Virus Watch Podcasts

Today, Public Health Officer Dr. Tom Locke shared about the recent Jefferson County increase in COVID-19 cases. He answered questions from KPTZ listeners about:
*Case count in WA state is up by 20%, which overwhelmed the state’s data system causing it to be down some in the past week.
* Jefferson County has the lowest case rate in the region.
* People with public health backgrounds are welcome to volunteer to assist Jefferson Co. Public Health with contact tracing.
* Distancing is the most important technique for avoiding the virus. Outdoors, at least 6 feet. Masking does not substitute for physical distancing. Even though not required, wearing a mask while bike riding is also recommended.
* Current recommendation is to stay home and stay healthy for at-risk individuals. Doctors’ offices are not at high risk for transmission.
* Cooked take-out meals are minimum risk, and helps the local economy.
* The real risk in dining out is when gathering with non-household members. The safest way is to dine only with one’s own household.
* Best time for testing is 5 days following a close contact with someone who contracts Covid-19.
* The 25% occupancy (of fire capacity) is up to the store itself to maintain. 
* Discussion of vaccines: the government has purchased enough for the entire US population, so they will be available at no out of pocket cost.
* Vaccination levels need to be at least 70%, and perhaps more, before it will be possible to stop wearing masks.
* Vaccines have not been tested on children under 18, which will delay rollout of the vaccine to youth.
* WANotify phone app system is recommended, for anonymous contact tracing of both time and distance.

Department of Emergency Management Director Willie Bence said that 45,000 additional N95 masks are being delivered, prioritizing hospitals and first line workers. This represents an increase in capacity.

Submit your Public Health questions to Dr. Tom Locke by emailing [email protected].

In this special edition of Through Science to Health, Lynn and Chris speak with two graduates of Port Townsend High School who are now working as medical professionals in the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic in Wisconsin.
Jesse Maupin, Hospitalist at the University of Wisconsin Medical Hospital, and Will Bringgold, who is doing his pulmonary and critical care medicine fellowship at University of Wisconsin in Madison, offer their perspective from the front lines.

They candidly and compassionately speak of the long hours, increasing staffing needs, and the sincere need for community support and empathy to help them with the day-after-day challenges in patient care during these times.

Jesse has written a letter to the Leader, which will be published in its December 2 edition. The title: “Empathy in the Time of COVID.”

Today, date Public Health Officer Dr. Tom Locke shared about the recent Jefferson County increase in COVID-19 cases. He answered questions from KPTZ listeners about:

• The country and our county are in exponential growth phase, with state case increase of 124% in the past 2 weeks.
• Locally in Jefferson County, 31 new cases in the last week. Four were from household and close friend spread, others were from out-of-county visitors or from visitors here; extended family infections; cluster in a pod;
• There is a 7-day threshold following exposure, meaning that if the person who was exposed is negative on Day 7, they are likely not to become infected or infectious.
• Tests of the new vaccine are looking to be viable strategies. It is thought that it will require 70% of the population to be vaccinated in order to be effective.
• Baking for others is considered to be minimum risk.

Don’t forget, you can submit your Public Health questions to Dr. Tom Locke by emailing [email protected].

On today’s Through Science to Health KPTZ Host Chris Bricker and Lynn Sorensen, RN, continue to stress the importance of maintaining the mitigation measures of masking, hand washing, and social distancing as the US experiences the third wave of the pandemic. The upcoming holiday season when families will want to get together are advised not to by Dr Tom Locke, our public health officer. Jefferson County’s case rate is much lower than other counties across the state and sticking to the mitigation measures will help to maintain that rate.

Pfizer has announced a vaccine that is 90% effective to the coronavirus and could be distributed before the end of 2020. Lynn explained how this vaccine differs from past vaccines with its genetic mechanism to stimulate the immune system.

KPTZ listeners are encouraged to listen weekly to Dr Tom Locke’s pandemic updates to the BOCC on Monday’s at 9:45am.

Today, date Public Health Officer Dr. Tom Locke shared about the recent Jefferson County increase in COVID-19 cases. He answered questions about:

• Case count has increased by 8 in the last 7 days, with the total now at 96. This moves us into the moderate risk positivity rate, at 34 cases per 100,000. Some other counties in Washington are farther along into the third COVID-19 wave, as had been predicted for the fall-winter season.

• Our Public Health Department is working very actively to be ready for vaccine distribution, is likely to prioritize first responders and those at greatest risk.

• As for masks, surgical masks are the most effective, but cloth masks are nearly as effective for source control such as when out shopping.

• The costs of quarantine, although challenging for people and families, is a concern our local public health department is working to address, whenever needed.

Department of Emergency Management Director Willie Bence expressed preliminary concern about whether there will be adequate PPE available here, should the case count continue to increase.

Reflections about our own experience with COVID-19:

KPTZ DJ host Dick Keenan and his wife, Kate, a public health retiree, share their experience after Dick was diagnosed in August with COVID-19. They recount their surprise at the diagnosis, and why it’s important to know the symptoms of COVID-19 and seek medical advice. In addition, they worked with the Jefferson County Public Health nurses to inform their few contacts, and used technology to trace their whereabouts during the period when Dick may have been the most likely to spread the infection. Dick experienced a very mild infection and Kate tested negative, as did all their contacts.  

While it takes a particular constellation of circumstances to become infected, we’re reminded that continued adherence to public health practices to keep us all safer through the winter, is worth the effort. 

On Monday November 16, at 5:40pm, tune in to learn more about the Coronavirus pandemic, in this informative rebroadcast of reflections about this personal experience with COVID-19.

At today’s Public Health Briefings for the Jefferson County Commissioners, Public Health Officer Dr. Tom Locke discussed:
• Schools open safely trade-off for low community spread.
• Rapid tests are more prevalent; these are most accurate when the viral load is greater.
• The divisive national conversation is making the situation worse; meanwhile we are in a good situation here in Jefferson County.
• Most all of the activities allowed under the current Safe Start Phase 2 restrictions are not 100% safe. Yet, it makes no sense to close down when there are activities in which no cases have been experienced.

Willie Bence’s briefing stated that DEM plans are in place for messaging over the winter, to sustain us through the expected surge in cases while continuing with limitations to lifestyle.

At today’s Public Health Briefings for the Jefferson County Commissioners, Public Health Officer Dr. Tom Locke and Willie Bence discussed:

Dr Locke:
• We are now in the third wave of the Covid pandemic, with Jefferson County now at 86 cases.
• Some Phase 3 activities are allowed here, even though Jefferson County is still under Phase 2 of the Safe Start program.
• School opening continues to go well, as example to other counties.
• The issues of indoor spread, since aerosols are causing spread.
• Encourages Flu vaccines to reduce risk of COVID-19.
• Discussion of testing accuracy and availability

Willie Bence:
• Mask availablity
• La Nina weather pattern may bring colder, wetter weather. Our Department of Emergency Management is preparing.
• People should prepare for storm situations with flashlights and supplies.

At today’s Public Health Briefings for the Jefferson County Commissioners, Public Health Officer Dr. Tom Locke discussed:

• Jefferson County Case count increased to 81.
• Masks are more important than previously thought.
• Bracing for 3rd wave of the pandemic.
• Testing technology has improved, new 15-minute tests are being added to the resources.
• Clinical application is better – death rates have reduced.
• Natural immunity is still unknown following recuperation, but seems likely to be less than 1 year.

Willie Bence discussed:

• Concerns about Halloween and upcoming holidays, information to be released in weekly reports.

Submit your Public Health questions to Dr. Tom Locke by emailing [email protected].

The novel coronavirus continues to impact people around the world and, of course, locally. Chris Bricker, KPTZ Host and Lynn Sorensen, RN continue in their every other week series; Through Science to Health, to discuss local, state, and national news about the pandemic of 2020.

There is always more news and developments than Chris and Lynn have time for, but some of today’s discussion points were; the importance of getting a flu shot, the continuation mask wearing and other public health endorsed behaviors to reduce the risk of coronavirus transmission, and the definition of the term ‘herd immunity’.