Covid update

The Wahkiakum County Department of Health and Human Services (WHHS) on Wednesday reported an additional case of covid-19 in a county resident.

That brings the county total to a cumulative total of 158 cases with nine of those potentially active.

The individual is in self-quarantine.

Health department staff are working to identify anyone who may have an exposure risk because of contact with the individual. Those people with close contact will be notified by Health and Human Services (WHHS) staff. There is no connection to the Wahkiakum School District or St James Family Center.

Vaccines are freely available to anyone 12 or older in Wahkiakum County. Getting vaccinated is the best possible protection from covid-19. WHHS encourages everyone who hasn’t already been vaccinated to contact the health department or their personal medical provider and get scheduled to get a vaccine. The health department can be reached at 360-849-4041, M-F 8 to 4:30.

State mandated masking rules were set to end yesterday (Wednesday), but the continued spread of covid-19 and the arrival of new variants, the Washington Secretary of Health has revised them.

The Secretary of Health’s mask order will remain in place even after June 30, which means that people who are not fully vaccinated need to continue to wear a face mask in public indoor settings even when things start to go back to normal as the state reaches a reopening milestone.

All people, regardless of vaccination status, are still required to wear masks in certain places, such as schools and health care settings. In most other settings, people who are fully vaccinated do not need to wear a mask.

Businesses and local authorities can set their own more protective mask requirements, even though some state restrictions are being lifted. That’s why the DOH message around masking is “Respect the rules of the room you’re in,” since those rules may change depending on where you are. Guidance for employers is available on the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries website.