Virus Watch Podcasts

Through Science to Health programming celebrates its one year anniversary today with KPTZ host,Chris Bricker and co-host Lynn Sorensen, RN. Lynn commemorated the anniversary by reading the poem titled Pandemic by the Rev. Lynn Unger written in March 2020. Lynn had read this poem on the very first Through Science to Health show on March 20, 2020.

Chris and Lynn spoke of the numbers nationally and locally; the number of cases, deaths, vaccinated, and the array of metrics used by the state for the Roadmap to Recovery, Phase 3. Chris gave the phone numbers to the state’s help line for vaccination appointments: 800-525-0127 and 888-856-5816. Locally, the Dept. of Emergency Management call center staffed by volunteers can also be called for help finding a vaccination appointment: 360-344-9791.

Today, March 22, 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.

Note: Generally, the Board of County Commissioners does not meet when there is a fifth Monday of the month, however, the Board will meet on Monday, March 29 for the Public Health and Department of Emergency Management update for the residents of Jefferson County.

The following is a summary of the presentation made on March 15 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.

Note: Generally, the Board of County Commissioners does not meet when there is a fifth Monday of the month, however, the Board will meet on Monday, March 29 for the Public Health and Department of Emergency Management update for the residents of Jefferson County.

KPTZ’s Through Science to Health program is almost at its one year anniversary date, while the initial shut down in the United States due to the pandemic marked its one year anniversary yesterday, 3/11/2021. KPTZ host Chris Bricker and co-host Lynn Sorensen, RN discussed relatively positive news on the pandemic front on today’s edition of Through Science to Health.

• President Biden announced last evening his goal for all adults in the country to have access to vaccinations by May 1.
• Dr Locke stated this week that he anticipates COVID-19 vaccine to be available to all who want it by May or early June.
• Washington state has exceeded the goal of more than 45,000 vaccinations per day.
• The CDC issued guidelines this week that those who are fully vaccinated can meet with other fully vaccinated adults inside without masking or social distancing.

Today, March 8, our local Public Health Officer, Dr. Tom Locke shared his assessment of the pandemic in Jefferson County and answered questions submitted by KPTZ listeners.

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, March 1, 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.

Even though broadcast of the March 1, 2021 Public Health Briefings was incomplete, the entire segment is now included in this audio recording. 

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.

Chris Bricker, KPTZ host, along with Lynn Sorensen, RN, meet once again with Dr. Joe Mattern, Jefferson Healthcare’s Chief Medical Officer, via Zoom for this week’s Through Science to Health episode. Dr. Mattern coordinates JHC’s COVID-19 vaccination program and speaks to the state’s distribution of the vaccine supply and the process of getting the vaccine into the arms of Jefferson County’s 12,000 residents 65 years and older. Dr. Mattern addresses equity in access to the vaccine supply and how JHC plans to reach county residents who may be unable to access the vaccine appointment registration process via the internet.

The following is a summary of the presentation made by Dr. Locke, our local Health Officer, during the Public Health briefings at this week’s Board of County Commissioner’s meeting:

Click here to read the complete message

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. Locke, our local Health Officer, during the Public Health briefings at this week’s Board of County Commissioner’s meeting:

Click here to read the complete message

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.

One must be nimble to respond to the changing landscape of the pandemic. Lynn Sorensen, RN and Chris Bricker, KPTZ host had prepared for Through Science to Health earlier on February 11, only to have Governor Inslee announce later that same day that the Northwest Region – Jefferson, Clallam, Mason, and Kitsap Counties – were being advanced to Phase 2 in Washington’s Roadmap to Recovery. Other topics discussed:

• Advancing to Phase 2 will benefit businesses such as restaurants and bars by allowing indoor seating to 25% of their capacity (see coronavirus.wa.gov for details).
• In addition, the UK variant virus has been identified in King, Snohomish, and Pierce Counties. The UK Variant is more infectious than COVID-19 and double masking is recommended to reduce risk of transmission.
• A better fitting mask (or two masks) equals better protection for the wearer.
• Vaccine, vaccine, whose got the vaccine? Uncertainty in vaccine allocation and supply continues to be a problem in Jefferson County.