Olympic Times

City Of Port Townsend issued the following announcement on Nov. 25.

Jefferson County Public Health on Nov. 25 reported the first death here as a result of COVID-19. No other details were shared. By comparison, Kitsap County reports 30 deaths from the virus, Clallam County 3 deaths, Mason County 11 deaths, Grays Harbor County 17 deaths, Island County 12 deaths and King County 866 deaths, according to the Washington Department of Health.

Statewide, there are 2,704 confirmed deaths related to COVID-19. As of Nov. 26, data compiled by Johns Hopkins University lists 263,394 US deaths and 1,429,643 global deaths.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, older adults and people who have severe underlying medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes are at higher risk for developing more serious complications from COVID-19 illness. While COVID-19 can be fatal to people of almost any age and particularly those in high risk groups, the vast majority of people suffer mild to moderate symptoms. 

One new positive COVID-19 case was added Nov. 25, a Port Townsend female in the 50-59 age range. It’s the 152nd confirmed case in Jefferson County. There are 23 “active cases” in isolation, a new category released by Jefferson County Public Health.

Of the 152 confirmed positive cases of Jefferson County residents during the coronavirus pandemic, 86 are recovered, according to JCPH. To date, there have been 12,675 tests administered with 12,475 negative tests with 48 test results pending. (Some of the pending tests are from the contract tracing process for newly confirmed positive cases.) Of the confirmed cases, 77 are male and 75 are female. There have been at least 13 hospitalizations and 1 death connected to COVID-19 in Jefferson County.

Jefferson County has a per 100,000 population infection rate of 156.74 over the previous 14 days and a percent positive of 1.19%. These are the highest numbers of the pandemic. The public health goal is an infection rate (percent of test positivity) below 2%.

The Washington State Department of Health message has not changed: disease transmission is widespread throughout Washington state and people are at the highest risk we have been at throughout the entire pandemic. Case counts, hospitalizations, and other metrics are all increasing. Washingtonians are advised to wear their face coverings, watch their distance by staying at least 6 feet away from persons not living in their household, and wash their hands. 

Do not have friends and other family inside your home for social gatherings, advise national, state and local public health officials. Social gatherings of up to 5 people outside, distanced, and wearing a face covering at all times is a safer way to connect with others. Safest is through telephone or video chats.

“COVID-19 activity is increasing throughout Washington state, leading to more cases, straining the testing sites and hospital capacity. It is more critical than ever for Washingtonians to actively help reduce the spread of this deadly virus,” Secretary of Health John Wiesman said in a press release. “Everyone should stay home as much as possible, and not congregate with people outside their immediate households, especially during the upcoming holiday. It’s important to wear face coverings when you do go out, and to seek testing if you develop symptoms or if you’ve been exposed to someone who has, or is suspected to have, COVID-19.” 

Original source can be found here.