COVID-19 case numbers continue to grow

Back to masks: County health officer issues "directive" to boost use in indoor public settings

This is part of a statewide effort on the part of the health officers

Posted

With Thurston County seeing near-record numbers of new COVID-19 cases, County Health Officer Dr. Dimyana Abdelmalek signed a joint statement today along with Health Officers from all 35 local health jurisdictions in the state.

The statement, which they are calling a "directive" recommends that all residents wear facial coverings "when in indoor public settings where the vaccination status of those around them is unknown, regardless of their own vaccination status."

Recent data show Thurston County experiencing high COVID-19 transmission, with a 13.4% test positivity rate and a case rate of 272.5 cases per 100,000 residents over 14 days, according to Thurston County Health and Social Services.

The department says that "Only 50.1% of Thurston County’s population is fully vaccinated" and that "nearly half of residents are not fully protected from COVID-19."

The statement reads, in part: "To maximize protection from COVID-19 variants and slow the spread of the virus in our community, please wear a mask. If you are not yet vaccinated, please get vaccinated as soon as possible. You can find a COVID-19 vaccine in Thurston County by visiting https://vaccinelocator.doh.wa.gov/.

Comments

1 comment on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here

  • Tractor1

    Here we go again -- unelected bureaucrats exceeding, possibly, their statutory authority. No wonder that the public is confused and frustrated on the approaches to the Covid19 problem.

    Friday, August 13, 2021 Report this