Weekly case update report for our local island populations

||| 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.

Since the last update on Friday April 9, total cases in San Juan County have increased from 154 to 166. Note that there are 40 close contacts of positive cases currently in active quarantine.

SHAW ISLAND
There is one new case on Shaw Island. The following details are known about this new case:

• This new case is a close household contact of a previously reported positive case tied to the Friday Harbor High School baseball team outbreak.

There is one confirmed positive case under active monitoring on Shaw Island at this time.

ORCAS ISLAND
There are no new cases on Orcas Island since the last update. There are no confirmed positive cases under active monitoring on Orcas Island at this time.

LOPEZ ISLAND
There are three new cases on Lopez Island since the last update. The following details are known about these new cases:

• All three of the new cases are from a single household. Initial transmission source is related to off-island travel.

There are three confirmed positive cases under active monitoring on Lopez Island at this time.

SAN JUAN ISLAND
There are eight new cases since the last report on San Juan Island.

• One of these positive cases is an individual with a San Juan County address, but who has not been in the islands for some time.
• Four of these new cases are close household contacts of previously reported positive cases tied to the Friday Harbor High School baseball team outbreak.
• One of these new cases is a close household contact of a previously reported positive case.
• Two of these new cases are close social contacts of previously reported positive cases tied to the Friday Harbor High School baseball team outbreak.

There are 12 positive cases under active monitoring on San Juan Island at this time.

OVERALL PICTURE

First off, and this is really important: in order to share information with the community that helps convey the current situation, sometimes it is necessary to lump cases together with a similar name or description. We’re doing that here with the “baseball team” outbreak to communicate the way in which disease can spread quickly through the community. However, we want to be clear about the following:

• While many of the initial positive cases had ties to the Friday Harbor high school baseball team, most of the transmission appears to have happened during interactions that had no direct involvement with school, athletics, or the sport of baseball.
• While it may be tempting to cast judgment on those who have been impacted by COVID, that’s not the way we do things in the islands, and that’s not the way to get through this crisis with our humanity intact. Other than those fortunate islanders who have the resources and ability to keep themselves totally sequestered, we all are at some risk of becoming infected and unwittingly spreading the disease. Compassion and empathy go a long way.

And finally, some thoughts about getting vaccinated:

• Cases are rising obviously. Our best way to stop spread in the islands is by as many islanders as possible getting vaccinated. We owe it to ourselves and our community.
• The National Guard is coming back to the islands to vaccinate more than 3,000 individuals with the Moderna vaccine. Registration opens Tuesday April 20 at 9 a.m. More info is here. Sign up.
• When you’re vaccinated, you’re slowing community spread. You’re protecting yourself and those around you. You’re keeping yourself from having to quarantine if exposed. And you’re enabling yourself to safely interact with other vaccinated individuals with no limitations at all.