This month, Dr. Allison Berry, Public Health Officer for Clallam and Jefferson Counties, issued the Public Health Report to the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), and said there is very little COVID-19 in Jefferson County, but there is a slight uptick in surrounding areas, in ER admissions for COVID-19. Uptake of the vaccine booster is low, so she did encourage those who are at greatest risk to get the shot. Because Covid is no longer a national or state emergency, programs from Jefferson County Public Health to send people to homes and facilities where elderly populations live are not bringing the boosters directly to them. Avian infuenza has not seen a human to human transmission as of yet. There are some isolated cases in the US and in Canada of patients who have contracted the virus from other sources. Anyone with a domestic flock is encouraged to avoid interactions with wild birds, especially around water sources. Willie Bence, Director of Emergency Management, was not in attendance this month. Next month’s BOCC Health Report will be broadcast January 6 at 9:45am on KPTZ, so listeners are encouraged to get their questions into Dr. Berry and Willie Bence by noon Friday, January 3 to contactus@kptz.org.

This Month on the BOCC Health Report, Dr. Allison Berry says all respiratory viruses are low in Jefferson County. Flu season is starting on the east coast, so we can expect it here in about a month – around the holidays,” says Dr. Berry. Willie Bence says we can expect more seasonal wind events, and that the precipitation will be higher than average during the winter, with lower than average temperatures, so prepare for power outages now.

Dr, Allison Berry and Willie Bence deliver the Monthly Public Health Report to the Jefferson Board of County Commissioners on 10/07/2024. Good news currently as a there are low numbers of Covid-19, and no RSV, and Influenza cases currently. Willie Bence talks about the Great Washington Shake out coming up on 10/17 at 10:17 am

Public Health Officer for Clallam and Jefferson Counties, Dr. Allison Berry spoke about COVID-19 and the latest omicron variant KP-3 which is prevalent now in the community. The latest vaccine has the KP-2 variant in it which is closely related to KP-3 so it should provide good protection. Folks should not WAIT to get the vaccine, if you were thinking of waiting until around the holidays, especially if you are in a high-risk group (over 65, immunocompromised.) She said because it is so prevalent now that increasing protection with the vaccine is a good idea. If you had Covid this summer, it’s best to wait on getting the vaccine for two months past your last infection.

Director of Emergency Management Willie Bence spoke to the Commissioners about the mop-up of the 2620 Road Fire and that the fire risk level was lowered last week, which made charcoal barbecues possible for the Labor Day weekend. 

The following is a recording of the presentation during the Public Health briefing at this week’s Board of County Commissioners meeting made by Jefferson and Clallam County Public Health Officer Dr. Allison Berry. The summary below was provided by Jim Burke, producer of KPTZ’s Tuesday’s Local News.

Dr. Berry and the commissioners talked about getting less information on COVID-19 from CDC, long COVID, Avian Flu, as well as thanks for KPTZ’s contribution to getting the word out on COVID-19 during the pandemic.

Please note that the monthly health report here is taking a hiatus until September.

Public Health Officer Dr. Allison Berry and Director of Emergency Management Willie Bence spoke to commissioners and the public at the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting Monday April 1st for the monthly Health Report, and answered questions from KPTZ listeners and the commissioners.

Dr. Berry said that three respiratory illnesses have dipped in number; RSV, Flu, and Covid-19 are all downtrending. She said in terms of Covid-19 that across the US, hospitalizations are down and locally there is far less of the virus in Port Townsend wastewater. Covid is still here however, so she recommends wearing a mask in the airport, while boarding and during descent while traveling by air. 

Measles was mentioned and the reason there is any in the US is because fewer people are getting vaccinated, she said. Especially in children, it can cause severe disease and require quarantine of 21 days for kids to stay home from school, whether they have measles or haven’t been vaccinated should there be an outbreak at school. But right now there seems to be no measles here in Jefferson County or in the I-5 corridor of Puget Sound.

Willie Bence said there will be an event with helpful information about wildfire and smoke impacts especially for those in sensitive groups (children, the elderly, and anyone with asthma or other respiratory illnesses) on Wednesday, April 10 at Finnriver Cider Garden from 5:30 to 7pm.

The following is a recording 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. Also Willie Bence, Director of Emergency Management, gave a report.

In her report to the Jefferson Board of County Commissioners, Dr. Berry explained the new CDC guidance which breaks from self-isolation with COVID infections, (because cases are getting less severe) and a new recommendation that anyone 65+ should get another booster if it has been more than 4 months. Dr. Berry describes the new CDC guidance as a replacement of public health directives with individual guidelines and protections (Wear a mask! Get a booster!)

Director of Emergency Management Willie Bence said that March, April and May can be a slow time for the EOC (fingers crossed) He recommended that people sign up for NIXLE ALERTS and described how to do that, including setting personal preferences on the NIXLE website.

The following is a recording 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. Also Willie Bence, Director of Emergency Management, gave a report about safe travel options on winter roads this season.

Public Health Officer for Jefferson and Clallam Counties, Dr. Allison Berry gave a public health report to the Jefferson Board of County Commissioners on January 2, 2024. Also along was Jefferson County Director of Emergency Management Willie Bence. Dr. Berry mentioned that there is a surge going on of COVID-19, especially of the latest variant: JN-1. Gatherings and events around the holidays contributed to the surge, and she said there are also more cases of Influenza and RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) and now strep. She said that a sore throat with a fever, without hoarseness and loss of voice are the hallmarks of strep. Because strep is a bacterial infection antibiotics are indicated, so getting a throat swab at the doctor’s office is needed. She also said that if a parent suspects their child has any of these maladies that calling the doctor’s office in the middle of the night is possible and a good idea. In answer to a listener’s question about deer being carriers of COVID, for most people keeping your distance from deer would keep you safe. You will get Covid by being exposed to people who have Covid-19. Hunters should mask and wear gloves while dressing their prey. Willie Bence spoke about the mild winter we have had so far, which is likely to continue and that the Warming Center in the Pope Marine Building in downtown Port Townsend is open every day. He also spoke about the NIXLE Alert service, a voluntary free subscription service which can provide warnings in the event of emergencies and extreme traffic delays on major routes of more than a half an hour. You can sign up on the Jefferson County Department of Emergency Management website.

Today on KPTZ’s Health update by Dr. Allison Berry she congratulated both Jefferson and Clallam county residents for having the highest flu vaccine rate in Washington state! Flu cases are on the rise in other parts of the state and country but not locally.
There were two hospitalizations this past week at JHC for Covid but she stressed that primarily people hospitalized over the past month were not up to date on their vaccinations, had under lying medical conditions, and were in the 60-80 year old higher risk age range. Dr Berry encouraged older residents to get the RSV vaccine and that vaccine is covered by Medicare Part B, otherwise it could be quite pricey. The next health update to the BOCC will be Tuesday, January 2, 2024.