Local COVID case numbers spike, prompting reminder to wear masks

||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT |||

Note: Current positive case numbers are available online at the County Case Data Dashboard. As indicated on that page, these numbers are only updated after case confirmation is complete, usually daily. It is possible that other information sources in community may be quicker to report on new cases, but ensuring privacy and accuracy is critical for this official information source.

Given the recent spike in cases, this update is being provided today, ahead of the standard reporting schedule. The regular Friday report will be released on Feb. 12 as per usual.

Since the last update on Friday Feb. 5, total cases in San Juan County have increased from 111 to 123. Four new cases are on Lopez Island, and eight on San Juan Island. Note that approximately 63 close contacts of positive cases are currently in active quarantine.

ORCAS ISLAND
There are no new cases on Orcas Island since the last update. Three previously identified cases are still under active monitoring on Orcas Island at this time.

LOPEZ ISLAND
There are four new cases on Lopez Island. The following details are known about those cases:

All of these cases are tied to a previously reported case. Transmission has been tied to unmasked workplace or social contact.

There are four positive cases being actively monitored on Lopez Island at this time.

SAN JUAN ISLAND
There are eight new cases on San Juan Island. The following details are known about those cases:

Four of these cases are close household contacts of two previously reported positive cases. The initial transmission source was out of state travel.

The other four new cases consist of a new case with an unknown transmission source, and three members of a household with close contact to the initial case, likely through a workplace setting.

There are five positive cases being actively monitored on San Juan Island at this time.

OVERALL PICTURE
As we have seen over the last couple of days, COVID can spread quickly when people live, work, or socialize together unmasked. While clearly household members are going to interact unmasked, that should not be the case for co-workers or those choosing to spend time with others outside of their household.

It is also easy to see the importance of aggressive and accurate contact tracing and quarantining after a case has been identified. The community can help make sure this is done as effectively as possible by providing all  relevant details when working with the public health team, and by fully complying with quarantine guidelines once identified as a close contact.

It is easy to become complacent in the islands given our relatively low case rates, but make no mistake, the situation can change very quickly. The power of exponential growth means that a single case can have rippling impacts through the community if not stopped by precautions like masking and social distancing.

Please review this recent update urging islanders to avoid high-risk travel off-island and to avoid hosting of guests from off-island.

Latest information on vaccine distribution is available HERE.