||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT |||
Since the last update on Friday November 12, there have been 28 new confirmed or probable cases in San Juan County. Current case count is now 404. Of these twenty-eight new cases, initial investigations indicate that at least ten appear to have occurred in fully vaccinated individuals. There are approximately eight unvaccinated close contacts of positive cases currently in quarantine in the islands.
LOPEZ ISLAND: There are sixteen cases on Lopez Island since the last update. There are eighteen positive cases under active monitoring on Lopez Island.
ORCAS ISLAND: There are three new cases on Orcas Island since the last update. There are three positive cases under active monitoring on Orcas Island.
SAN JUAN ISLAND: There are eight new cases on San Juan Island since the last update. There are fifteen positive cases under active monitoring on San Juan Island.
OUTBREAK ALERTS:
There are two major outbreaks actively underway in the islands. One is on San Juan Island and involves twelve cases (including four of this week’s new cases) tied to a social event sponsored by a local service organization. The other is on Lopez Island and involves thirteen cases (including twelve of this week’s new cases) tied to a local pre-school community. Note that both organizations involved followed all of the current guidelines and requirements and these outbreaks reflect the realities of delta variant spread and not disregard of precautions. Both organizations have taken active steps to inform their communities and minimize future spread.
KEY POINTS FOR RIGHT NOW:
We’re seeing as many cases as at any other point in the pandemic. Things to know:
- Cases counts are very high in Skagit County right now and are at worrisome levels in Whatcom County as well. Islanders traveling to the mainland need to remember that the risk of COVID infection is currently as high as any other point in the pandemic. If you are in a public location where people are unmasked, you are at risk.
- If you are interacting with others indoors unmasked, your level of risk is considerably higher. That level of risk increases much more if any of those people are unvaccinated.
- Holiday travel and gathering is a significant risk, especially given the current case numbers. Islanders should strongly consider the use of at-home rapid testing to help minimize risk.
- MOST IMPORTANTLY: If you are symptomatic, stay home. A number of recent local cases came about from people who were symptomatic choosing to socialize, attend cultural events, or going to work while symptomatic. Please stay home if you’re sick.
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Thank you Brendan, for this early update. You have a lot on your plate right now, and I hope you can get some sleep.
From the NYT Coronavirus tracker the past few days, I’d noticed a surge in SJC cases, and this helps to localize them to Lopez and San Juan Islands. Orcas is relatively unscathed, but we cannot let our guard down. Delta is truly nasty stuff. I speak from experience.
Absolutely correct, Michael. And thanks Brenden for such a quick update.
Woops, BrendAn.
Brendan Cowan – you said above: “If you are interacting with others indoors unmasked, your level of risk is considerably higher. That level of risk increases much more if any of those people are unvaccinated.”
That is a blanket assumption; please cite the data that would prove this assumption to be true. You imply that all unvaccinated people are super spreaders – further ostracizing them in a populace that is already hostile to them. Please do not mislead people and cause further fearmongering and division in a now-divided populace, which, at times, is extremely hostile toward the unvaccinated; especially if you have no solid and transparent data to back your claims.