||| FROM BRENDAN COWAN for DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT |||
At the moment, San Juan County has the lowest rate of total cases per 100,000 people of any County in the contiguous United States. The only Counties with lower rates are the most remote areas of both Hawaii and Alaska.
That’s right, San Juan County has the third lowest overall COVID rate per 100 thousand people of anywhere in the United States. Not only that, but we’re ahead by quite a bit. In addition, San Juan County is the second largest County in America to have not recorded a single COVID fatality.
It’s not a competition of course, but given how difficult this has been, it is great to get some concrete evidence that all we’re doing matters. There are lots of reasons for this success, and they’re all important- but the biggest one by far is the way our community has pulled together to keep the islands safe.
And the most vital thing as we move forward? To keep it up.
You can browse the overall case rate info here: https://www.usnews.com/…/
And the fatality info is summarized here: https://247wallst.com/…/
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This is an important thing for our communities to embrace, acknowledge and celebrate.
Resilience is important to our wellbeing and taking care of ourselves, and one another, is contributing to San Juan County’s Covid Resilience.
We must continue to be vigilant, patient and kind to one another and carry on, as this may well be still “the middle”.
Thanks for the updates and the shoutout of what’s good in San Juan County.
Stay Well, All!
What absolutely wonderful confirmation of the pay-off for the efforts we have been making. I am deeply sorry for the business-owners who are suffering. Nonetheless we must keep our safety precautions. Thank you, Brenden, for the news and thanks to everyone in our little community.
The SanJuan islands have been a Spiritual and Metaphysical Magnet for decades.. it’s no wonder that it’s abundance exemplifies what this article is bringing forward. While Business are being challenged and individuals digging deeper within themselves, there’s something present.. I’m seeing smiles and Grace happening.
We truly are special islanders.
Yes, this is a remarkable achievement, especially in view of the fact that about a third of the county population is over 65 and thus particularly vulnerable to the virus and possibly dying from an infection. No deaths at all! I wrote about this achievement in my October 26 Orcas Currents article “Coronavirus and Community”:
https://orcascurrents.com/coronavirus-and-community/
That we obviously do not suffer from the “toxic individualism” afflicting much of ‘Merica is a good part of the reason for our success. Another is the diligence of County Public Health Officer Frank James, who has resolutely tried to hold the line on opening back up too rapidly. We owe him a debt of gratitude.