Virus Watch Podcasts

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.

On Thursday, May 21, City Manager John Mauro talked with Tim Quackenbush, host of KPTZ’s Discovery Road mainly about how the City of Port Townsend will be implementing Gov. Inslee’s phased Safe Start Plan over the upcoming Memorial Day weekend and beyond.

Make a note for next Thursday: John Mauro will again be taking questions via live phone calls from 10-10:30am. Call 360-215-7270 to ask your question. And, enjoy the ride!

On Tuesday, May 19, KPTZ aired a joint COVID-19 emergency situation meeting. Jefferson County Commissioners, Port Commissioners, County Board of Health, and Port Townsend City Council convened together to address the option of applying for a variance for Jefferson County to move sooner to the governor’s Safe Start Phase-2 reopening activities. Our elected leaders reviewed public comments and heard from representatives of some of the different sectors.  

In addition to hearing from Dr. Tom Locke of Jefferson County Public Health Officer, featured speakers included Brian Kuh of EDC Team Jefferson, Arlene Alen of the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce, Debbie Williams and Frank Redmon of the North Hood Canal Chamber of Commerce, and Dave Robison of the Fort Worden Public Development Authority. This meeting was preparatory to the BOCC vote this Friday on whether to accept Public Health recommendations for the Washington Safe Start, Phase 2 options.

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 $436,279 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.