Coronavirus cases hold steady on Peninsula

Officials report no new infections

PORT ANGELES — The downturn in new COVID-19 cases on the Olympic Peninsula continued Sunday with no new infections reported in either Jefferson or Clallam counties.

That’s two days in a row with no new cases in Clallam County and an entire week with no new cases in Jefferson County.

Clallam stands at 221 cases since March with 21 active cases. The infection rate was 54 per 100,000 population over the past two weeks as of Saturday, although that rate likely dropped a bit Sunday, Clallam County Health Officer Dr. Allison Unthank said.

Jefferson County has had 70 cases since March. The last positive reported in the county was Aug. 31.

There are 15 active cases in Jefferson County, which listed its most recent infection rate at 28.21 per 100,000 people.

Dr. Tom Locke, the Jefferson County health officer, said a new infection rate for the county will be calculated Tuesday.

If current trend holds with no new positives, Jefferson County could see its rate drop to 12 per 100,000 people, which would put it back in the state’s low-risk category.

Both Peninsula counties currently are in the moderate-risk category with infection rates between 25 and 75 per 100,000 people for the past two weeks.

Clallam County’s infection rate is down from a high point of 97.4 per 100,000 in mid-August. The highest Jefferson County’s infection rate got was 43.9 per 100,000 during a 14-day period in August.

“Clearly, the recent trend is downward, which is good going into school reopenings,” Locke said.

Locke said most Jefferson County schools are opening with some partial in-person learning Tuesday.

Brinnon School opened with some in-person instruction last week.

Both counties saw dramatic spikes in cases in August blamed on summer gatherings and parties, but it appears the rapid growth of new positives from those parties has ended.

Health officials have been concerned about the possibility of Labor Day Weekend parties causing another big uptick in cases.

There is no Jefferson County Commissioners’ meeting Monday with the Labor Day holiday, but commissioners will meet Tuesday with a COVID-19 update from Locke at 9:45 a.m.

That meeting can be viewed at www.tinyurl.com/jeffcomeeting.

________

Sports Editor Pierre LaBossiere can be reached by email at plabossiere@peninsuladailynews.com.

More in News

Port Angeles teachers’ union votes to honor paraeducators’ picket line on April 8

Members of the Port Angeles Education Association voted overwhelmingly… Continue reading

Funding needed for Port Townsend homeless shelter

Operation at Legion Hall to close April 30

Port of Port Angeles renews lease for Composite Recycling Technology Center

Agreement covers 26,000 square feet at airport business park

Fire district volunteers lauded

Clallam County Fire District No. 3 recently recognized seven members… Continue reading

Clallam to continue providing deputy to Forks

Contract includes wages, mileage and maintenance reimbursement

Maintenance closes section of Olympic Discovery Trail

A portion of the Olympic Discovery Trail is closed… Continue reading

Hanna Paoluccu of Alexander, N.Y., and Rosie Berg of Nevada City, Calif., members of the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group and working with the Jefferson County Noxious Weed Board, remove poisonous hemlock weed from along the Larry Scott Trail in Port Townsend on Monday. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Poison hemlock removal in Port Townsend

Hanna Paoluccu of Alexander, N.Y., and Rosie Berg of Nevada City, Calif.,… Continue reading

YMCA to build childcare facility

$1-2M still needed for $6.7M project

Port Townsend Police Department recognizes award recipients

The Port Townsend Police Department recognized officers, employees, volunteers… Continue reading

Port Angeles High School evacuated due to bomb threat

Nothing suspicious found, principal says

A tree that has grown out of its tree box and shattered a nearby curb and sidewalk in the 100 block of North Oak Street is among those targeted for removal and replacement in downtown Port Angeles. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Port Angeles tree and sidewalk replacement to begin Monday

The Port Angeles downtown tree and sidewalk replacement project… Continue reading

Grant for Forks treatment plant to be discussed

The Clallam County Opportunity Fund Advisory Board will discuss… Continue reading