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Clallam and Jefferson counties are seeing rates of COVID-19 cases stabilize at rates higher than what health officials believe is safe for the community.
Although community transmission of COVID-19 is not as widespread as it has been seen at times over the past month, case rates are still at a very high level and have the potential to climb again if precautions are taken are not being tracked, said Dr. Allison Berry, health officer for both counties, Tuesday.
Clallam County’s case rate declined slightly, falling to 570 cases per 100,000 population in the past two weeks as of Tuesday. As of Monday, the county recorded 586 cases per 100,000, according to county public health data.
Jefferson County, which records its case rate every week, on Monday recorded a rate of 275.86 cases per 100,000 in the last two weeks as of Saturday, which was exactly the same as the week before.
“It’s still a very high plateau,” Berry said.
“We are very happy to have seen the number of cases decrease to the point that our health care system is not overwhelmed. It is most encouraging.
“But, when we have this level of transmission, it’s still quite possible to see dangerous outbreaks of infection that can lead to hospitalization and death.”
She added that at the current infection rate, “we are also seeing more outbreaks that can shut down businesses, can affect schools.
“Really, the best way to avoid school-related epidemics beyond all the protocols that schools follow is to reduce community transmission,” Berry said.
Clallam County confirmed 28 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, bringing its total to 4,380 cases since the start of the pandemic, according to public health data.
Jefferson County confirmed seven new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, bringing its total to 1,026 cases since the start of the pandemic, according to public health data.
One of the new cases in Jefferson County is a student linked to a cluster of cases among Brinnon students.
Twelve Brinnon students and four staff members are sick with COVID-19, Berry said. Nine were reportedly contracted through school activities, she said.
The cluster was not considered an outbreak on Tuesday because students and staff have a lot of overlap with friends and family interactions outside of school, and the school district has maintained strict COVID-19 prevention protocols , said Berry.
Students at K-8 school are too young to be vaccinated, she said.
Transmission of the new coronavirus is mainly due to out-of-county and out-of-state travel in Jefferson County and the Brinnon Small Group, Berry said.
In County Clallam, the new cases are mostly found in the West End. The outbreak at Clallam Bay Correctional Center had confirmed a total of 162 cases as of September 25.
Berry is working with his team to set up targeted testing sites to detect more cases of COVID-19 and will visit the prison this week to assess prevention protocols.
Berry continues to urge residents to get vaccinated as soon as possible and to sign up for upcoming booster dose clinics, if they are eligible.
At least six months after completing the Pfizer primary immunization series, people 65 years of age and older, people 18 years of age and older living in a long-term care facility, and people 50 to 64 years of age with underlying health or at increased risk for social inequalities are eligible to receive a booster dose of the Pfizer vaccine, officials said.
In addition, people aged 18 to 49 with underlying health conditions and those aged 18 to 64 who are at higher risk of exposure and transmission to COVID-19 due to their work or institutional environment – and who completed a series of Pfizer vaccines at least six months ago – may receive a Pfizer booster dose, officials said.
Eligible residents of Jefferson County can sign up to receive a reminder through Jefferson County Public Health website, or by calling 360-344-9791.
Pfizer booster clinics will run from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. on three consecutive Saturdays in October. The Chimacum and Port Townsend clinics are full and have a waiting list as of Tuesday.
They are:
• Saturday October 9 – Chimacum School District Mixed Use Building, 91 W. Valley Road.
• October 16 – Blue Heron High School, 3939 San Juan Ave., Port Townsend.
• October 23 – Quilcene School, 294715 US Highway 101, Quilcene.
Vaccination records must be brought to appointments.
Clallam County Public Health and Emergency Management Services have a booster dose clinic scheduled for Oct. 16, which still has appointments available, Berry said.
The clinics will be held at the Port Angeles High School. Registrations will be made in County Clallam website. Those without internet access can call the county emergency management department at 360-417-2430 for assistance.
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Jefferson County reporter Zach Jablonski can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 5, or at [email protected]
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