||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT |||
ORCAS ISLAND
Since the last update, seven new cases have been identified on Orcas Island. This brings the total number of cases in San Juan County to 56. All of these new cases are tied to a nine-case cluster on Orcas who all shared indoor social contact.
At this time, contact tracing from all current positive cases has been completed and close contacts have been tested. Depending on those results, additional contact tracing and quarantining may be required. A number of individuals remain in quarantine for the period required after their last contact with a confirmed case.
The initial transmission for this cluster of cases is unknown. It is assumed that there is community spread of COVID on Orcas Island at this time.
LOPEZ ISLAND
At this time, all active investigations on Lopez Island have concluded and a number of individuals remain in quarantine for the period required after their last contact with a confirmed case.
SAN JUAN ISLAND
At this time, the active investigations for the most recent positive cases on San Juan Island have concluded. The majority of close contacts of the confirmed cases remain in quarantine. All test results for tested close contacts have been received.
The initial transmission for at least three of the recent San Juan Island cases is unknown. It is assumed that there is community spread of COVID on San Juan Island at this time.
OVERALL
At this time, none of these cases have resulted in a hospitalization.
As an informal aside, I’m not an employee of the PublSJC Health & Community Services (though clearly I’m biased) but I have had the privilege this year of getting an inside look at their work. The entirety of 2020 has been a remarkable effort, but the volume and quality of work happening at the moment to investigate and attempt to contain these cases is incredible.
I would like to point out that we are doing this all wrong. Convid-19 is in the flu virus family, and it will sweep through the entire population, eventually. Boost your immune system, that will help you get through this. Most people who get this thing don’t even know they have it. Think for yourselves. We are being lied to. This whole thing is BS.
Dominic—I’m wondering what your education and experience in virology are and from what sources you drew your information. Providing that would be helpful given the contrary position taken by virtually all relevant experts.
To Domenic: Factually: Influenza (Flu) and COVID-19 are both contagious respiratory illnesses, but they are caused by different viruses. COVID-19 is caused by infection with a new coronavirus (called SARS-CoV-2) and flu is caused by infection with influenza viruses. For more information on the differences: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/symptoms/flu-vs-covid19.htm
Also it is not “Convid-19” — it is Covid- 19.
It is true there are some people who “don’t even know they have it” and that is why this is so dangerous. There are other people who get it from people who “don’t even know they have it” — and become critically ill.
While you think this whole thing is “BS” — you have absolutely NO scientific (and I stress scientific) basis for your accusation. The fact you don’t even know the derivation of Covid (or how to spell it) is revealing.
Thank you, Janet.
Domenic – you are entitled to your own opinion, but not your own facts….
Well, we’ve been sold on the premise that the county is ready for a worst-case scenario… I hope this is correct. I’ve read that health-care providers and front-line workers are burned out… I hope you stay strong.
We owe a lot to our county health care workers, who are probably working 16-hour days right now. Thank you.
A nine case cluster? It appears that we have our own super spreader social event. What were these people thinking? Personally, I’m unhappy with them. My wife and I have been isolated for over 8 months now and that is not likely to end for many more months. Yet, these people thought that they had the right to risk the rest of us for a SOCIAL event?
As you all know, we are entering a very trying phase of fighting the pandemic. 40% of our county’s overall cases have occurred in the last two half to three weeks after not having any cases for 10 weeks. For the first time in nine months, we have serious community based transmission.
Dr. James’ leadership through this pandemic has been admirable and tireless. No doubt he and the county’s team have to be completely exhausted. With winter coming, there is no near end to their valiant efforts.
My hope is that the county council listen to his sage advice and leadership. In times of o health crisis, we need our medical leaders, not our politicians, to take the reins of this battle so that they can guide us through this as safely as possible.
Be well. Be safe.
Paul,
Your inference that this was “super spreader social event” is why these conversations go off the rails so fast. That is NOT what was said and NOT what is the case (based on what little knowledge I have).
The County calls this a cluster based on indoor social exposure because those are the technical definitions of what happened. The individuals in-play contracted the virus through mutual associated social contact which makes them a cluster. (Essentially they can tie the 9 together). It does not mean that they somehow violated any protocol or were otherwise flagrantly holding a “social event”. This cluster is likely to get bigger and there are likely to be more even with everyone doing EXACTLY as instructed by health officials.
We have GOT to stop vilifying people who have contracted this virus. It’s likely that these “clusters” have been in play since March and we simply don’t know about it due to the asymptomatic nature of this virus and the lack of testing available to the average Joe along the way. I’m glad you have been isolating well through this pandemic. Keep it up, but don’t cast unnecessary aspersions upon your neighbors who are also doing what they can in this time. The people affected could students, teachers or hard-working, blue collar workers that keep this island running.
Sorry, but the announcement said, “All of these new cases are tied to a nine-case cluster on Orcas who all shared indoor social contact.” What is one to conclude from this statement? What we have here is a lack of specific information about what actually occurred. I understand the need to preserve medical privacy, but it seems to me that a great deal more can be said to ease anxiety. For example, was this a single social event? Was this a family gathering? Was this a business that was not observing official guidelines? Or, was this just a bunch of people who wanted to party, without consideration for the health and welfare of the community? No, I am not blaming the victim, but if this cluster was do to the carelessness of someone, it needs to be brought to public attention. We will survive this if everyone plays by the rules. Yes, I am upset, but I’m old and vulnerable. This is as threatening to me as if someone were to threaten me with a gun.
I learned a lot more about contact tracing and what it is and is not, from this excellent report on KPTZ:
https://kptz.org/2020/11/03/my-my-my-my-corona/
Definitely take a listen if you think contact tracing is easy.