COVID-19 Collaboration Call (7/27/20)

On July 27, OCH hosted a virtual behavioral health collaboration call. The call brought together behavioral health provider partners, Jefferson County’s Health Officer, Kitsap Strong, and the Salish Behavioral Health Administrative Services Organization to discuss opportunities for regional alignment and to explore possible solutions and supports for challenges faced during COVID-19.

COVID-19 Update from Jefferson County Public Health Officer, Dr. Thomas Locke 

Statewide:

The pandemic continues to worsen, spreading in 44 of 50 states, including WA. Cases continue to surface and there is still a long way to go to safely re-open. 

Masks:

The larger outbreaks in eastern Washington are under control. We can look to Yakima County to see what is possible (improvement from 20% to 95% mask adherence; community uniting around common threat of the virus). Embracing masking as a bi-partisan initiative may have helped. Additionally, allowing some activities to open prevented travelling and spread outside the county.

The Olympic Region:

Jefferson County is on day 10 of no reported cases. Clallam and Kitsap are seeing a continuous flow of new cases. Clallam cases are linked to social gatherings. The increased cases in Kitsap County is complicated due to proximately to Pierce and King Counties. 

August offers an opportunity to get things under control. The future depends on residents adhering to physical distancing & wearing masks 100% of time in all common spaces. The big push is