Two more cases of COVID-19 have been discovered in Jefferson County over the past week.

The number of confirmed infections of COVID-19 grew to 54 early last week, and another confirmed test of the disease was announced Monday by Jefferson County Public Health.

Health officials announced the 55th case of COVID-19 in the county Monday afternoon.

Earlier Monday, Public Health Officer Dr. Tom Locke told county commissioners that health officers across the state are now talking about enforcement of COVID-19 restrictions. Locke also announced he would issue a new health order that targets restaurants and other food-service businesses as well as a clamp down on the use of face shields.

“Voluntary compliance is not enough,” Locke said.

“We’re getting a lot of good compliance but we need to get into the 95 percent-plus rate to really get this under control,” he said.

The number of deaths from the coronavirus in the United States has surpassed 160,000, and a new forecast predicts 300,000 deaths in the country by the end of the year.

“That’s the path we’re on,” Locke said.

The United States — which has 5 percent of the world’s population — is responsible for a quarter of all the COVID-19 cases in the world.

In counties that border Jefferson, the number of coronavirus cases has been increasing. Clallam County reported 26 new cases last week, for a total of 120, while Kitsap County had 94 new cases, and a total of 739.

In Jefferson County, there have been some positive signs of people taking the pandemic seriously. Locke noted his walking tour of Port Townsend over the weekend, where he noticed many businesses with signs that said “No mask, no service” as well as stores that were strict about how many customers would be allowed inside. 

“By and large, I was impressed,” Locke said.

“It looked like most visitors were wearing masks as they strolled about the streets, which was really good to see.”

Locke said the wearing of masks was in no means universal, but more people are understanding the need to cover up.

“More than I was expecting. A lot of people are getting it,” he added.

There is still plenty of room for improvement, Locke said.

A new health order, which was expected late Monday, would target food service establishments.

It follows the path used by King County, Locke noted, which has linked compliance with adopted COVID-19 precautions to the operating licenses for food service establishments.

Locke said the health department will take action as a result of its regular inspections of food-service businesses, or in response to complaints, if businesses don’t work with the health department to come into compliance.

“Their license can be on the line. That’s a pretty heavy enforcement tool,” he added.

Locke said his order would also make it clear that face shields are not the same as face masks and cannot be substituted for one.

“They are not good for source control,” Locke said, adding that face shields do not trap respiratory droplets or aerosols that contain the virus.

“That’s something we really need to clamp down on,” Locke said during the board of commissioners’ weekly COVID-19 update.

Locke said he hoped his new health order would mean fewer face shields used in grocery stores and other settings.

The order will also review various misdemeanor penalties, as well, of violating the order of a local health officer.

“For those who thought they could just keep their heads down, and either ignore this, or in some cases, openly defy it: Time’s up on that.”

“If you’re not going to voluntarily comply, there has to be some kind of penalty for that,” Locke said.

The new health order follows a week that saw leaders across the county stress the importance of wearing face masks, using social distancing, and taking other precautions to stem the spread of COVID-19.

At last week’s meeting of the Port Townsend City Council, City Manager John Mauro asked residents to remain vigilant.

“I know we are all exceedingly tired of hearing this, but it is not going away, and won’t, for anytime soon,” Mauro said.

He asked people to power through their quarantine fatigue. About 40 percent of the people who are spreading the virus don’t have symptoms of the virus.

“We let down our guards, and the outbreaks follow,” Mauro said.

And Mauro also noted the ineffectiveness of face shields: “They are not really a substitute for cloth masks.”

He repeated a message stressed months earlier by Port Townsend Mayor Michelle Sandoval. 

“Be kind,” Mauro said. “It’s more applicable now than ever as we’re just tired and maybe need a reminder to be gentle on each other.”