On Monday, May 4 at 9:45am, Dr. Tom Locke, Jefferson County Public Health Officer, and Willie Bence, Director of Emergency Management provided public updates during the County Commissioners’ weekly meeting about COVID-19 and our county’s preparedness.
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.
Phil Andrus spoke with Kathleen Keenan, to discuss the pros and cons around the current testing practicality and efficacy in our local area.
On Thursday, April 30, Port Townsend City Manager John Mauro conducted his weekly coffee meeting with the public on KPTZ’s Discovery Road, with host Tim Quackenbush. Mauro shared information about local plans being enacted for the days ahead. The half-hour conversation can be streamed and downloaded here.
Make a note for next Thursday: John Mauro will be taking questions via live phone calls from 10-10:30am on KPTZ’s Discovery Road with host Timothy Quackenbush. Call 360-215-7270 to ask your question. And, enjoy the ride!
Chris Bricker asked Kathleen Keenan to comment on an article that appeared in The NY Times on March 20, 2020 in an oped piece regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. The article was written by Dr. David L. Katz, a preventive medical specialist. His article described an alternative to reopening society based on what was known at that time about the virus. He proposed that those not infected and with the least risk of severe disease consequences, be able to go back to work and acquire the infection, thus developing more herd immunity. Those at higher risk (the elderly or immune-compromised) would remain isolated until a vaccine was developed.
A comparison was made between March 20 and today, April 28, about what we now know and whether this is still an alternative solution. Younger persons with the disease are being hospitalized from COVID-19 infection, dose exposure to the virus can cause more severe disease as seen in the deaths among our frontline responders and medical staff, and the infrastructure for reopening is not in place. We would need ramped-up testing for the virus, an army of contact tracers, and sufficient personal protective equipment to protect frequently exposed workers until herd immunity is achieved with the development of a vaccine.
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 $319,326 to date, and dispersed $244,810. 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.
On Monday, April 27 at 9:45am, Dr. Tom Locke, Jefferson County Public Health Officer, and Willie Bence, Director of Emergency Management provided public updates during the County Commissioners’ weekly meeting about COVID-19 and our county’s preparedness.
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.
Host Phil Andrus welcomed KPTZ Virus Watch Team member Lynn Sorensen, RN. Lynn has worked in hospitals, clinics, public health, and home health settings during her nursing career. She retired in 2016 from UW Medicine and returned to Port Townsend to live. Lynn shared with Phil this list of Mental Health Resources from the Local 2020 website that are available during this time:
Volunteers of America Crisis Response Services
For Jefferson County, call 888-910-0416
Click here for Online chat support – 24/7 free, confidential emotional support for individuals in crisis and/or considering suicide.
CDC Covid-19: Managing Anxiety and Stress
Discovery Behavioral Health, serving East Jefferson County
360-385-0321 M-F 8am-5pm
24-Hour Telephone Crisis Services 360-385-0321
(forwarded to Volunteers of America after hours). Available to all. Their primary focus is meeting the mental health needs of those covered by Medicaid.
The Benji Project – For middle and high school age students. Trained teachers host free 1-hour sessions to share stress relief, connection, and coping practices, twice a week. Questions? Contact Teresa, 360-821-1960.
On Thursday, April 23, Port Townsend City Manager John Mauro conducted his weekly coffee meeting with the public on KPTZ’s Discovery Road, with host Tim Quackenbush. Mauro shared information about local plans being enacted for the days ahead. The half-hour conversation can be streamed and downloaded here.
Make a note for next Thursday: John Mauro will be taking questions via live phone calls from 10-10:30am on KPTZ’s Discovery Road with host Timothy Quackenbush. Call 360-215-7270 to ask your question. And, enjoy the ride!
On Monday, April 20 at 9:45am, Dr. Tom Locke, Jefferson County Public Health Officer, and Willie Bence, Director of Emergency Management provided public updates during the County Commissioners’ weekly meeting about COVID-19 and our county’s preparedness.
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.
Host Phil Andrus welcomed KPTZ Virus Watch Team member Kate Keenan, San Diego Public Health Communicable Disease Investigator, retired after 20 years. Topics discussed were the efficacy of COVID-19 testing and the need for hand washing stations. This segment is a weekly feature at 1pm opening up the Tossed Salad mix each Friday, alternating between Kate and KPTZ VTeam member Lynn Sorensen, RN, BSN, who worked in hospitals, clinics, public health, home health, Group Health and other facets of the health care field, until she recently retired after 36 years.
