Public health officials implore community members to take care, don’t panic

PORT ANGELES — The two public health coordinators for coronavirus response on the North Olympic Peninsula urged residents not to get ahead of themselves in responding to the international COVID-19 pandemic.

Public Health Officers Dr. Allison Berry Unthank of Clallam County and Dr. Tom Locke of Jefferson County said Thursday that community spread of the virus on the Peninsula has not occurred.

If it does, it could prompt the cancellation of large gatherings and schools closures, such as is occurring in Seattle, they said.

But for now, residents should stick to measures they are personally responsible for, they said.

Such measures include people washing their hands regularly, not touching their faces, washing hard surfaces with alcohol- or bleach-based cleaners, staying home if they are sick and staying home an extra 24 hours after symptoms vanish before returning to work to minimize exposure of others, Unthank and Locke said in separate interviews Thursday.

People over 60, pregnant women, and people with chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, asthma or immune deficiencies, are most susceptible to the disease.

And residents should not buy face masks unless they are sick and must be in public, because there is a serious shortage of masks that are needed by health care workers and first responders, Unthank said.

“That’s our current crisis,” she said at a daily public briefing Thursday for county officials, health workers and emergency responders.

As of Thursday, there had been one confirmed case of COVID-19 in Jefferson County — a man in his 60s who was considered to have been exposed to the virus while visiting in Kirkland.

The man, whose age or hometown Locke would not specify, was treated at the Seattle VA Medical Center before returning home to recover. He is no longer in isolation and can be in the community without endangering others, he said.

As of mid-day Thursday in Clallam County, 24 novel coronavirus swab tests had been administered, with 15 coming back negative and nine pending.

As of mid-day Thursday in Jefferson County, 55 swab tests had been administered, with 19 coming back negative and 36 pending.

People are indefinitely isolated if they have the virus, Locke said.

People are quarantined if they are exposed to the virus but don’t have it.

They cannot be in public and are unable to go to work or school for 14 days, Locke said.

People in their 80s have accounted for most of the 31 deaths from COVID-19 in Washington as of Thursday, Locke said.

Measures people can take is avoiding others who are sick and not going out if they are sick, Unthank said.

The virus is spread by cough- and sneeze-droplets from people with symptoms including fever to people who are exposed to them within 6 feet of the sneezing and coughing.

“If you’re not within 6 feet of someone who has been symptomatic, you’re OK,” Unthank said.

There is no longer an hours-based definition for prolonged exposure, but any exposure of less than 15 minutes “is unlikely to give you COVID-19,” she said.

Depending on the seriousness of the spread in a particular community, actions range from containment, being employed in Clallam and Jefferson counties, and mitigation, being employed in the Seattle area, Unthank and Locke said

Clallam and Jefferson counties are in the middle of that range, they said.

“Right now, we are at the point where it makes no sense to close businesses, or where it makes sense to close events,” Unthank said.

That goes for schools, too, she said.

“There’s no evidence that closing them at this point would be helpful.”

Gov. Jay Inslee on Thursday announced the closure of private and K-12 schools in Snohomish, Pierce and King counties from Tuesday-April 24.

As of Thursday, there were 319 cases of COVID-19 reported in the three counties, 28 deaths in Snohomish and King counties, and no deaths in Pierce County, according to the state Department of Health.

Gatherings of more than 250 people in those counties are prohibited by the state.

Port Angeles School District parents were notified by the district in a email Thursday that the district is being asked “to begin contingency planning, which we have already been doing and will continue to do,” district spokeswoman Jennifer Sperline said in the email.

“We are readying ourselves for the possibility of closures,” she said.

Schools Superintendent Martin Brewer said at the briefing that the district has hired additional staff to wipe down hard surfaces where infected droplets can transmit the virus and is providing hand sanitizer to staff and students.

Interim Sequim Schools Superintendent Robert Clark said Thursday at a special School Board meeting that the decision to keep schools open may change after Friday and “will be largely dependent on the advice of Dr. Unthank.”

The district is planning for food distribution and child care needs if schools close, Clark said.

Port Townsend School District spokeswoman Sarah Rubenstein said contingency plans for a possible closure include providing grab-and-go breakfasts and lunches to needy families, online educational resources that don’t include online schooling and information on child-care options.

Over the past few weeks, as COVID-19 has spread worldwide, Unthank has grown tired of hearing a certain three words when talking to residents about closing schools and businesses, she said.

“I’ve heard people say well, just do it out of an abundance of caution, which has become my least favorite phrase,” Unthank said.

“If I close a bunch of events today, it’s not going to protect you guys any more. It’s just not going to help you.”

Following the briefing Thursday, KONP Radio postponed its annual Home Show in Port Angeles.

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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.

Sequim Gazette reporter Conor Dowley contributed to this report.