||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN, DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT |||
As cases spike dramatically in San Juan County, Washington and the United States, we would like to urge islanders to scale back their holiday plans.
Over recent months, we’ve been able to enjoy a slow reopening of our islands. Restaurants, gatherings, shops, gyms, and most recently schools have all made slow progress towards returning to a limited version of normal.
Those gains are now at risk, and the prospect of upcoming holiday travel is looming as an even greater threat to the health and livelihood of our community.
We urge all islanders to stay local and keep your holiday gatherings small. Now is not the time to host family from across the state or beyond. Now is not the time to gather indoors with those from outside your household. Now is not the time to leave the islands to visit others. And now is certainly not the time to get on an airplane.
Now is the time to keep it simple and local, mask up, and protect our community and those most at risk.
Stay healthy, stay home. Regards,
Eric Webb
Superintendent, Orcas Island Schools
Fred Woods
Superintendent, San Juan Island Schools
Mark Tompkins
Director, San Juan County Health
Jennifer Swanson
Superintendent, Shaw Island School
Dr. Dale Heisinger
Chair, San Juan County Board of Health
Travis Ayers
President, Luxel Corporation
Sandy Bishop
Executive Director, Lopez Comm. Land Trust
Brian Auckland
Superintendent, Lopez Island Schools
Jamie Stephens
San Juan County Council
Adam Eltinge
Owner, Island Petroleum Services
Jack Estrada
Interim Chief Admin. Officer, Peace Island Med. Ctr.
Kai Sanburn
Lopez Island
Mike Thomas
Manager, San Juan County
Duncan Wilson
Administrator, Town of Friday Harbor
Victoria Compton
Executive Direct., SJC Economic Dev. Council
Christa Campbell
Lopez Island Recovery Network
Brent Snow
General Manager, Roche Harbor Resort
Laurie Orton
Director, San Juan Island Library
Dr. Frank James
Health Officer, San Juan County
Todd Nicholson
Director, Port of Friday Harbor
Deborah Hopkins
Executive Director, SJI Visitors’ Bureau
Rick Hughes
Chair, San Juan County Council
Brendan Cowan
San Juan County Emergency Management
Jacob Linnes
Manager, Orcas Island Market
Phil Heikkinen
Director, Orcas Island Library
Bill Watson
San Juan County Council
Iris Graville
President, Lopez Island Hospital District
Anne Presson
Superintendent, Orcas and Lopez Public Hosp. Districts
We take your advice to heart….thank you
What I think we ALL would like to know from all of you, however is WHY?, HOW can there be such an explosion of the virus, when the majority of us have performed the way it was expected: masked, stay apart, wash hands.??
WHAT are the details of HOW these latest cases were infected?? The more we know, the better we’ll be able to increase and maintain our own protective practices.
Are we seeing a different strain of the norovirus? Is it more “potent”? Are you finding that people are being infected by other than by air-borne particles? Were the infected having meals with others? WHAT were the specific circumstances.?
Would it be wise to concentrate on increasing our public buildings’ ventilation systems, with public monies accessed for this? Research proper spray disinfectants for interior spaces? The ferries clean surfaces after every run, but do they disinfect the air? Any infections reported from riding the ferries?
Margot, intelligent tabulation of questions. Sincere props for speaking–out of obvious authentic concern. I also am more than curious about tracing micro-local COVID transmission. However, I do not ask for answers that are a) statistically ineffective, b) sensitive to privacy, and c) a prompt for vitriol.
When I trust, it is almost always accompanied by skepticism, but I feel trusting Brendan’s validated information the best course for me.
I am, Concerned Introvert
What does this mean for vacation rentals and their occupants? Carry on as usual?
Great logical questions, Margo, thank you. Using logic decreases fear. It always helps to take Vitamin C as a protective measure.
https://inteligentvitaminc.com
Bless you, Spirit Eagle.