Clallam County, where Sequim is located, has kept a relatively low, stable COVID infection rate for months. In addition to protecting our population that low rate is essential. Our small hospital could be quickly overwhelmed with an influx of seriously ill patients.
But things have been changing, and not for the better. While initially most of our cases came from people who visited outside our area, local cases caused by community transmission have steadily increased over the summer. First it was a handful of cases after Memorial Day. Then came Independence Day and cases jumped, many from a single large party where first several, then eight, then five erupted. And the numbers have continued upward. We have had our first death and yesterday’s newspaper announced 11 new cases, all traced to a Port Angeles Bar.
Our COVID infection rate is now up to 94 cases per 100,000 population and is considered “high risk.” I was told that matches the rate seen in Los Angeles, California, a U.S. hotspot. And, of course, our schools cannot reopen.
I can barely express how discouraging this is after six months of religious mask wearing, self-quarantine, and forgoing any semblance of a social life.
Hello,
Hubby and I have been staying away from groups of people. It is still necessary to keep a social distance and wear the mask. Take care and stay safe! Enjoy your day!
It is a sad thing when the USA is setting new records for the wrong thing. (╯︵╰,)
I feel so bad for you. We have ventured out the last couple of weekends to meet friends on the patio of a pub and it was so nice to feel a bit normal. Stay safe!
Oh boy, I can understand how you feel. It’s exactly how I felt about 60 days ago when our number were spiking after bars here filled to over capacity. Our numbers are going back down now but we all have to be careful. And yet, I still see people not wearing masks. Yesterday, I stopped at the drug store and saw a woman pull her mask down to talk to the clerk. I thought ‘what on earth’. I made a wide path around her and got out of there.
In 1918 Philadelphians insisted on having a parade and generally scoffed wearing masks so the 1918 epidemic slayed the population. San Francisco fined or jailed people who did not wear masks and went through all 3 waves of the same pandemic
with low mortality.
It is frustrating to deal with the current circumstances.
The discouragement you feel is shared by many of us. We hope everyone will begin to understand that no one is safe.
It’s depressing. Our town is very small and the cases for the county have risen. Many people are visiting for holiday, bars are still closed but restaurants are open if they can maintain social distancing and take out service. People over 70 are required once again to stay in and avoid contact with people until Sept. 13th. People are not happy with this. Stay safe!
It’s been quite a ride so far. I kept thinking I’d have to be in for the long haul, but when one is old, well, that can be a very long time. Let us hope for the best, just trying to do what we can to stay away from infection (though I’ve broken my rules a few times) and live through it. I guess it’s just out there and will be for a while…..
It is so upsetting when the numbers go up as it takes next to no time for them to explode. I do hope they manage to nip this current outbreak in the bud.