PORT TOWNSEND — Jefferson County commissioners repealed the emergency declaration for COVID-19, in place since March 2020, but kept in place several policies — now optional — that were developed during the course of the pandemic.
At their regular meeting Monday, the Board of County Commissioners repealed the declaration and updated the county’s personnel policy to keep options such as masking available to employees.
One of the biggest changes started during the pandemic — the virtual broadcast of public meetings — may continue, but the in-person limit for those meetings will return to maximum capacity. The updated declaration does not require that all meetings be held both virtually and in person but recommends all county boards and committees offer hybrid-format meetings.
“We’ve come a long way since February 2020,” said Sarah Melancon, the county’s human resources director. “We’ve had 13 temporary policies and resolutions.”
Several changes made during the pandemic will remain in place, Melancon said, such as improvements to ventilation at county buildings and the county’s updated work-from-home policy. Temporary personnel policies started during the pandemic are still in place, but commissioners updated them Monday to be suggestions rather than requirements.
Policies such as frequent hand washing and staying home when sick were left in place, and commissioners added a section stating that employees may wear face coverings while working if they choose.
Only one person gave public comment on the changes Monday. Steven Schumacher, a Jefferson County resident and frequent critic of COVID-19 policies at commissioners’ meetings, said studies have shown masking to be ineffective at preventing the spread of COVID-19.
“I don’t think we know that. If anything, I think we have every reason to believe the opposite,” Schumacher said. “Health is a private thing. Instead, it feels like it’s been replaced by public health.”
Commissioners pushed back against the claim that masks were ineffective, citing their longtime use in the medical profession, and noted that many people live or work with people with compromised immune systems who may be vulnerable to diseases like COVID-19.
“Public health is absolutely one of our responsibilities,” said District 3 Commissioner Greg Brotherton. “At this point, we want to make sure everyone feels comfortable to wear a mask.”
A state order requiring masks to be worn at medical facilities was lifted March 31, but some facilities on the Olympic Peninsula said staff would continue to wear masks. Masking requirements are left to the individual discretion of hospitals, businesses and other entities.
In an email, Olympic Medical Center spokesperson Ryan Hueter said patients and visitors are no longer required to wear masks unless they are experiencing COVID-19-like respiratory symptoms or are in a designated area of the hospital. OMC staff will continue to wear masks.
Jefferson Healthcare spokesperson Tina Herschelman said there were no changes to the hospital’s masking requirements, and that patients, visitors and staff are still required to wear masks at the facility.
The state of emergency declared by Gov. Jay Inslee ended in October and the federal emergency declaration will expire at the end of the day on May 11.
According to the state Department of Health, the status of COVID-19 is moderate, with 42 cases per 100,000 population and 5 percent of hospital beds statewide occupied by COVID-19 patients.
DOH’s data shows a moderate level of COVID-19 in both Clallam and Jefferson counties, with 35 cases per 100,000 in Clallam County and 47 per 100,000 in Jefferson County.
There have been a total of 217 deaths from COVID-19 in Clallam County, 36 in Jefferson County and 15,961 statewide, according to state data.
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Reporter Peter Segall can be reached at peter.segall@peninsuladailynews.com.
