How to stay safe as COVID activity increases

Kitsap County Washington sent this bulletin at 05/06/2022 04:38 PM PDT

May 6, 2022

You are receiving this message because you subscribed to receive COVID-19 updates from Kitsap Public Health District. You can manage your subscriptions using the link at the very bottom of this bulletin. Find more local COVID-19 information at kcowa.us/covid19

Cases and hospitalizations are increasing; take steps now to protect your health and prevent spread

COVID-19 cases, outbreaks, and hospitalizations are increasing in Kitsap County and Washington state (scroll down to the "Trends we are tracking" section for details).

With COVID activity on the rise, Kitsap Public Health District recommends residents take additional steps to prevent getting and spreading COVID-19:

CONSIDER WEARING A MASK IN CROWDED INDOOR SPACES

Consider wearing a high quality, well-fitting mask (such as N95, KN95, or surgical mask) in crowded indoor settings and cramped spaces with poor airflow. Masks provide an added layer of protection and help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Our state no longer requires masks in many indoor spaces, such as businesses and schools. However, the state Department of Health recommends masking in crowded indoor spaces. Masks are required in some indoor settings, including healthcare facilities. Organizations can require people to wear masks in their buildings.
CDC recommends wearing a mask in indoor areas of public transportation (such as airplanes, buses, ferries) and transportation hubs (such as airports and ferry terminals).
Kitsap Public Health has delivered more than 97,500 high quality masks to dozens of organizations throughout Kitsap County. Masks can be accessed at many social services organizations, such as food banks and libraries. If you need help obtaining masks for yourself or an organization, please contact sarah.henley@kitsappublichealth.org or call 360-728-2219.

IMPROVE AIRFLOW IN SPACES WHERE PEOPLE GATHER

Help prevent the spread of COVID-19 by improving airflow and air quality in indoor spaces where people are gathering, such as workplaces, community centers, and event venues.
Simple steps include opening windows or doors. You or your organization may also be able to improve airflow and quality by adjusting heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, or by upgrading air filters. Learn more on our new COVID-19 ventilation page.

IF YOU ARE SICK: STAY HOME, TEST, AND TEST AGAIN

Protect people around you by staying home from work, school, and other activities anytime you feel sick. Test for COVID-19 by using a self-test or going to a testing site. Visit our Get Tested page for details.
If you get a negative result from a self-test kit, stay home until the next morning and test again. Do not assume you do not have COVID based on one negative self-test result.
Follow guidance for isolation or quarantine if you test positive or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19.
You can still order tests through the state and federal portals.
Kitsap Public Health has delivered more than 50,000 self-tests to organizations throughout the county. Tests can be accessed at many social services organizations, such as food banks and libraries. If you need help obtaining tests for yourself or an organization, contact sarah.henley@kitsappublichealth.org or call 360-728-2219.

STAY UP TO DATE ON VACCINATION

Getting vaccinated and boosted is still the best way to protect yourself from COVID-19. COVID-19 vaccination remains widely available in Kitsap. Kitsap Public Health District offers regular vaccination clinics for ages 5+ in downtown Bremerton. Learn more on our vaccine page, or by calling 360-728-2219.
Second booster doses are recommended for some groups, including people 50 and older and individuals who are moderately to severely immunocompromised.

LEARN ABOUT TREATMENT OPTIONS

In addition to vaccination, several medications have been authorized to treat symptoms or prevent severe illness in people who are at high risk from COVID-19. Prescriptions are required. Talk to your doctor about available options and eligibility.

TRENDS WE ARE TRACKING

The number of COVID-19 cases reported in Kitsap County has gradually increased since mid-March, when the initial Omicron wave receded. A total of 455 cases were reported last week, compared with 4,426 reported in mid January. Cases are increasing across all age groups.
Data reported by public health represent only a fraction of cases occurring in the community. Many people are now using at-home tests for COVID-19 and results from self testing are often not reported. This makes it difficult to compare current data to historical trends. You can report positive at-home test results by calling 1-800-525-0127.

The chart below shows the 7-day case rate per 100,000 population for Kitsap County since the start of the year.

Rate of cases per 100,000 population over 7 days since Jan. 1, 2022

Hospitalizations among Kitsap residents have also ticked up, but remain low compared with the peak of the Omicron surge. Thirteen hospitalizations were reported among Kitsap County residents last week, compared with a high of 76 in January. More hospitalizations could be reported in future weeks if cases continue to climb.
COVID-19-associated deaths have not increased. Two COVID-19 deaths have been reported for the month of April. No deaths have been reported to date in May.

Count of hospitalizations among Kitsap residents since March 2020

Based on local case data and regional hospital data, the CDC categorizes COVID-19 activity in Kitsap County as "low." Some Washington counties, including King County, are experiencing "medium" activity, according to the CDC. Kitsap will move to the medium level if the county's seven-day case rate exceeds 200. Kitsap's case rate was 167 for the week ending April 30.
Kitsap Public Health District's COVID-19 team is responding to a growing number of outbreaks and case clusters in high-risk settings, including schools, childcare centers, long-term care facilities, and healthcare facilities. You can help prevent outbreaks by staying home from work or school anytime you feel sick, and getting tested for COVID-19.
Our epidemiology team continues to update COVID-19 dashboards every Thursday.
Flu activity is also increasing in Kitsap County and statewide. Many of the same steps we take to prevent COVID-19, such as wearing masks, staying home when sick, and handwashing, are effective for preventing flu and other respiratory illnesses.

Evaluating our COVID-19 response to improve local health systems

While continuing to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kitsap Public Health is leading an "after-action review" to evaluate local public health and healthcare response efforts and implement improvements. Read more in the Kitsap Sun.

If your organization was directly involved in COVID-19 response and has been asked to participate in this after-action review, please complete the survey distributed by Kitsap Public Health. If you have questions about this effort, email pio@kitsappublichealth.org.

QUESTIONS? CONTACT: pio@kitsappublichealth.org

The Kitsap County Joint Information Center, as part of the Kitsap County Emergency Operations Center (KCEOC), provides accurate and up-to-date information about the local response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The organization's goal is to reduce the impacts of the pandemic in Kitsap and to safeguard the local healthcare system, government infrastructure, and economy, as well as to prepare for recovery.

The KCEOC operates under the leadership of a unified command, composed of representatives of Kitsap Public Health District, Kitsap County Department of Emergency Management, and Kitsap County Department of Human Services.

Kitsap County
Emergency Operations Center
http://www.Kitsapgov.com

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