Local News for 10/05/21
County Public Health Report ~ 10/04
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 [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.
County Public Health Report ~ 10/04
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.
Jefferson County September 2021 Case Numbers
Jefferson County recorded 305 COVID-19 infections in September, nearly one-third of the 1,000 local cases during the 19 months that we’ve been in the pandemic. We had 175 cases in August, our previous peak. Together, August and September of 2021 account for 48% of all the COVID-19 infections recorded in Jefferson County. The steep rise these last two months coincided with the lifting of some COVID-19 restrictions and the rapid spread of the Delta variant, which now accounts for virtually all new infections in the U.S. As is true in most places with increasing infection rates, hospitals in Clallam, Jefferson, and Kitsap counties have sometimes filled to capacity. The vast majority of recently hospitalized COVID-19 patients were not vaccinated.
Community Tides ~ 10/01
Chris Bricker’s Co-Host for today is Jen Kingfisher, Jefferson Community Foundation’s Non-Profit Relations Manager.
Chris and Jen explore a landscape view of basic needs that that the non-profit sector service and counsel in Jefferson County. Those needs include food assistance for adults, families and school children; financial assistance (especially with utilities); housing and rental assistance (especially with the eviction moratorium in effect for the remainder of October); Pro Bono eviction legal assistance; transitioning of the shelterless from the Fairgrounds to the Mill Road property; the need for an assist in the navigation of resources for children and their families; and the need for available and affordable childcare.
Compass for 10/02/21
This week on the Compass we attend a fundraising open house at the Point Wilson Light Station and hear about plans to open access to the historic site. Then we talk with the director and a board member about plans for improvements at the Recyclery, the innovative local nonprofit dedicated to safely putting people on bikes.
Nature Now #536
Reading Wildlife Sign (Part 2)
(Airdate: October 6, 2021) Host Debaran Kelso is joined by guest wildlife tracking expert Jill Cooper and guest recorder Meg Amos for a field trip to the newly restored south end of Kilisut Harbor, learning how to better read wildlife sign. Part 2 of a two-part program.
KPTZ Goes to the Film Festival
KPTZ DJ host Chris Bricker produced interviews with key filmmakers, in his important work on behalf of the 2021 PT Film Festival. Stream them here:
Spotlight on October 1-15 Programming Highlights
For a compendium of upcoming featured programs, check out Spotlight for October 1-15. Many of our program hosts provide specifics about what’s planned for the first half of September.
If you’re not already a Spotlight subscriber, you’re invited to join our Mailing List.
See KPTZ’s current Weekly On-Air Schedule and Daily Program Schedule.
Brewocracy Now with John Mauro ~ 9/30
Today on Brewocracy Now KPTZ host Phil Andrus and City Manager John Mauro discussed the following topics: status of the City’s water supply; Illegal tree removal at Red Men Cemetery; Proposed removal of the poplars along Sims Way; Collaboration with other government agencies.
Email your questions in advance to [email protected].
