By: Pepper Fisher
PORT ANGELES – Clallam County Department of Health has announced that the county has suffered its first death from COVID-19.
The patient was a man in the 1980s who had underlying health conditions. The news comes on the same day that 5 more cases were added to our total which is now 146.
Health Officer Dr. Allison Berry Unthank often points to one metric in particular as an important indicator of where we as a community are in controlling the spread of the virus. The number of cases per 100,000 population in a period of two weeks. The number affects the policy decisions of many agencies, including health departments and even our schools.
At the Port Angeles School Board meeting on Thursday night, where they will decide on the new school opening plan, it was acknowledged that this number will be considered as decisions as they move forward to each new phase.
25 or less per 100,000 is the goal. 75 or more is considered a high number and, if adhered to, would be grounds for stricter measures. As of Friday, Clallam County is at 58 when we factor in the 5 just added cases.
Dr. Unthank reminds us that people over the age of 65 and those with underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, COPD, and heart disease, are at the highest risk for COVID-19 complications. Although less common in younger age groups, she says, serious complications have been documented in patients of all ages.
Clallam County residents are urged to:
- Keep your social circle small – no more than 5 people a week
- Keep a safe physical distance of 6 feet from others
- Wear a face mask when you are around others
- Stay home when you are sick
- Get tested immediately if you are sick or have been in contact with someone with COVID-19
- Wash your hands often
- Touching aircraft often clean up
