COVID-19 infections continue to rise in Jefferson County, spurred on by cluster outbreaks, Jefferson County Public Health Officer Dr. Tom Locke said Monday.
The largest cluster outbreak has grown …
This item is available in full to subscribers.
We have recently launched a new and improved website. To continue reading, you will need to either log into your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription.
If you had an active account on our previous website, then you have an account here. Simply reset your password to regain access to your account.
If you did not have an account on our previous website, but are a current print subscriber, click here to set up your website account.
Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.
* Having trouble? Call our circulation department at 360-385-2900, or email our support.
Please log in to continue |
|
COVID-19 infections continue to rise in Jefferson County, spurred on by cluster outbreaks, Jefferson County Public Health Officer Dr. Tom Locke said Monday.
The largest cluster outbreak has grown to 23 people infected, he said, and were found in “one non-public setting.”
Locke would not disclose details of where that large outbreak occurred, but county officials indicated earlier it was at a local residential facility.
Jefferson County had 40 confirmed cases in the past two-week reporting period, Locke said.
Those numbers include 14 cases last week, he said.
The others clusters were found in household settings, as well as a maritime outbreak on board a boat at sea, Locke said.
“They are occurring in clusters which have less community spread potential,” he said.
A new case of COVID-19 was reported by health officials late Monday.
The new infection increased the cumulative total of COVID-19 cases in Jefferson County to 322.
A total of 18 people remain in isolation, and 10 others are awaiting test results.
During the most recent two-week reporting period, 954 COVID tests were completed in Jefferson County.
Through Monday, a total of 18,186 tests for coronavirus have been given to local residents since the start of the pandemic. Test results have come back negative for COVID-19 in 17,854 tests.
According to the Washington State Department of Health, a total of 5,945 doses of COVID vaccine have been administered in Jefferson County.
Locke said more than 5,000 of those doses had been given by Jefferson Healthcare. The rest have been administered by local pharmacies.
Demand for the vaccine will continue to outpace supply in the weeks to come, Locke said Monday during his weekly pandemic update to county commissioners.
“Jefferson Healthcare has not received any first-dose vaccine for the last month,” he said.
Vaccine shipments have gone elsewhere in the state, Locke added, including for mass vaccination events held in other counties.
The COVID vaccine being developed by Johnson & Johnson may become available in late March or April, Locke said.
Unfortunately, vaccine supplies will continue to be limited in February and likely March, he added.
“We probably won’t have supply and demand matched with each other until some time in the early summer,” Locke said. “It’s a very frustrating thing for everyone.”
Given the low availability of vaccines, Locke stressed that people should continue taking precautions.
Wearing face shields is not effective, he added.
He called them “virtually worthless.”
“They don’t protect you; they don’t protect other people from you,” he said.
Also important is getting a mask that fits properly, he added.
And research is starting to show the effectiveness of wearing more than one mask, Locke said.
“We’re still going to need masks for the next three or four months or longer,” he said.
