Other News
Apr 11, 2024: Community Meeting: Sea Level Rise Adaptation for Outer Bay and Agate Beach Areas on Lopez Island
Mar 11, 2024: Queers in Unexpected Places: Searching for (and Finding) Gender and Sexual Non-Conformity in the Rural and Early PNW
Mar 7, 2024: DRAFT Richardson Marsh Preserve Stewardship and Management Plan Now Open for Public Comment
Dec 5, 2023: County Council Member Jane Fuller and Senator Liz Lovelett to Host Public Meeting on Lopez
Nov 3, 2023: County and Town Send Open Letter to State Officials Regarding Impacts of Poor Ferry Service
Sep 29, 2023: Conservation Land Bank Announces Special Meeting to Discuss Watmough Bay Preserve Addition
Sep 14, 2023: The mobile dental van is coming to Lopez! // ¡La camioneta dental móvil ya llega a López!
Aug 22, 2023: San Juan County Adopts 32-Hour Work Week in the Name of Fiscal Health, Recruitment, and Islander Wellness
May 25, 2023: Recap of Lopez Neighborhood Meeting Regarding the Relocation of Public Works Facilities
May 23, 2023: District 3 Councilmember Jane Fuller Opens Office on Lopez and Hosts Community Conversation
Apr 17, 2023: Give Lopez Starts April 17th - A two week fundraiser benefiting 15 Lopez Island Non-Profits
Sep 22, 2022: Interim Watmough Preserve Addition Stewardship and Management Plan Now Open for Public Comment
Weekly Case Update: Three New Cases on Lopez Island
Apr 16, 2021
By San Juan County
Since the last update on Friday April 9th, total cases in San Juan County have increased from 154 to 166.
Note that there are 40 close contacts of positive cases currently in active quarantine.
SHAW ISLAND
There is one new case on Shaw Island. The following details are known about this new case:
-This new case is a close household contact of a previously reported positive case tied to the Friday Harbor High School baseball team outbreak
There is one confirmed positive case under active monitoring on Shaw Island at this time.
ORCAS ISLAND
There are no new cases on Orcas Island since the last update. There are no confirmed positive cases under active monitoring on Orcas Island at this time.
LOPEZ ISLAND
There are three new cases on Lopez Island since the last update. The following details are known about these new cases:
-All three of the new cases are from a single household. Initial transmission source is related to off-island travel.
There are three confirmed positive cases under active monitoring on Lopez Island at this time.
SAN JUAN ISLAND
There are eight new cases since the last report on San Juan Island.
-One of these positive cases is an individual with a San Juan County address, but who has not been in the islands for some time.
-Four of these new cases are close household contacts of previously reported positive cases tied to the Friday Harbor High School baseball team outbreak.
-One of these new cases is a close household contact of a previously reported positive case.
-Two of these new cases are close social contacts of previously reported positive cases tied to the Friday Harbor High School baseball team outbreak.
There are 12 positive cases under active monitoring on San Juan Island at this time.
OVERALL PICTURE:
First off, and this is really important: in order to share information with the community that helps convey the current situation, sometimes it is necessary to lump cases together with a similar name or description. We’re doing that here with the “baseball team†outbreak to communicate the way in which disease can spread quickly through the community. However, we want to be clear about the following:
-While many of the initial positive cases had ties to the Friday Harbor high school baseball team, most of the transmission appears to have happened during interactions that had no direct involvement with school, athletics, or the sport of baseball.
-While it may be tempting to cast judgment on those who have been impacted by COVID, that’s not the way we do things in the islands, and that’s not the way to get through this crisis with our humanity intact. Other than those fortunate islanders who have the resources and ability to keep themselves totally sequestered, we all are at some risk of becoming infected and unwittingly spreading the disease. Compassion and empathy go a long way.
And finally, some thoughts about getting vaccinated:
-Cases are rising obviously. Our best way to stop spread in the islands is by as many islanders as possible getting vaccinated. We owe it to ourselves and our community.
-The National Guard is coming back to the islands to vaccinate more than 3,000 individuals with the Moderna vaccine. Registration opens Tuesday April 20th at 9am. More info is here. Sign up.
-When you’re vaccinated, you’re slowing community spread. You’re protecting yourself and those around you. You’re keeping yourself from having to quarantine if exposed. And you’re enabling yourself to safely interact with other vaccinated individuals with no limitations at all.
SHAW ISLAND
There is one new case on Shaw Island. The following details are known about this new case:
-This new case is a close household contact of a previously reported positive case tied to the Friday Harbor High School baseball team outbreak
There is one confirmed positive case under active monitoring on Shaw Island at this time.
ORCAS ISLAND
There are no new cases on Orcas Island since the last update. There are no confirmed positive cases under active monitoring on Orcas Island at this time.
LOPEZ ISLAND
There are three new cases on Lopez Island since the last update. The following details are known about these new cases:
-All three of the new cases are from a single household. Initial transmission source is related to off-island travel.
There are three confirmed positive cases under active monitoring on Lopez Island at this time.
SAN JUAN ISLAND
There are eight new cases since the last report on San Juan Island.
-One of these positive cases is an individual with a San Juan County address, but who has not been in the islands for some time.
-Four of these new cases are close household contacts of previously reported positive cases tied to the Friday Harbor High School baseball team outbreak.
-One of these new cases is a close household contact of a previously reported positive case.
-Two of these new cases are close social contacts of previously reported positive cases tied to the Friday Harbor High School baseball team outbreak.
There are 12 positive cases under active monitoring on San Juan Island at this time.
OVERALL PICTURE:
First off, and this is really important: in order to share information with the community that helps convey the current situation, sometimes it is necessary to lump cases together with a similar name or description. We’re doing that here with the “baseball team†outbreak to communicate the way in which disease can spread quickly through the community. However, we want to be clear about the following:
-While many of the initial positive cases had ties to the Friday Harbor high school baseball team, most of the transmission appears to have happened during interactions that had no direct involvement with school, athletics, or the sport of baseball.
-While it may be tempting to cast judgment on those who have been impacted by COVID, that’s not the way we do things in the islands, and that’s not the way to get through this crisis with our humanity intact. Other than those fortunate islanders who have the resources and ability to keep themselves totally sequestered, we all are at some risk of becoming infected and unwittingly spreading the disease. Compassion and empathy go a long way.
And finally, some thoughts about getting vaccinated:
-Cases are rising obviously. Our best way to stop spread in the islands is by as many islanders as possible getting vaccinated. We owe it to ourselves and our community.
-The National Guard is coming back to the islands to vaccinate more than 3,000 individuals with the Moderna vaccine. Registration opens Tuesday April 20th at 9am. More info is here. Sign up.
-When you’re vaccinated, you’re slowing community spread. You’re protecting yourself and those around you. You’re keeping yourself from having to quarantine if exposed. And you’re enabling yourself to safely interact with other vaccinated individuals with no limitations at all.