tom Locke by emailing [email protected]. Note: The weekly deadline for these to be submitted is on Fridays at noon, to be answered at the following Monday’s BOCC meeting.

Through Science to Health was a little different today. Co-hosts KPTZ DJ Chris Bricker and Lynn Sorensen, RN were in the studio together at the KPTZ station for the first time in over one year for this broadcast. The discussion and commentary around the COVID-19 pandemic continues with some forecasted optimism regarding vaccination rates but also the ongoing risk for unmasked, unvaccinated populations. Locally, Jefferson County Health Officer Dr Tom Locke issued a directive on May 17 reiterating that some of the protective mandates, such as masking when going indoors to public businesses, are in effect. The directive can be read in full on the Jefferson County website.

The following is a summary of the presentation made by Dr. Tom Locke, our local Public Health Officer and Willie Bence, Director, EOC, Jefferson County, during the Public Health briefings at this week’s Board of County Commissioners(BOCC) meeting.

Click here to read complete notes on today’s briefings

Submit your Public Health questions to Dr. Tom Locke by emailing [email protected]. Note: The weekly deadline for these to be submitted is on Fridays at noon, to be answered at the following Monday’s BOCC meeting.

Today, May 10, Jefferson County Public Health Officer Dr. Tom Locke shared his assessment of the pandemic in Jefferson County and answered questions submitted by KPTZ listeners. Department of Emergency Management Director Willie Bence also gave an update on current Emergency Operations actions, in light of the most recent developments.

Click here to read complete notes on today’s briefings

Submit your Public Health questions to Dr. Tom Locke by emailing [email protected]. Note: The weekly deadline for these to be submitted is on Fridays at noon, to be answered at the following Monday’s BOCC meeting.

Jefferson County’s total number of COVID-19 cases has now reached 400 since the beginning of the pandemic.
Through Science to Health with KPTZ host Chris Bricker and Lynn Sorensen, RN, discuss the global, national, and local case numbers and reflect on the continued scope of the pandemic’s hold on all of us. For assistance with making an appointment for a vaccination call the Department of Emergency Management at 360-344-9791, M-F 9am-4pm.
For a better understanding of the coronavirus variants see NPR’s recent video.

Today, May 3, Jefferson County Public Health Officer Dr. Tom Locke shared his assessment of the pandemic in Jefferson County and answered questions submitted by KPTZ listeners. Department of Emergency Management Director Willie Bence also gave an update on current Emergency Operations actions, in light of the most recent developments.

Click here to read complete notes on today’s briefings

Submit your Public Health questions to Dr. Tom Locke by emailing [email protected]. Note: The weekly deadline for these to be submitted is on Fridays at noon, to be answered at the following Monday’s BOCC meeting.

The following is a summary of the presentation made by Dr. Tom Locke, our local Public Health Officer and Willie Bence, Director, EOC, Jefferson County, during the Public Health briefings at this week’s Board of County Commissioners meeting:

Click here to read complete notes on today’s briefings

Submit your Public Health questions to Dr. Tom Locke by emailing [email protected]. Note: The weekly deadline for these to be submitted is on Fridays at noon, to be answered at the following Monday’s BOCC meeting.

Dr. Joseph Mattern, JHC Chief Medical Officer and in charge of JHC Covid-19 vaccination program, joined KPTZ’s Chris Bricker and Lynn Sorensen, RN, today for this week’s Through Science to Health.

Dr. Mattern discussed the current rise in numbers of cases and the added infectious rate of the viral variants in Washington well as other states. Jefferson County has seen more cases in April than we had in March. Lynn brought up the term ‘fully immunized’ as a misnomer because this may confuse the fully vaccinated to think they have 100% protection from the novel coronavirus.

The pandemic is not under control and has not finished with us, as much as we all want it to be.

The following is a summary of the presentation made by Dr. Tom Locke, our local Public Health Officer and Willie Bence, Director, EOC, Jefferson County, during the Public Health briefings at this week’s Board of County Commissioners meeting.

Click here to read complete notes on today’s briefings

Submit your Public Health questions to Dr. Tom Locke by emailing [email protected]. Note: The weekly deadline for these to be submitted is on Fridays at noon, to be answered at the following Monday’s BOCC meeting.