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. 

Dr. Tom Locke addressed the concerns related to the recent protest rallies, as well as the County’s observance of Phase 2 of the governor’s Safe Start Recovery Plan. Key topics included the ordinance in effect that requires face coverings when in public, and the increase in testing capacity both locally and at the statewide level.

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.

This week Jefferson Community Foundation Director of Nonprofit Services Jen Kingfisher joined Chris Bricker on Morning on the Salish to talk about the much needed work of JCF, along with the outstanding organizations rising to the occasion in support of the vast community needs. As of May 29, the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund has raised more than $483,227, and has disbursed $425,910. 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. 

Monday’s 9:45am live broadcast from the Board of County Commissioners meeting began with timely statements from Sheriff Joe Nole, and from acting Port Townsend Police Chief Troy Surber, addressing recent tragedy and unrest involving law enforcement and how his department is trying to prevent discrimination. These comments preceded the weekly Public Health Briefings from Dr Tom Locke and Willie Bence, related to the Safe Start Phase 2 plan now in effect. Jefferson County’s 31st COVID-19 case was revealed by Dr. Locke, who presented guidance for the new public health order for citizens to wear masks when in business establishments and out in public.

Today Lynn Sorensen, RN and Phil Andrus discussed the recent directive, dated 5/28/20, by Dr Tom Locke, Jefferson County Health Officer regarding the ‘mandatory’ wearing of cloth masks in public if unable to keep the social distance and always to enter a business or restaurant. Phil asked: if visitors arrive without masks, what can be done for them? Lynn suggested that the Visitor Center have free masks to give out to visitors. She also commended all the seamstresses who have given of their time and sewing expertise to continue to offer free cloth masks to the public.

Other counties, Clallam and Kitsap will both be in Phase 2 as of June 1st. Phil asked how will this affect Jefferson County. Lynn spoke to the divisiveness of cultures and the risk of ‘vaccine nationalism’; that is, when a working vaccine has been produced, will that country share it with the world? The U.S. and China are in a competitive stance at this time.

This Tuesday morning, KPTZ broadcast the Public Health Updates, live from the Board of County Commissioners’ meeting.

Last Friday, our Commissioners approved the variance for moving into the governor’s new Safe Start Phased Plan and this was approved by the State Department of Health over the weekend. This will lift some of the current restrictions on business, restaurants and other activities here in town.

Dr. Tom Locke, Public Health Officer for Jefferson County and Willie Bence, Director of Emergency Management, provided information and guidance in order to ensure the health of our citizens.

On Tossed Salad, host Phil Andrus and guest Lynn Sorensen, RN, discussed the Safe Start plan’s Phase 2 variance for Jefferson County, which is expected to be approved by the Washington Board of Health to begin after Memorial Day.  They also talked about the difficulty in producing a COVID-19 vaccine. Lynn explained that the best possible vaccine would be one dose, would not have to be refrigerated, its production and distribution would be well coordinated, and all 7.5 billion people on earth would get vaccinated. That would be a miracle. And it’s not expected to happen.