State health officers weigh metrics for lifting mask mandates

Unknown when it will be safe to stop health measure

Health Officers across the state are getting closer to identifying metrics that would allow the lifting of masking mandates, according to the North Olympic Peninsula’s public health officer.

The specific conditions that would indicate it is safe to unmask could be decided as early as next week, according to Dr. Allison Berry, health officer for Clallam and Jefferson counties.

It is unknown when those conditions for lifting masking mandates would be reached.

“I think we all empathize with the challenge the governor is facing,” Berry said Friday of her weekly meeting with the state’s health officers.

“In these meetings, we review data around cases, hospitalizations, deaths, and efficacy of various mitigation measures. We also talk about the needs of our communities throughout the state and the challenges of maintaining these orders that largely rely on voluntary compliance,” she said.

COVID-19 case rates continue to drop across the state and the Peninsula.

Jefferson County’s case rate dropped well below 1,000 cases per 100,000 population for the first time since the omicron variant hit in late November. On Friday, in its weekly update of the case rate, Jefferson County reported 742 cases per 100,000, down from 1,068 cases per 100,000 reported a week earlier.

Clallam County’s case rate is also in a slow decline, dropping from 1,255 cases per 100,000 population on Thursday to 1,224 cases per 100,000 on Friday.

Case rates are the reflection of cases reported over a two-week period. They are computed using a formula based on 100,000 population, even for counties — such as Clallam and Jefferson — that do not have 100,000 population.

Jefferson County on Friday reported 131 people with COVID-19 in active isolation.

Clallam County does not report that metric but does report a daily average of 66 new cases over the past two weeks.

Jefferson County as of Friday added 13 new cases, bringing its total number of cases since the pandemic began to 2,828.

Clallam added 91 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, bringing its total since the pandemic began to 10,316.

Hospitalization rates on the Peninsula are showing some decline.

On Friday, no new COVID-19 patients were reported at Jefferson Healthcare hospital in Port Townsend. Three county residents were hospitalized with the virus outside the county, two of them in intensive care units.

“The number of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 has been fairly consistent throughout the omicron surge: between two to four patients daily,” said Amy Yaley, hospital spokesperson.

“As COVID activity decreases in the community, we expect hospitalizations due to COVID to decrease with it.”

Twelve Clallam County residents were hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Friday. Eight were at Olympic Medical Center in Port Angeles with two in OMC’s ICU and four in ICUs outside the county.

Also on Friday, the state Department of Health announced that WA Verify, the state’s digital COVID-19 verification record system, had reached a milestone.

It had generated more than 1 million QR codes for Washington residents so that they can provide digital proof of their COVID-19 vaccination status.

To use the tool, go to WA Verify at https://waverify.doh.wa.gov/.

________

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

More in News

Special Olympian Deni Isett, center, holds a ceremonial torch with Clallam County Sheriff Brian King, right, accompanied by Lt. Jim Thompson of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribal Police on a leg of the Law Enforcement Torch Run on the Olympic Discovery Trail at Port Angeles City Pier. Tuesday’s segment of the run, conducted mostly by area law enforcement agencies, was organized to support Special Olympics Washington and was to culminate with a community celebration at 7 Cedars Casino in Blyn. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Carrying the torch

Special Olympian Deni Isett, center, holds a ceremonial torch with Clallam County… Continue reading

Hopefuls for Olympic Medical Center board debate

Talk focuses on funds, partnership

An encapsulated engineered coupler used to repair a January leak. The leak occurred along a similar welded joint near to the current leak. (City of Port Townsend)
Port Townsend considers emergency repair for pipeline

Temporary fix needs longer-term solution, officials say

Traffic to be stopped for new bridge girders

Work crews for the state Department of Transportation will unload… Continue reading

The Peninsula Crisis Response Team responded with two armored vehicles on Tuesday when a 37-year-old Sequim man barricaded himself in a residence in the 200 block of Village Lane in Sequim. (Clallam County Sheriff’s Office)
Man barricaded with rifle arrested

Suspect had fired shots in direction of deputies, sheriff says

An interior view of the 12-passenger, all-electric hydrofoil ferry before it made a demonstration run on Port Townsend Bay on Saturday. Standing in the aisle is David Tyler, the co-founder and managing director of Artemis Technologies, the designer and builder of the carbon fiber boat. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Demonstration provides glimpse of potential for ferry service

Battery-powered hydrofoil could open water travel

Electronic edition of newspaper set for Thursday holiday

Peninsula Daily News will have an electronic edition only… Continue reading

Juliet Shidler, 6, tries on a flower-adorned headband she made with her mother, Rachel Shidler of Port Angeles, during Saturday’s Summertide celebration in Webster’s Woods sculpture park at the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center. The event, which marks the beginning of the summer season, featured food, music, crafts and other activities for youths and adults. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Summertide festival

Juliet Shidler, 6, tries on a flower-adorned headband she made with her… Continue reading

Law enforcement agencies to participate in Torch Run

Clallam County law enforcement agencies will participate in the… Continue reading

Crews contain wildland fire near Fisher Cove Road

Crews from Clallam County Fire District 2 quickly contained… Continue reading

Crescent School senior Audrey Gales, right, looks at the homemade regalia worn by fellow senior Hayden Horn on Saturday. Gales had a handmade Native American cap ready for her graduation. Seventeen Crescent students graduated during traditional ceremonies in the school gym. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Crescent graduation

Crescent School senior Audrey Gales, right, looks at the homemade regalia worn… Continue reading

Pertussis cases see 25-fold increase statewide in 2024

The state Department of Health reported an increase in pertussis… Continue reading