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Page A-10 Shelton-Mason County Journal — Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020
Mason County takes stock of COVID status in August '
By Kirk Boxleither
kbox/e/tner@masoncounty. com
For Dr. Daniel Stein, health officer
for Mason County Public Health, one
of his goals for the county’s response to
COVID-19 is simple.
“Our target for deaths is zero,” said
Stein. “We don’t want to see any more.”
Mason County’s only confirmed CO-
VID—19 death was April 25.
Stein’s prognosis was echoed by
the Sept. 4 assessment of Renee Was-
senaar, executive assistant for the
North Mason Regional Fire Authority,
who reported a “stabilization” in cases
over the course of that week.
“Although we continue to see posi~
tive cases, the daily increase in new
cases has slowed from double digits
down to single digits,” Wassenaar said.
Stein offered a similar assessment in
an interview Sept. 2 with the Journal,
reporting “a spike just recently, that’s
already started to drop back down.”
St. Michael Medical Center in
Bremerton had been experiencing a
COVID-19 outbreak among patients
and staff members, Wassenaar said,
and had requested that North Mason
‘ Regional Fire Authority crews Send all
wSu MAKING A DIFFERENCE
their nonlife-threatening transports to
Mason General Hospital for “several
days.”
Stein expressed confidence that
Mason County had kept its cases low
enough to “not overwhelm the system,”
and had done “a great job limiting the
impact” of the pandemic.
Mason County Public Health report-
ed July 30 the county had performed
.4,966 tests for COVID-19, and had
confirmed 166 cases, of which 48 were
active, one was hospitalized within Ma-
son County, and one (Mason County’s
sole confirmed COVID-19 death) was
hospitalized outside of the county.
On Aug. 31, Mason County Public
Health reported the county had per-
formed 8,406 tests for COVID—19, and
had confirmed 344 cases, of which 56
remained active, four were hospitalized
within Mason County and one was hos-
pitalized outside of the county.
“We’ve been very well-prepared to
test and treat these individuals,” Stein
said.
Stein noted the county had focused
on high-risk populations such as nurs-
ing home residents and other senior
citizens, and inmates, which seems to
' be borne out by comparative increases
in COVID—19 cases among older age
groups.
From July 30 to Aug. 31, COVID-19
cases Went from 58 to 88 among people
ages 40-59; from to 41 among peo-
ple ages 60-79; and from three to eight
among people ages 80 and older.
But the number of COVID-19 cases
during that same period soared from 20
to 62 among people ages 0-1-9 and from
63 to 145 among people ages 20-39.
Younger people have experienced a
dramatic growth in COVID-19 cases,
and not just in Mason County, Stein
said. “We have to work against COV—
ID fatigue,” Stein said, saying limited
social interaction has exacted a toll.
“When you want your normal life back,
it’s more tempting not to take it as seri-
ously. And we need to address the sec-
ondary impacts of this pandemic, not
just economically, but also on mental
health. We’re likely going to see im—
pacts such as increases in suicides and
substance abuse for years to come, and
we need to be working now to prevent
that.”
Mason County Public Health is
working with schools as they reopen.
“Children can be a vector for spread-
ing this disease, especially since they
experience fewer symptoms, so we don’t
want them spreading it to their fami-
lies,” Stein said. “We’ve worked with
the schools to adopt what measures
they can to prevent super-spreading,
and we’ve developed some positive re-
lationships there.”
.Stein praised his counterparts in
surrounding counties, with whom he
continues to discuss COVID-related
issues so they can coordinate effective
responses.
Mason County has a high number of
people whose primary language is nei4
ther English nor Spanish, which poses
challenges when it comes to contact
tracing, Stein said.
“We’ve tried to target those popula?
tions by finding interpreters for them,”
Stein said. “We’re also a particularly
rural county, and while COVID has
seen a greater spread among higher
population areas, we can’t forget those
areas whose populations aren’t as
dense, because COVID is starting to
reach them now. Even if you live in a
less-populated area, it’s not unlikely
that you’ll go to more populated areas
to run errands such as grocery shop-
ping. Those population groups are still
going to interact.”
Fresh farm guide: Connecting people to local farm goods
re you looking for a source of local,
Afresh food? How about somewhere
you can purchase goods while also
supporting local businesses? Are you con-
cerned with knowing where your food comes
from and how it was raised or cultivated? If
this sounds like you, then the 2020 Mason
County Farm Fresh Guide is the best place
to start.
With 25 featured farms around Ma-
son County, you can find some‘wonderful
homegrown goods. The guide features an
assortment of businesses and farmers who
provide a wide assortment of goods such as from
shellfish, beef, poultry, produce, mushrooms and
flowers.
Most of these farms are small and family-owned,
Slug; la! 41ml NW Us,
Serving Shelton since 1932!
Family Owned and Operated for 32 years!
Alex LeCault, Owner
Besides prescriptions, Vitamins, diabetic supplies, and
home healthcare, we are also known for our gift shop!
Monday through Friday 9 - 6 l Saturda
512 W Franklix‘n St. in Shelton 360-426-3327
CARMAN ers Markets.
'10a1n-2 m I Closed Suuda
so supporting them is a great way to sup-
port your local economy.
The guide contains contact information
for each business and short descriptions of
what each business offers. Once you have
reviewed the farms and what they offer in
the guide, you can consult the provided map
and determine which farm is closest to you.
“ " Inside the guide you will also find details for
By KENDALL both the Shelton and Harstine Island Farmé
This guide is intended to help support
and raise awareness of local businesses
while helping Mason County residents connect with
these services. The guides have been provided for
distribution to many restaurants and businesses
throughout Mason County. However, if you have
not received one, you can pick one up at the WSU
Mason County Extension Office located at 303 N
4th St..in Shelton. Please call ahead to schedule
pickup at 360-427-9670 Ext. 680. ' i
.If you are unable or do not wish to visit the office,
download an electronic copy at the WSU Extension
Office website at https://extension.wsu.edu/mason
We hope this guide serves its intended purpose
in connecting Mason County residents with local
farmers and'other service providers. If you own a
business that would like to be displayed in the bro-
chure, please call the extension office,
I Kendall Carman is the small farm natural
resources coordinator at Washington State Univer-
sity Mason County Extension. She can be reached at
360-427-9670 Ext. 680 or kendall.carman@wsu.edu.
Exam ‘82 X-Ray
' with paid cleaning
Exam & X-Ray Valued at $198
See office for details
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