Virus Watch Podcasts

On today’s Morning on the Salish, Lynn Sorensen, RN, BSN and Chris Bricker expressed how they feel constantly on overload – or have a case of COVID or Pandemic Fatigue from the constant news and media barrage about the pandemic. They agreed how important it is to take a periodic sanity break in order to not burn out. Turning off the relentless news and going for a walk, or working in your garden can help create balance in this upside down world.

We are still in the early stages of this pandemic according to Dr Tom Locke and now is not the time to let our guard down or relax the prescribed mitigation practices of hand washing, social distancing and wearing masks.

Their conversation concluded by reading the poem Pandemic written by Rev. Lynn Ungar.

Dr. Tom Locke addressed the concerns related to the County’s potential variance offered by the governor, for moving into Phase 2 of the Safe Start plan. Department of Emergency Director Willie Bence discussed emergency planning issues in light of the potential for tourism here in upcoming days and weeks.

KPTZ broadcast via 91.9FM and streamed at KPTZ.org this timely COVID-19 information, which was also videostreamed live and recorded for online viewing any time thereafter at the Jefferson County website.

On Tossed Salad, host Phil Andrus and guest, Kate Keenan, Retired Communicable Disease Investigator from San Diego County, discussed a recent article by Dr.  Erin Bromage characterizing elements of environments that provide from the safest to the most risky chance of exposure to an infected person with COVID-19…..where as many as 50% of people with active infection are asymptomatic. 

As the state proceeds through the four phases of re-opening our community, outside settings with continued social distancing appear to provide the least risk of exposure, while small crowded settings with poor ventilation and crowded with people appear to be the most risky.  All individuals 65 of age and older are still advised to shelter in place and limit themselves to essential outings.  Outdoor activities still remain a good source of protection as well as a boost to one’s mental  health to everyone, along with continued hand-washing, masks and social distancing.

Lynn Sorensen, RN, BSN joins Chris Bricker for a conversation and to share new developments related to the variance potentially offered to Jefferson County. On Morning on the Salish, host Chris Bricker and she discussed various aspects of the phased re-opening process defined by Governor Inslee and the possible option of a variance for Jefferson County. Expanded testing, increased hospital surge capacity, expanded capacity to conduct contact tracing, and support for those isolated and quarantined all need to be in place as a condition for application. All communities are moving from drastic mitigation practices to manageable suppression of COVID-19 infections.

Dr. Tom Locke discussed the new, 29th COVID-19 case that surfaced in Jefferson County on Friday, May 8, including the impact this may have on the County’s potential variance offered by the governor, for moving into Phase 2 of the Safe Start plan. Department of Emergency Director Willie Bence expressed concerns over the availability of PPE in upcoming days and weeks.

KPTZ broadcast via 91.9FM and streamed at KPTZ.org this timely COVID-19 information, which was also videostreamed live and recorded for online viewing any time thereafter at the Jefferson County website.

On Thursday, May 7, KPTZ aired a joint COVID-19 emergency situation meeting. Jefferson County Commissioners, County Board of Health, 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.

Featured speakers were Dr. Tom Locke of Jefferson County Public Health Officer, Willie Bence, Director of Jefferson County’s Emergency Operations Center and Mike Glenn, CEO of Jefferson Healthcare. Dr. Locke discussed the attributes of Inslee’s Phase-2 plan, to be determined by our elected leaders. The next step will be a special County Public Health meeting scheduled for Thursday, May 14.

Phil Andrus speaks with Lynn Sorensen on Coronavirus updates, including cases of “COVID Toes” now added to the list of COVID symptoms. They discussed the pros and cons of the variance offered to Jefferson County in the governor’s phased rollout to the Safe Start order.

On Thursday, May 7, Mayor Sandoval joined John Mauro to talk with Tim Quackenbush, host of KPTZ’s Discovery Road about this evening’s Joint BOCC / Health Department/ PT City Council Meeting to address the possible variance for Jefferson County. Also, the topic of adding hand washing stations was discussed. Click below to listen.

Stay tuned to KPTZ at 91.9FM at 5pm TODAY to hear this meeting broadcast live. And 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!

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 $385,112 to date, and dispersed $292,808. 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. 

Lynn Sorensen, RN, BSN joins Chris Bricker for a conversation and to share new developments related to the variance potentially offered to Jefferson County in Gov. Inslee’s May 4 COVID-19 order for the 4-phase “Safe Start” plan.