Nearly 100 hospital workers kept home

Employees either exposed or tested positive

A total of 98 hospital employees have been precluded from work at North Olympic Peninsula facilities, health officials said.

Seventy-five employees at Olympic Medical Center and at least 23 employees at Jefferson Healthcare were out of work Monday due to exposure or testing positive for COVID-19, the agencies reported.

COVID case numbers in Clallam and Jefferson counties weren’t updated on Monday due to office closures in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, but both reported COVID-19 hospitalizations.

There were 13 patients at OMC with COVID-19 — 11 unvaccinated — and four were in the intensive care unit (ICU). Jefferson Healthcare admitted two patients with COVID-19 over the weekend, and one was moved to the ICU. Their vaccination status was not available at press time.

Meanwhile, Olympic Medical Center made operational changes to its Front Street testing site while prioritizing testing for OMC Employees.

Patients who are seeking a COVID-19 test for symptoms, exposure, pre-operation or travel should use the Front Street Clinic, located at 901 E. Front Street in Port Angeles, said Ryan Hueter of OMC communications.

The clinic is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

“In an effort to reduce wait times at the Front Street Clinic, patients can now complete intake forms for both vaccination and testing at home,” Hueter said.

Both forms are available in fillable .pdf form at www.olympicmedical.org/covid-services.

Asymptomatic patients seeking testing at the Front Street Clinic can go inside the clinic while symptomatic patients are required to use the drive-through.

Additionally, walk-in Clinics in Port Angeles and Sequim will no longer offer standalone COVID-19 tests, and the testing site at 1031 Caroline St. is reserved for testing of OMC employees.

“If patients need to seek care at the walk-in clinic for COVID-related issues, they will see a provider and be evaluated; a provider visit will be billed,” Hueter said.

Amy Yaley, the director of communications for Jefferson Healthcare, said people who have been exposed in the last five days and those who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 10 days should plan to avoid routine medical appointments to decrease the risk of infection to others.

“We would like to remind our community to reserve the Emergency Room and Express Clinic for those who require immediate medical attention,” Yaley said.

The hospital continues to offer PCR testing for patients who are symptomatic but do not require immediate medical attention. The tests have a result turnaround time of 72 to 96 hours.

________

Reporter Ken Park can be reached by email at kpark@peninsuladailynews.com.

More in News

The ferry MV Coho backs into its landing after returning to Port Angeles on Tuesday following annual dry dock and maintenance in Anacortes. During the maintenance period, extensive work was performed on the dock, including replacement of a wing wall used to steer and secure the vessel during loading and unloading of cars and passengers. The ferry is scheduled to resume daily service between Port Angeles and Victoria on Thursday. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Coho returns

The ferry MV Coho backs into its landing after returning to Port… Continue reading

Building association calls for city to cease utility charges

Association says charges unconstitutional

Jefferson Land Trust considering conservation burial ground

Funds from plot sales could fund habitat improvements

Port Angeles artist Bob Stokes sits in his studio and music venue on Wednesday. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Art community mourns Bob Stokes’ passing

Legacy includes statues, concerts, gatherings

Clallam PUD
Cindy Kimble, Clallam PUD’s customer and community outreach programs coordinator, can help residents navigate the utility district’s revamped low-income energy assistance program.
Clallam PUD hires staff to help low-income customers

Clallam County Public Utility District has overhauled its low-income energy… Continue reading

Jen Colmore, left, and June Nichols of the Sequim Food Bank serve a sample of chili to Monica Dixon of Sequim during Saturday’s Community Chili Cookoff at the Sequim Boys & Girls Club. The event, organized by the club and Boy Scout Troop 90, showcased the culinary skills of six community organizations with each group receiving a share of the proceeds and the winner taking a $500 prize. The food bank’s chili recipe took top honors in the competition. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Chili cookoff

Jen Colmore, left, and June Nichols of the Sequim Food Bank serve… Continue reading

Port Townsend to test sewer system with smoke, dye

The city of Port Townsend will test its sewer… Continue reading

JUMP! Playground to close for renovations

Jefferson County Parks and Recreation will close the JUMP! Playground… Continue reading

Barcy Fisher, left, and Patti Buckland have been selected as the 2024 Marrowstone Island Citizens of the Year.
Fisher, Buckland honored as Marrowstone Island citizens of year

Barcy Fisher and Patty Buckland were named Marrowstone Island’s 2024… Continue reading

About 800 people from Jefferson and Clallam counties spill out from the steps of the Jefferson County Courthouse onto Jefferson Street in Port Townsend on Monday to take part in a National Day of Protest organized by the 50501 Movement, which stands for “50 protests, 50 states, 1 movement.” (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Hundreds protest actions of Trump administration

Activists cite USAID, worry about Treasury, impacts of immigration

Peninsula to welcome Canadian visitors

Celebration of Coho passengers planned

Fish barrier removal to impact highway traffic

Portions of roadway to have long-term closures