Virus Watch Podcasts

The following is a summary 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. (Due to technical issues, the first 6 minutes of today’s briefings are missing from this audio clip.) The summary below was provided by Jim Burke, producer of KPTZ’s Tuesday’s Local News.

Dr. Allison Berry and Willie Bence delivered the now monthly Public Health Briefing to the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners yesterday, and here are some highlights from their remarks. In Jefferson County, the two-week COVID-19 case rate is 181 per 100,000 people. No one is currently hospitalized. 37 new cases were added this week for a total of 6,244 cases. There was one more death this past week bringing the total count of COVID-19-related deaths in Jefferson County to 33. Dr. Berry estimated that 20% of COVID-19 cases in Jefferson County were reported to public health last week. The risk of COVID-19 transmission in public, indoor places is moderate. At this level, it’s still recommended everyone wear a well-fitting, high-quality mask in public, indoor settings.

Across the US, the COVID-19 numbers are relatively stable, but still 286 people are dying every day from the virus across America. For comparison, Dr. Berry said a bad flu outbreak in a typical year kills 60 to 80 people each day. Dr. Berry said that pediatric beds and children’s hospitals across the country are overrun with cases of RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) in small children. She said we can all reduce the strain on local hospitals by doing a simple thing: Wearing a mask in indoor spaces. The same things she’s been emphasizing for months about COVID-19 also can apply to slowing or stopping the spread of RSV: Wear a mask, increase ventilation. Protect children, the elderly, and the immunocompromised by doing these simple things.

To slow the spread of COVID-19, do all of those things, plus take a rapid test before gathering for holiday gatherings, get a flu shot and the latest bivalent booster shot. Stay home if you are sick, even if it is a common cold. There are rapid tests for flu in emergency rooms and clinics, so if you think you have the flu, and you go to the walk-in clinic, they can test for that and COVID-19. Whether it is one or the other, there are medications to lessen the severity if they are given during the first few days of onset of symptoms.

Willie Bence said the Department of Emergency Management is still assessing the damage and fallout from the catastrophic windstorm two weeks ago in order to apply for assistance from FEMA. He believes they will have that finished in the next month or so, and get a determination from FEMA a short time after that.

Submit your Public Health questions to Dr. Allison Berry and Willie Bence by emailing [email protected] by Friday December 16 at noon, to be answered the following Monday, December 19. You can still report positive home test results on Jefferson County Public Health website (https://jeffersoncountypublichealth.org/1429/COVID-19). Individual case-level data is also available on the state COVID-19 dashboard (https://doh.wa.gov/emergencies/covid-19/data-dashboard – select your County for county-specific numbers), as well as reports on vaccination rates, variant sequencing, and outbreaks. You can still order COVID tests from Washington State until the end of the year at: https://www.sayyescovidhometest.org.

The following is a summary 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. The summary below was provided by Jim Burke, producer of KPTZ’s Tuesday’s Local News.

The Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners Meeting took place yesterday, and Dr. Tom Locke, who was in for Dr. Allison Berry, and Willie Bence, Director of Emergency Management spoke to the commissioners during the Public Health Briefing. This was the final weekly briefing in October, and for the foreseeable future. The 31st is the fifth Monday of the month, so the Board isn’t meeting, and then the Public Health Briefings are going to go to one per month, on the third Monday of the month. So the next Public Health Briefing should be November 21.

In Jefferson County, the two-week COVID-19 case rate is 240 per hundred thousand, lower than last week, but still in the high category. Two people are currently hospitalized. 36 new cases were added this week for a total of 6,110 cases. No additional death was reported this week in Jefferson County. The total count of COVID-19-related deaths stands at 32.

In Clallam County, the dashboard on the website has not been updated since last week so the two-week COVID-19 case rate is 136 per hundred thousand. There are 38 new cases this week for a total of 15,735 cases since the pandemic began. One person is hospitalized at this time. The total count of COVID-19-related deaths is now at 125.

Dr. Locke said we are doing okay now, but this lull we are experiencing locally will likely give way to another surge. He used the analogy of a three act play to describe the pandemic: He said “We are still in Act II, “and the beginning of Act III will reveal how prepared we are for the end of the pandemic.” The South and the eastern US are starting to see a rise in Flu cases early; European countries and Singapore are seeing another surge in COVID-19 cases, and here in the US there is a rise of respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. Most people recover in a week or two, but RSV can be serious, especially for infants and older adults. Many Children’s hospitals east of here are stretched to capacity with very young children hospitalized with RSV. These increases in Flu and RSV cases are not surprising, Dr. Locke said. After two years of mask wearing and quarantine there is not an abundance of community immunity to fend off these infections. The best course of action, he said, is to get the flu shot, get the COVID-19 bivalent booster before the holidays. Wear a mask in indoor settings and increase ventilation wherever possible in indoor settings. Avoid large gatherings.

The next two COVID-19 mutations of concern are probably coming our way in the next month to six weeks, and they are both immunity avoidant, that is they can get by even our double and triple boosted immunity, but having the vaccines, and even being exposed to COVID-19 in the community can help keep those cases mild and out of the hospital.

Willie Bence said 100 slots were reserved in a covalent booster clinic held this past Saturday, which was to be for children 5 to 17 years of age, but they opened it to all. An additional 60 people waited in line to receive their Covalent booster at Blue Heron School in Port Townsend. The covalent MNRA booster shot as well as the Novovax shot and booster are available at your local pharmacy. The Novovax booster is still based on the original virus, but is available to those who wouldn’t or couldn’t get the MRNA vaccine.

There is a mobile Vaccination & Booster Clinic (Moderna, Pfizer, Novavax) for anyone 6 months or older this coming Sunday, October 30 from 1-4pm at Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 2333 San Juan Avenue in Port Townsend.
Homebound? Receive a home visit for a COVID-19 vaccination by leaving a message at 360-344-9791.
Interested in receiving the Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine?

Submit your Public Health questions to Dr. Allison Berry and to Willie Bence by emailing [email protected]. Note: The deadline for these to be submitted is on Friday, November 18 at noon, to be answered at the following Monday’s BOCC meeting.

The following is a summary 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. The summary below was provided by Jim Burke, producer of KPTZ’s Tuesday’s Local News.

In Jefferson County, the two-week COVID-19 case-rate is 355 per hundred thousand, lower than last week, but still keeping us in the high category. No one is currently hospitalized. 47 new cases were added this week for a total of 6,074 cases. One more death was reported this week in Jefferson County, a woman who was in her 80s. She had received one booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and she suffered from multiple, chronic health conditions. So now the total count of COVID-19-related deaths is 32.

In Clallam County, the two-week COVID-19 case-rate is 136 per hundred thousand, still in the moderate category but continuing a downward trend. There are 38 new cases this week for a total of 15,735 cases since the pandemic began. One person is hospitalized at this time. One person has died, which puts the total count of COVID-19-related deaths now at 125.

Willie Bence said there are many slots open in a juvenile covalent booster clinic for kids 5 to 17 years of age, taking place this coming Saturday October 22 at Blue Heron School in Port Townsend. Sign up on the Jefferson County Public Health website. Also, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about getting a flu shot.

The Covid public health emergency declaration will end on October 31, so Dr. Berry’s Health Reports will go to once a month. If you have any lingering COVID-19, or monkeypox, or any other public health related questions, you might want to send them in over the next few weeks.

Submit your Public Health questions to Dr. Allison Berry and to Willie Bence by emailing [email protected]. Note: The weekly deadline for these to be submitted is on Fridays at noon, to be answered at the following Monday’s BOCC meeting.

The following is a summary 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. The summary below was provided by Jim Burke, producer of KPTZ’s Tuesday’s Local News.

In Jefferson County, the two-week COVID-19 case-rate is 488 per hundred thousand, similar to last week. No one is currently hospitalized. 66 new cases were added this week for a total of 6,027 cases. Jefferson County’s total count of COVID-19-related deaths is still 31. Dr. Berry said the higher case rate is being driven by cases in schools at this point.

In Clallam County the two-week COVID case-rate is 147 per hundred thousand, 61 new cases for a total of 15,697 cases since the pandemic began. 1 person is hospitalized at this time. Clallam County’s total count of COVID-19-related deaths is still 124.

Willie Bence said there are many slots open in a covalent booster clinic taking place this coming Saturday October 15 in Chimacum. Sign up on the Jefferson County Public Health website. Also, talk to your Doctor or Pharmacist about a flu shot. Br. Berry says there’s an uptick in cases in the east and southern US, and the flu will be back this year.

The Covid public health emergency declaration will end on October 31, so BOCC Health Reports will go to once a month. If you have any lingering COVID-19, monkeypox, or any other public health related questions, you might want to send them in over the next few weeks.

Submit your Public Health questions to Dr. Allison Berry and to Willie Bence by emailing [email protected]. Note: The weekly deadline for these to be submitted is on Fridays at noon, to be answered at the following Monday’s BOCC meeting.

The following is a summary 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. The summary below was provided by Jim Burke, producer of KPTZ’s Tuesday’s Local News.

Dr. Berry said the national COVID-19 trends are mixed. Cases and hospitalizations are declining, but over 400 people are still dying every day across the US. The Northeast and the West coast are starting to see another rise in cases, and this includes Washington State where cases are up 11% overall, but especially among older patients in long-term care who are getting sick and being hospitalized due to COVID-19, on the east side of the state where vaccination, even in those facilities, is less common.

In Jefferson County, the two-week COVID-19 case rate is 460 per hundred thousand, a definite rise from last week and that keeps Jeffco in the high category. No one is currently hospitalized. 108 new cases were added this week for a total of 5,961 cases. Jefferson County’s total count of COVID-19-related deaths is still 31. Dr. Berry says the rise in cases is being driven by a rise in cases in schools at this point.

In Clallam County the two-week COVID-19 case-rate is 170 per hundred thousand, 59 new cases for a total of 15,636 cases since the pandemic began. 2 people are hospitalized at this time. Clallam County’s total count of COVID-19-related deaths is still 124. There has been only one detected case of MPV in Clallam County.

Everyone 12 and over who has had a booster shot more than two months ago is now eligible for the bivalent booster shot, and Dr. Berry says there is now ample supply. So now, even if you are not in a high-risk group you can and should seek out the bivalent booster.

Commissioner Eisenhour asked Dr. Berry what will happen on October 31, when the COVID-19 emergency declaration ends. Funding for Dr. Berry’s work will decrease dramatically, so in November the frequency of Public Health Briefings will go to once a month. If you have any lingering COVID-19 or monkeypox or any other public-health-related questions for Dr. Berry, you might want to send them in over the next four weeks.

Submit your Public Health questions to Dr. Allison Berry and to Willie Bence by emailing [email protected]. Note: The weekly deadline for these to be submitted is on Fridays at noon, to be answered at the following Monday’s BOCC meeting.

The following is a summary 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. The summary below was provided by and used with the permission of Jefferson County Government.

Public Health Officer Dr. Allison Berry today said that Jefferson’s case rates for COVID-19 are flat from last week, although two people are currently hospitalized. She reported that Omicron-specific boosters are widely available in our community, through vaccination clinics, local pharmacies, Safeway in Port Townsend, and Jefferson Healthcare. The vaccine is available to anyone 12 years and older,and if it’s been 2 months since your infection with COVID-19 or two months since your last vaccination.

There are still no documented cases of MPV in Jefferson County. Nationwide, there are more than 24,000 cases reported. Dr. Berry urges all those who have had multiple partners in the last year, or any gay or bisexual person who has sex with men regardless of one’s sexual history to be vaccinated. Public Health has the vaccine available – call them at 360-385-9400 or sign up online: https://tinyurl.com/mpvvaccinejeffco.

Flu season is here and Dr. Berry encourages you to get your flu shot which can be done at the same time you are getting the COVID-19 Omicron vaccine. She said masking goes a long way to reduce transmission of the flu, too and suggested that we should mask indoors to protect our vulnerable citizens. “The biggest thing that we can do to protect ourselves and our community as we move into the fall is to get vaccinated with our COVID-19 boosters and our flu shot,” Dr. Berry said. “That’s how we protect ourselves, our neighbors and our healthcare system as we move into the fall.”

Director of Emergency Management Willie Bence announced two new vax clinics using the Pfizer bivalent vaccine are scheduled for the community at Blue Heron Middle School in Port Townsend Saturday, October 1; and at Quilcene School on October 8. Call the Department of Emergency Management (DEM) or go to the Public Health website to sign up. DEM is considering adding more clinics late in October.

Submit your Public Health questions to Dr. Allison Berry and to Willie Bence by emailing [email protected]. Note: The weekly deadline for these to be submitted is on Fridays at noon, to be answered at the following Monday’s BOCC meeting.

The following is a summary 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. The summary below was provided by and used with the permission of Jefferson County Government.

During today’s County Commissioner Covid update, Health Officer Dr. Allison Berry, said, “the news is positive.” In Jefferson, COVID-19 case rates are flat at 324/100,000. Positivity is downtrending to 8.5%, with a case ascertainment rate of about 50%. There’s been a dramatic drop off in wastewater surveillance in Port Townsend, down about 75% in July, and last month down about 20%. No one is hospitalized for COVID-19 locally. One death occurred last week, a woman in her 80s with multiple chronic conditions who was fully vaccinated but not boosted.

Dr. Berry urges anyone over 65 to get the Omicron-specific booster. She notes it’s the same base formulation for the vaccine, but the target is different. It’s specifically targeted to BA.4 and BA.5 which are the current circulating variants. “Unlike the other boosters that have come before, this one really promises to prevent symptomatic disease as a whole, not just prevent severe disease, hospitalization and death,” she said. Jefferson has a limited supply of the vaccine, but should be getting more within the text month. “If you are over 65, if you are immunosuppressed, or if you are a healthcare worker or a first responder – primarily because we take care of those folks at high risk – we recommend you get vaccinated in this first round,” Dr. Berry said. “For everyone else in our community, we strongly recommend you get vaccinated, too. But we’d really encourage you to hold on for about a month so that we can get these highest risk folks vaccinated first.” Mass vaccination booster clinics were previously announced but available appointments are already filled. Options include Jefferson Healthcare and local pharmacies. You can also put your name on a wait-list via the Jefferson County Public Health website.

Dr. Berry clarified some misinformation about the Omicron specific booster: “There’s some misinformation circulating saying that there weren’t safety trials for the Omicron-specific booster and that’s not true,” Dr. Berry said. “This vaccine is the same one that we’ve been using this whole time. So all of the safety trials related to the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines also apply to the Omicron specific booster. The only change is the target. So the most similar analogy I could share is that when we vaccinate for the flu every year, we change the target every year to whatever variants are circulating in the world.” She continued, “But we don’t do a whole new round of safety trials every fall prior to rolling out the flu vaccine because the base vaccine is the same. So that’s why you’re not seeing a new round of safety trials. It’s not not normal to do when the base vaccine is the same and the target is different. So it’s just targeting the Omicron variants as opposed to the wild type theory.”

The State of Emergency that was put in place by Governor Jay Inslee will end October 31. Dr. Berry reported that many of the orders related to COVID-19 have already expired or have been revoked, with only a few remaining concerning emergency credentialing. “The one order that is not expiring is the requirement for masks in healthcare settings,” Dr. Berry explained. “So as long term care facility, certain correctional settings and all healthcare facilities, you can expect your providers will still be masked in those settings and you will be expected to wear a mask as well.”

Dr. Berry said there were no reported cases of Monkeypox (MPV) in Jefferson County and one in Clallam County. In the state, 497 cases have been diagnosed; nationwide there are over 21,000 cases. Jefferson has the Jynneos vaccine and is vaccinating now. Anyone can get MPV. Vaccine eligibility has been extended to include those who have had an STI in the last year, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation, and anyone who has injected drugs in the last few months.

Director of Emergency Management Willie Bence said our degraded air quality is improving rapidly here in Jefferson County as the wind has shifted to an onshore flow. A large fire near Stevens Pass combined with a small brush fire locally at the intersection of 104 and 101 led to the unhealthy air. Bence also referenced the 3.7 magnitude earthquake that occurred Thursday morning on the Toandos Peninsula. He requested that those who felt it be “citizen scientists” and complete the “Did You Feel It?“ questionnaire for the USGS.

Submit your Public Health questions to Dr. Allison Berry and to Willie Bence by emailing [email protected]. Note: The weekly deadline for these to be submitted is on Fridays at noon, to be answered at the following Monday’s BOCC meeting.

The summary below was provided by and used with the permission of Jefferson County Government.

During today’s County Commissioner COVID-19 update, Health Officer Dr. Allison Berry, said, “the news is positive.” In Jefferson, COVID-19 case rates are flat at 324/100,000. Positivity is downtrending to 8.5%, with a case ascertainment rate of about 50%. There’s been a dramatic drop off in wastewater surveillance in Port Townsend, down about 75% in July, and last month down about 20%. No one is hospitalized for COVID-19 locally. One death occurred last week, a woman in her 80s with multiple chronic conditions who was fully vaccinated but not boosted.

Dr. Berry urges anyone over 65 to get the Omicron-specific booster. She notes it’s the same base formulation for the vaccine, but the target is different. It’s specifically targeted to BA.4 and BA.5 which are the current circulating variants. “Unlike the other boosters that have come before, this one really promises to prevent symptomatic disease as a whole, not just prevent severe disease, hospitalization and death,” she said. Jefferson has a limited supply of the vaccine, but should be getting more within the text month. “If you are over 65, if you are immunosuppressed, or if you are a healthcare worker or a first responder – primarily because we take care of those folks at high risk – we recommend you get vaccinated in this first round,” Dr. Berry said. “For everyone else in our community, we strongly recommend you get vaccinated, too. But we’d really encourage you to hold on for about a month so that we can get these highest risk folks vaccinated first.” Mass vaccination booster clinics were previously announced but available appointments are already filled. Options include Jefferson Healthcare and local pharmacies. You can also put your name on a wait list via the Jefferson County Public Health website.

Dr. Berry clarified some misinformation about the Omicron specific booster: “There’s some misinformation circulating saying that there weren’t safety trials for the Omicron-specific booster and that’s not true,” Dr. Berry said. “This vaccine is the same one that we’ve been using this whole time. So all of the safety trials related to the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines also apply to the Omicron specific booster. The only change is the target…So the most similar analogy I could share is that when we vaccinate for the flu every year, we change the target every year to whatever variants are circulating in the world.” She continued,”But we don’t do a whole new round of safety trials every fall prior to rolling out the flu vaccine because the base vaccine is the same. So that’s why you’re not seeing a new round of safety trials. It’s not not normal to do when the base vaccine is the same and the target is different. So it’s just targeting the Omicron variants as opposed to the wild type theory.”

The State of Emergency that was put in place by Governor Jay Inslee will end October 31. Dr. Berry reported that many of the orders related to COVID-19 have already expired or have been revoked, with only a few remaining concerning emergency credentialing. “The one order that is not expiring is the requirement for masks in healthcare settings,” Dr. Berry explained. “So aT long-term care facilitIES, certain correctional settings, and all healthcare facilities, you can expect your providers will still be masked in those settings and you will be expected to wear a mask as well.”

Dr. Berry said there were no reported cases of Monkeypox (MPV) in Jefferson County and one in Clallam County. In the state, 497 cases have been diagnosed; nationwide there are over 21,000 cases. Jefferson has the Jynneos vaccine and is vaccinating now. Anyone can get MPV. Vaccine eligibility has been extended to include those who have had a STI (sexually transmitted infection) in the last year, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation, and anyone who has injected drugs in the last few months.

Director of Emergency Management Willie Bence said our degraded air quality is improving rapidly here in Jefferson County as the wind has shifted to an onshore flow. A large fire near Stevens Pass combined with a small brush fire locally at the intersection of 104 and 101 led to the unhealthy air. Bence also referenced the 3.7 magnitude earthquake that occurred Thursday morning on the Toandos Peninsula. He requested that those who felt it be “citizen scientists” and complete the “Did You Feel It/“ questionnaire for the USGS. Here’s a link.

Submit your Public Health questions to Dr. Allison Berry and to Willie Bence by emailing [email protected]. Note: The weekly deadline for these to be submitted is on Fridays at noon, to be answered at the following Monday’s BOCC meeting.

The following is a summary 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. The summary below was provided by and used with the permission of Jefferson County Government.

Cases of Omicron are falling across the US and that’s true for Jefferson as well. Health Officer Dr. Allison Berry today said that our case rate is 463/100,000 with a 13% positivity are, down from last week. Our case ascertainment rate hovers around 40%. Two people who were hospitalized last week have been discharged, however one person is still a patient at Jefferson Healthcare. Dr. Berry said the Port Townsend sewer measurement for COVID-19 is also down by about 15% from last week. “COVID-19 can still be very dangerous and especially if you’re over 65 It’s really important to move forward and get your second booster at this point” she said. “The most important thing any of us can do to protect ourselves and others is to stay up to date in our vaccines, and then also to wear a high quality mask when we’re indoors around others.

Omicron-specific boosters are going to be available a bit earlier than originally scheduled – now as soon as mid-September. It is unknown how much vaccine will be delivered to Jefferson. Dr. Berry said the shot will be prioritized for those at highest risk, particularly those over 65. Public Health will again work with DEM and healthcare colleagues to gear up for vaccination clinics. Plans are currently in development. The vaccination should be available through Jefferson Healthcare and local pharmacies as well.

MPV is not circulating in Jefferson County, but there has been a diagnosed case In Clallam. Reports are that the man did not contract it through sex, but at a dance party through skin-to-skin contact. Contact tracing has taken place. “We know that this virus is disproportionately affecting the gay community but it can affect anyone,” Dr. Berry explained. “It’s just spread through prolonged skin-to-skin contact. If you have any rash that’s atypical for you, particularly a painful one, please do get tested right away.”

Submit your Public Health questions to Dr. Allison Berry and Willie Bence by emailing [email protected]. Note: The weekly deadline for these to be submitted is on Fridays at noon, to be answered at the following week’s BOCC meeting (on Tuesday, September 6 due to Labor Day).

The following is a summary 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. The summary below was provided by and used with the permission of Jefferson County Government.

COVID-19 rates in Jefferson County are trending down, just like those in Washington and the U.S. County Health Officer Dr. Allison Berry continues to recommend isolation when positive, wearing a high quality mask when inside, and be sure the room you are in has good ventilation. She also reminds us to be up-to-date on vaccines. If you are sick, get tested.

Port Townsend’s wastewater is being monitored for COVID-19 and data confirms a decrease in number of cases. “We’ve been getting data back from the sewer system since early July,” Dr. Berry reported. She said there has been a 75% reduction in the sheer amount of COVID-19. Dr. Berry admits that’s only one month of data and that there could be other factors in play that may affect the numbers. For instance, if there is a large festival in Port Townsend and lots of people came in and used the sewer system, that would affect those numbers. But she reports that we are seeing really a consistent trend down since early July.

In Washington, 65 cases of Monkeypox — MPV — have been reported, with no cases in Jefferson. Currently, the vast majority of MPV cases are in gay and bisexual men and other men and transgender individuals who have sex with men. We are seeing that primarily MPV spreads through close skin-to-skin contact, and particularly not exclusively through sex and in the gay and bisexual communities. Dr. Berry cited a large outbreak in Europe after a couple of large dance parties. “If you’ve had an STD in the last year, or if you’ve experienced homelessness or incarceration in the last three months, or if you belong to a historically marginalized racial minority, and you are gay, bisexual or another man or transgender person who has sex with men, all of those things could qualify you for a vaccine,” Dr. Berry said. The Jynneos vaccine is most commonly used to prevent monkeypox infections, and consists of two doses given four weeks apart. No doses have been allocated for Jefferson, but Clallam has 20 doses. If you meet the criteria, call Jefferson County Public Health at 360-385-9400 or Clallam County Public Health at 360-417-2274.

Director of Emergency Management Willie Bence said that we are having a quiet wildfire season so far. According to the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center, which covers Washington and Oregon, this time last year, had we had 86 large fires in the region which burned a little under 1.5 million acres. This year, we’ve only seen 21. large fires are a little over 100,000 acres. He reminds everyone to take personal actions like using an ashtray, not parking in long grass and obeying the rules of the burn ban to mitigate the risks.

Submit your Public Health questions to Dr. Allison Berry and Willie Bence by emailing [email protected]. Note: The weekly deadline for these to be submitted is on Fridays at noon, to be answered at the following Monday’s BOCC meeting.