News & Information
COVID-19 Testing Results Update for Kitsap County as of 2 p.m. July 15
6/30/2021 UPDATES:
Now is the time to get your COVID-19 vaccine. Visit Kitsap County Public Health at kcowa.us/vaccine and sign up for vaccine updates from Kitsap Public Health here.
¿Quieres información sobre la vacuna COVID-19? Mira nuestro pagina para mas información de la vacuna y como obtener la vacuna: https://bit.ly/2XVht0W Tambien os puede llamar nuestro linea 360-728-2218
KPHD announces changes to COVID-19 data reporting
JULY 15 DATA UPDATE: Kitsap Public Health District is changing the way it reports COVID-19 data. For the first year of the pandemic, the Health District’s epidemiology team updated our COVID-19 surveillance report seven days a week, and Since March of this year, we have updated the report every weekday. To adjust to changing circumstances, we are now reducing the frequency of our surveillance report updates and incorporating a new COVID-19 case rate metric.
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Starting July 15, we will be updating our COVID-19 surveillance report two times a week, on Mondays and Thursdays. We are making this change because COVID-19 activity has declined in our region and we want to shift resources to support other important public health initiatives. If COVID-19 activity ramps up in our county, we will increase the frequency of our surveillance report updates (see below).
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We are changing the main COVID-19 case rate we report to align with the CDC’s county-level data reports. For much of the pandemic, our data reports highlighted the rate of new cases reported per 100,000 population over 14 days. Starting with today’s update, we are highlighting the rate of new cases reported per 100,000 population over 7 days. The case rate reported under the 7-day metric is lower than the rate reported under the 14-day metric because it is based on the total number of positive cases identified during a one-week period instead of a two-week period.
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The CDC uses the 7-day case rate to evaluate the level of COVID-19 transmission occurring in each U.S. county, with a scale ranging from “low transmission” (a 7-day case rate under 10) to “high transmission” (a 7-day case rate above 100). Based on Kitsap’s current 7-day case rate, our county is experiencing “moderate transmission.”
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If Kitsap County’s 7-day case rate exceeds 50 (meaning “substantial transmission”), we will resume updating our surveillance report every weekday.
Delta variant confirmed in Kitsap County
The delta variant of COVID-19 has been detected for the first time in a Kitsap County case, according to the Washington State Department of Health’s weekly variants report.
Viruses mutate or change over time. Mutated viruses are called variants. “Delta” is one of many variants of the virus that causes COVID-19. The delta variant emerged in India and is now spreading in many countries, including the United States. The delta variant is now believed to be causing more than 50% of new cases in the U.S.
The delta variant has been detected in several Washington counties, with more than 400 cases already confirmed in King County. The variant was almost certainly spreading in Kitsap County as well, but this week’s report marked the first time a case caused by delta was sequenced and confirmed in our county.
Data show vaccines are effective at preventing fully vaccinated people from catching and spreading the delta variant. Vaccines provide good protection against more severe disease, hospitalization, and death. Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself and your family from any COVID-19 variant. Read more about the delta variant here.
Upcoming vaccine clinics in Kitsap County
Kitsap Public Health District will be offering seven COVID-19 vaccination clinics throughout Kitsap County between Friday, July 16 and Monday, July 19. Find full clinic details at kcowa.us/vaccine. There is no charge for vaccinations and insurance is not required. Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines at cdc.gov/coronavirus
 Vaccine clinic July 25 at Bremerton National Airport
In partnership with Airlift Northwest, Peninsula Community Health Services and the Port of Bremerton, the Kitsap Emergency Operations Center will host a COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic at the Bremerton National Airport on Saturday, July 25. This walk-up clinic will provide Pfizer and J & J vaccines from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m..
This family friendly event includes helicopter tours by Airlift Northwest and special entertainment.
Guidance for schools and childcare centers
The state has released new guidance for schools and child care centers. These two guidance documents align with the amended secretary’s mask order, L&I directives for workplaces, and governor’s proclamation.
Schools must plan to provide full time in-person education for all interested students with the follow a list of mandatory mitigation measures including face coverings, ventilation, and physical distancing. Read More here
Child care center guidance includes limiting children to only attending programs in their local, geographic area. Read More here.
A full list of current reopening guidance from the Governor's Office is available here.
Loan program continues for businesses and non-profits
The U.S. Small Business COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan program continues to be available to small businesses and non-profits here in Kitsap County. It provides economic relief to organizations that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue. This loan allows businesses to meet financial obligations and operating expenses that could have been met had the pandemic not occurred. Read More here
Update on FEMA funeral assistance
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently amended their COVID-19 Funeral Assistance policy to assist with funeral expenses for COVID-19-related fatalities that occurred in the early months of the pandemic. This policy change will allow applicants to submit a statement from the death certificate’s certifying official, medical examiner, or coroner attributing the death to COVID-19. It provides flexibility to attribute a death to COVID-19 without amending the death certificate. Read More about COVID-19 funeral assistance policy here.
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