New outbreak investigated at long-term care facility in Clallam County

1 staff member, 1 resident test positive for COVID-19

Clallam County Public Health is investigating a new long-term care facility COVID-19 outbreak that has so far had a staff member and resident infected with the novel coronavirus.

The staff member is unvaccinated, and the resident is fully vaccinated, said Dr. Allison Berry, Clallam County health officer. The first case at the facility was confirmed Friday, and the second case confirmed over the weekend, she said.

Both Berry and Dr. Tom Locke have said throughout the pandemic they will not name a facility experiencing a COVID-19 outbreak if they are able to trace all potential exposures.

Berry said the facility is cooperating with the public health department.

“The facility is doing everything we recommend,” she said. “They seemed to have got on this case really quickly.

“So, we’re hopeful this will be a limited outbreak, but we’re in the early days at this point.”

The next step for health officials will be to test all residents and staff at the facility, and that will be completed over the next few days, Berry said.

While the resident was vaccinated, those who are elderly and others who have a suppressed immune system may not be fully protected by their vaccination alone and may need to rely on the protection of those around them being vaccinated as well, Berry said.

“I think it highlights the challenge and risk posed by unvaccinated staff at a long-term care facility,” she said. “Right now, we don’t have a mandate in place for staff at long-term care to be vaccinated, and I think that’s going to be a direction we’re going to need to move in the future.

“Long-term care residents are at high risk of getting COVID-19 even if they’re vaccinated because, to need to be in long-term care generally means you may have significant health conditions — possibly quite elderly — and folks in that group don’t respond as well to the vaccine.”

Clallam County added 14 COVID-19 cases over the weekend. Jefferson County added three.

Clallam County has two residents hospitalized, with two in the Intensive Care Unit, Berry said.

Jefferson County has two people hospitalized, Locke said during his Monday briefing with county commissioners.

Clallam County has confirmed 42 COVID-19 cases so far this month, about 2.79 percent of the 1,507 cases reported since the pandemic began, according to county data. Fifteen residents have died of the disease.

Jefferson County has confirmed 15 COVID-19 cases so far this month, about 3.23 percent of the 465 cases reported since the start of the pandemic, according to county public health data. Four residents have died of COVID.

Forty-seven cases were active in Clallam County on Monday. Jefferson County had 12 active cases.

Both counties are in the state’s moderate-risk category with case rates of 63 per 100,000 population for the past two weeks as of Monday in Clallam County, and Jefferson County at about 47 cases per 100,000 for the two weeks prior as of Saturday.

________

Jefferson County reporter Zach Jablonski can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 5, or at zjablonski@peninsuladailynews.com.

More in News

Tamara Clinger decorates a tree with the theme of “Frosted Cranberries” on Monday at the Vern Burton Community Center in Port Angeles. The helping hand is Margie Logerwell. More than three dozen trees will be available for viewing during the 34th annual Festival of Trees event this weekend. Tickets are available at www.omhf.org. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Finishing touches

Tamara Clinger decorates a tree with the theme of “Frosted Cranberries” on… Continue reading

Grants to help Port Angeles port upgrades

Projects, equipment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Joseph Molotsky holds Jet, a Harris’s hawk. Jet, 14 or 15, has been at Discovery Bay Wild Bird Rescue for about seven years. Jet used to hunt with a falconer and was brought to the rescue after sustaining injuries while attempting to escape an attack from a gray horned owl in Eastern Washington. (Elijah Sussman/Peninsula Daily News)
Wild bird rescue to host open house

Officials to showcase expanded educational facilities

Jaiden Dokken, Clallam County’s first poet laureate, will wrap up their term in March. Applications for the next poet laureate position, which will run from April 2025 to March 2027, are open until Dec. 9. To apply, visit NOLS.org/NextPoet. (North Olympic Library System)
Applications open for Clallam poet laureate

Two-year position will run from April 2025 to March 2027

The YMCA of Port Angeles was May recipient of Jim’s Cares Monthly Charity at Jim’s Pharmacy in Port Angeles.
Staff and customers raised more than $593 to support the YMCA.
Pictured, from left, are Joey Belanger, the YMCA’s vice president for operations, and Ryan French, the chief financial officer at Jim’s Pharmacy.
Charity of the month

The YMCA of Port Angeles was May recipient of Jim’s Cares Monthly… Continue reading

Festival of Trees QR code.
Contest: Vote for your favorite Festival of Trees

The Peninsula Daily News is thrilled to announce its first online Festival… Continue reading

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office uses this armored vehicle, which is mine-resistant and ambush protected. (Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office)
OPNET to buy armored vehicle

Purchase to help with various situations

Lincoln High School students Azrael Harvey, left, and Tara Coville prepare dressing that will be part of 80 Thanksgiving dinners made from scratch and sold by the Salish Sea Hospitality and Ecotourism program. All meal preparation had to be finished by today, when people will pick up the grab-and-go meals they ordered for Thursday’s holiday. (Paula Hunt/Peninsula Daily News)
Students at Wildcat Cafe prepare Thanksgiving dinners

Lincoln High School efforts create 80 meals ready to eat

D
Peninsula Home Fund celebrates 35 years

New partnership will focus on grants to nonprofits

A mud slide brought trees down onto power lines on Marine Drive just each of the intersection with Hill Street on Monday. City of Port Angeles crews responded and restored power quickly. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Downed trees

A mud slide brought trees down onto power lines on Marine Drive… Continue reading

Photographers John Gussman, left, and Becky Stinnett contributed their work to Clallam Transit System’s four wrapped buses that feature wildlife and landscapes on the Olympic Peninsula. The project was created to promote tourism and celebrate the beauty of the area. (Paula Hunt/Peninsula Daily News)
Iconic Peninsula images wrap Clallam Transit buses

Photographers’ scenes encompass community pride

Housing identified as a top priority

Childcare infrastructure another Clallam concern