News Flash Home
The original item was published from 3/15/2020 11:58:00 AM to 3/17/2020 11:30:56 AM.

News Flash

Public Health News

Posted on: March 6, 2020

[ARCHIVED] COVID-19 Update for Jefferson County

CDC coronavirus

March 15, 2020

For Immediate Release

Thomas Locke, MD, MPH, Jefferson County Health Officer

Jefferson County Public Health

360-385-9400 Main Clinic



COVID-19 Update for Jefferson County, March 15, 2020 at 10 a.m.

 

On Saturday evening, March 14, Jefferson County Public Health learned of a new County resident testing positive for COVID-19.  This individual is male and in his 40’s.  His exposure to the virus appears to have been in Seattle where ongoing spread of the coronavirus continues.  He is experiencing mild, flu-like illness and is being isolated at home until his infection resolves.  A detailed case investigation and contact tracing effort was completed on Saturday evening by Jefferson County Public Health.

Multiple close contacts in Jefferson County have been identified and placed in 14 day quarantine.  The purpose of quarantine is to monitor exposed individuals to see if they develop symptoms of infection.  If they develop symptoms of infection, they are tested for COVID-19 and kept in isolation for the duration of their infection.  This is how the spread of epidemic diseases like the novel coronavirus are slowed and populations at increased risk of complications are protected from exposure.  Successful isolation and quarantine takes a community-wide effort.  Individuals with COVID-19 recovering at home must be cared for by family and friends.  Individuals who are in quarantine must likewise depend on others to supply food and other necessities.   Contact with someone who is in quarantine and has no symptoms of illness does not expose a person to coronavirus.  “Contacts of contacts” are not at risk.  The purpose of quarantine is to put a person in isolation BEFORE they become ill and contagious.  Most people in quarantine do not develop coronavirus infection.

In addition to the new case and multiple contacts, an additional possible case of COVID-19 linked to the new case is under investigation.  This individual is in isolation and testing results are pending.  Testing turnaround time is now around 48 hours.

This case represents the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in a County resident whose test specimen was collected in Jefferson County and sent to the U of WA lab.  Like the other two Jefferson County residents with confirmed COVID-19, this person’s exposure was likely in Seattle, the current national epicenter of the novel coronavirus pandemic.  Community-level transmission of coronavirus has not yet been confirmed in Jefferson County but is likely in the near future. 

All Washington State schools are closed effective March 17, 2020 and gatherings greater than 250 are prohibited statewide.  Many events have been voluntarily cancelled during this period of uncertainty.  This is an important time for all Jefferson County residents to learn careful infection control.  Coronavirus is spread by droplet transmission.  A person with the infection who is ill coughs out droplets that contain virus particles.  These virus particles can be inhaled or come in contact with the eyes, nose or mouth of someone who is in close proximity to them (less than 6 feet).  More often, these infectious particles land on environmental surfaces AND/OR the infected individual coughs into his/her hands and then touches an environmental surface.  The virus can remain viable on these surfaces for hours to days.  Staying away from people who are sick and actively coughing AND washing or sanitizing your hands before touching your face or eating food with your hands is a VERY EFFECTIVE way of avoiding coronavirus infection (and dozens of other respiratory viruses, including influenza).  People who are coughing, for whatever reason, should cover their cough – cough into your elbow sleeve or disposable tissue.  Wash your hands after using the tissue.  Influenza is still actively circulating in our community.  All of the Jefferson County Residents who have been tested and found to have negative tests for COVID-19 are infected with other respiratory viruses.  This case count is on the Jefferson County Public Health website and is updated on a daily basis.  I will be appearing at the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners meeting on Monday, March 16 at 9:45 AM to discuss the evolving coronavirus pandemic. 

The presentation will be live-streamed on Jefferson County’s webpage. To watch, go to www.co.jefferson.wa.us and click on “Videos of Meetings” on the lower left side of the screen. Choose “Streaming Live” or “Recorded.”


###

Jefferson County Public Health
Always Working for a Safer and Healthier Community



Other News in Public Health News

homeowner septic classes

Septic System Classes Offered

Posted on: May 17, 2023
Press Releases (2)

Anderson Lake Closed Due to Toxin

Posted on: April 21, 2023
2023 County Health Ranking

2023 County Health Rankings

Posted on: March 29, 2023
All Species Closure Clam Image

Discovery Bay All Species Closure

Posted on: March 22, 2023
Press Releases (8)

Quilcene Bay Shellfish Advisory Removed

Posted on: October 28, 2022
PSPQuilceneBay20221003

Quilcene Bay Shellfish Closure

Posted on: October 3, 2022
DSC_8351

Oak Bay Shellfish Closure for Biotoxin

Posted on: September 16, 2022
Press Releases (2)

Discovery Bay Shellfish Closure

Posted on: June 27, 2022
Press Release Anderson Lake

Anderson Lake High in Toxin

Posted on: April 29, 2022
Jefferson County Public Health Logo

Opioid Crisis in Jefferson County

Posted on: April 11, 2022
Free tests, masks

Free home test kits, masks

Posted on: February 15, 2022
Public Health Order Update

Public Health Order Update

Posted on: February 11, 2022
February Vaccination Clinics Social Media

Vaccination Clinics in February

Posted on: January 28, 2022
Jan 29 Vaccination Clinic

Vaccination Clinics on January 29

Posted on: January 19, 2022
Care-a-Van Coming to PT

Vaccination Clinics on January 22

Posted on: January 14, 2022
January Vaccination Clinics (1)

Vaccination Clinics Set for January 8 & 15

Posted on: December 27, 2021
20211005 North Beach Sewage Outfall Break Yellow Sign

Sewage Outfall Break at North Beach

Posted on: October 5, 2021
DSC_5462

Discovery Bay Shellfish Closure

Posted on: July 14, 2021
20210513_cyanobacteria bloom tim photo credit anderson lake

ANDERSON LAKE HIGH IN TOXINS

Posted on: May 13, 2021

DISCOVERY BAY SHELLFISH CLOSURE

Posted on: April 9, 2021
20171005_HealthInsSignup

WA Healthplanfinder's Open Enrollment

Posted on: October 5, 2017
ButtonLakeClosedszd

Gibbs Lake Closed Due to Toxin

Posted on: August 17, 2017