Officials looking at future for COVID-19 opening

Peninsula confirmed case numbers rise to 47

While Jefferson County officials are discussing which portions of Phase 2 could be implemented early, Clallam County officials also are preparing for the eventual of reopening of the economy.

Jefferson County is one of 10 rural counties that Gov. Jay Inslee approved to be able to apply for a variance and move into Phase 2 of his four-phase opening plan before the rest of the state.

However, Clallam County was not included on the initial list.

District 24 legislators sent a letter to Inslee requesting that Clallam County be added to the list earlier this week, but health officials have not heard a response yet, said Dr. Allison Unthank, Clallam County health officer.

In the meantime, Clallam officials are working on plans for supporting businesses when they eventually open.

“While we wait, we’re going to make sure we’re as ready as possible when the time comes,” Unthank said.

One new case of COVID-19 was confirmed in Clallam County as of Thursday, bringing the total to 19.

The newest case is a Clallam County resident who was traveling out of state; the person contracted COVID-19 and recovered from it outside of the state and poses no risk to the community, Unthank said.

“The rules are they are counted in the county of residence,” she said.

Jefferson County has held steady with 28 confirmed cases for four weeks as of Thursday, said Dr. Tom Locke, Jefferson County health officer.

Of the 47 confirmed cases on the North Olympic Peninsula, 18 have recovered in Clallam County and 26 have recovered in Jefferson County.

No deaths have been reported in either county, officials said.

Testing capabilities for both counties have increased, with both counties now testing all patients who show symptoms of COVID-19, officials said. As of Thursday, Jefferson County had tested more than 900 people and Clallam County had tested more than 1,400.

To be tested, Clallam County patients need to call their primary care providers while Jefferson County residents need to call the COVID-19 testing hotline at 360-344-3094.

People must call ahead to be tested.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says a person with a cough and shortness of breath/difficulty breathing or with a combination of two or more of a fever, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat and new loss of taste or smell may have COVID-19.

“We want people to know that if they do have these symptoms of concern, we want to test them,” Locke said.

Unthank said there has been a drop-off in sick patients due to social distancing and community mitigation measures, but she expects testing numbers to rise as recreation and businesses start to reopen and people are exposed to not only the unique coronavirus that causes COVID-19 but also to other viral and bacterial infections that usually circulate.

Thursday evening, county Board of Health, county commissioners and Port Townsend City Council were scheduled to conduct a joint meeting to begin discussions on what Phase 2 measures the county might implement.

The Peninsula Daily News will provide coverage of the meeting, which was too late for deadline on Thursday.

Thursday morning, Locke said he expected it to be “a first look for the elected officials to let them weigh in and get their concerns on the table.”

Locke and county officials have been gathering public input regarding the different possibilities for Phase 2. Comment can be sent to publiccomments@co.jefferson.wa.us.

Locke does not expect county officials to take action in regard to the possible Phase 2 variance until at least the third week of May.

________

Jefferson County reporter Zach Jablonski can be reached at zjablonski@peninsuladailynews.com.

More in News

Etta Street construction to take up to eight weeks in downtown Sequim

A piping and pavement project along the Etta Street alleyway… Continue reading

Michaela Christiansen, 14, left, and Pen DeBord, 14, both of Port Angeles, use a cider press to crush fresh apples into juice and pulp during Saturday’s Applestock celebration in Sequim. The event, a benefit for several area charities, featured food, music, crafts and games in the orchard at Williams Manor B&B/Vacation Rental. Applestock 2023 beneficiaries were the Salvation Army Food Bank, Angel Tree Christmas, Coats for Kids and area food banks. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Pressing apples

Michaela Christiansen, 14, left, and Pen DeBord, 14, both of Port Angeles,… Continue reading

Emily Matthiessen / Olympic Peninsula News Group
The Sequim Logging Show, seen in May 2023, will operate next year as its own nonprofit organization to seek insurance coverage separate from the Sequim Irrigation Festival. Organizers of both the festival and show say it was a pragmatic decision and is similar to what the festival did in late 2017 after leaving the umbrella of the Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Logging Show to be separate from festival

New nonprofit formed, but event will continue

Sequim downtown lot to be prepped for redesign with three potential concepts

City purchased Centennial Place property in 2013 for 100th anniversary

Head-on collision injures five people

A head-on collision on U.S. Highway 101 Saturday sent… Continue reading

One hurt when driver falls asleep, hits tree

A driver fell asleep behind the wheel of a… Continue reading

Homecoming Royalty are, from left, Chimacum High School King Gary Zambor and Queen Julia Breitweg, and Port Townsend High School King Ken Llotse-Rowell and Queen Tadu Dollarhide as they were introduced to the spectators at Memorial Field in Port Townsend on Friday. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Homecoming court

Homecoming Royalty are, from left, Chimacum High School King Gary Zambor and… Continue reading

Port Angeles School District student scores inching up

Board hears results of state assessments, approves teacher contract

Most Read