HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020/09/22 - Board of Health MASON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH PROCEEDINGS
411 North 5t''Street,Shelton,WA
September 22,2020
Virtual Attendance: Randy Neatherlin,County Commissioner;Kevin Shutty,County Commissioner; Sharon
Trask.County Commissioner;Peggy VanBuskirk,Hospital District#2;Dave Windom,Mason County
Community Services Director;Lydia Buchheit,Mason County Community Health Manager;McKenzie Smith,
Clerk of the Board;Kathy McDowell,City of Shelton Council Member Seat#2; Gary Plews,Fire Fighters
Association;Dr.Dan Stein,Health Officer;Keri Davison, Shelton School Board;&Alex Paysse,Environmental
Health Manager
1. Chair Peggy Van Buskirk called the meeting to order at 10:30 a.m.
2. Approval of Agenda—Gary Plews/Cmmr. Shutty moved and.seconded to approve the agenda as
presented. Motion carried.
3. Approval of Minutes—Cmmr.Trask/Cmmr. Shutty moved and seconded to approve the July 28,2020
minutes as presented. Motion carried.
4. Health Officer Report—Dr.Daniel Stein reported on the current COVID status. The recent spike has
begun to trail off and the number of tests has been slightly reducing. A lower positive rate and reduced
cases per 100,000 is being seen. This gives staff the opportunity to address non-COVID topics such as
establishing the health coalition in the next month or so. The Hep C screening and referrals treatment
program is almost ready to begin as well.
Mason County is searching for a Health Officer replacement and Dr. Stein will be available until we have a
replacement or until the end of the year.
5. Administration Report—Dave Windom briefly recapped his report and shared that the Risk Dashboard is
being closely monitored. The Risk Dashboard shares data points that aid in potential school reopening.
Currently the cases per 100,000 per two weeks shows at 66 which is below the threshold of 75. The goal is
to get below 25. Dave also shared that the alternate care facility has been ready to go and they are hoping
to be able to have the facility up and running within 48 hours. There may be a potential COVID vaccine in
the middle part of November,however it will have an ultra-cold hold meaning it must be stored at 80
degrees or below. Washington State may receive 100,000 doses of the vaccine and as time goes by may
receive more. Large-chain pharmacies and hospitals will be the points of distribution.
Drought planning will also be worked on. A draft plan was done in 2015,however it needs to be updated.
The hospital has received another 4,000 COVID testing kits.
Keri Davison asked if the Risk Dashboard and data points can be published daily to the public or if there is
a better way to share this information to parents in the school district. Dave responded that we can do an
update each Friday. Dr. Stein mentioned there is a meeting next week with the school superintendents to
look at the plan for reopening schools.
Lastly,Dave mentioned that we have received four applications for the health officer position—two are not
qualified and two are out of state looking for a full-time position. Clark County currently has a public
health officer that is looking to work one day a week and there may be the possibility of a contractual
agreement.
6. Environmental Health Report—Alex Paysse shared that staff has been very busy this summer with
issuing permits. There were multiple applicants for the On-Site Sewage Committee installer position and
the interview committee recommends the re-appointment of Thad Bamford for another three-year term.
BOARD OF HEALTH PROCEEDINGS
September 22,2020-PAGE 2
Cmmr.Shutty/Cmmr.Neatherlin moved and seconded to reappoint Thad Bamford for a three-year term
on the On-Site Sewage Committee. Motion carried.
Alex then recommended that Rhonda Thompson be appointed for the county position.
Cmmr.Shutty/Gary Plews moved and seconded to appoint Rhonda Thompson to the On-Site Sewage
Committee. Motion carried.
Next,Alex mentioned that he would like the Commissioners to make the committee appointments,rather
than the Board of Health so the process is timelier due to meeting frequency. Both Peggy Vanbuskirk and
Commissioner Trask agree.
7. Community Health Report—Lydia Buchheit spoke about the behavioral health lead program for law
enforcement assistance and diversion. Olympic Health and Recovery Services is the main contracted
agency for that. The program will run until next summer and is anticipated to get more funding although it
should be sustainable by that time. She will have more details on the next report.
The HERSA Grant for$1 million was received and began on September 1". This will allow peers with
substance abuse experience to aid agencies such as Mason Health,Peninsula Community Health Services,
Regional Fire Authority,and Public Health. Orientation with HERSA and the aforementioned partners will
be this week. There is hope that the program will be up and running by the second week of October. Over
$3 million received to do work with the Behavioral Health Group which includes substance use and mental
health. The focus currently is on sustainability with funding through Medicaid and other resources from
community partners. -
For housing, over$2 million has been brought into the county to be utilized for mortgage and rent
assistance,etc.due to COVID.
Hep C work is beginning with money in from the state with hopes that there is the ability to hire a position.
Two temporary remote employees were hired for case investigation. Recently the department joined the
State in using CREST,a Microsoft Platform that allows them to manage contact and case investigations.
Staff are beginning to be able to return to their"normal'programs.
As a reminder regarding COVID—initially there was an issue reaching contacts for positive cases,however
there has been a lot of success recently. With long-term care facilities,they are having to test all residents
and staff weekly. The CDC also issued a statement that said the six-foot distance rule was not enough,but
that has been retracted.
Lastly,they are working with schools to have one point of contact at each school or each district to handle
COVID concerns. The department will contact the schools daily to help answer questions and concerns.
Keri asked what the turnaround time for tests now. Lydia answered that at this time it is 24-48 hours.
Commissioner Neatherlin inquired about testing for travelers. Lydia responded that Mason County
recommends travelers go to another location,such as Olympia,for testing because they offer the special
testing for travelers while our main focus in on those who are ill or exposed. Peggy mentioned that
individuals who need to get procedures or surgeries done must be tested and wanted to know if they are
going through the hospital or another location. The response was that the hospitals give direct guidance on
where those individuals need to go. Dave shared that a lot of hospitals are going with time over testing,
asking the patients to quarantine 14 days in advance of the procedure.
8. Other Business and Board Discussion—The next meeting will be November 17,2020 at 3:00 p.m. '
9. COVID Presentation—Dave Windom shared a COVID-19 Response Presentation
_ BOARD OF HEALTH PROCEEDINGS
September 22,2020-PAGE 3
Kathy McDowell asked how the 14-day quarantine time was determined. Dave answered that it comes from
the Center for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC). Symptoms typically appear 5-10 days after exposure
and then adding four days past that.
10. Public Comments—none.
11. The meeting adjourned at 11:21 a.m.
ATTEST MASON COUNTY,WASHINGTON
BOARD OF HEALTH
MASON COUNTY,WASHINGTON
McKenzie S th,C16k of the Board kQQILUVn
Scott Hilb6fn,Hospital Di ict V1
Kathy NWowell,City C mmissioner
Kevin Shutty,Yommissioner
Randy ea ln,Commissioner
'Sharon Trask,Commissioner
Peggy VaWBuikirk,Hos I al Distr #�
Gary Ple ,Fire Comma ioneTQ
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Kerr Davi on, elton Sch of Board
- BEFORE THE BOARD OF HEALTH
OF MASON COUNTY, WASHINGTON
A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING ) RES. NO. 20-015
PUBLIC HEALTH NOW )
PHARMACEUTICAL )
INTERVENTIONS TO PREVENT )
INCREASES IN COVID-19 CASES )
WHEREAS, the Board of Health for Mason County (BOH) supports collaboration
among City, County, and business partners in addressing COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, Mason County and western Washington are currently experiencing a
dramatic increase in cases not related to an increase in testing; and
WHEREAS, Public Health is required to address the current widespread increase;
WHEREAS, Mason County Public Health in partnership with Area Command are
addressing the increase utilizing non-pharmaceutical methods of social distancing, mask
usage, hygiene, and dissemination of information; and
WHEREAS, While vaccines are on the horizon, timelines are unknown, many
barriers remain in the availability, distribution, efficacy, and uptake of vaccines
necessitating use of other interventions; and
WHEREAS, the Governor issued mandates require the use of masks, social
distancing, and increased hygiene; and
WHEREAS Behaviors drive this disease and a change in behavior may reduce the
increase of experiencing further restrictions as a county and as a community; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MASON COUNTY BOARD OF
HEALTH, AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The BOH asks the residents of Mason County and the City of Shelton
exercise greater vigilance in adherence to masking procedures, social distancing, and
hygiene to prevent an increase in COVID-19 cases.
SECTION 2. The BOH recommends that residents make greater use of the many
creative solutions provided by local retailers to reduce person to person contact such as
curbside delivery, take out, and drive up services.
SECTION 3. The BOH recommends that holiday family gatherings be kept small and of
shorter duration making every effort to protect those most vulnerable to the effects of
COVID-19.
SECTION 4. The BOH asks that the CITY of Shelton and Mason County governments
set the example in leadership and adherence to COVID-19 rules and recommendations
SECTION S. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon
adoption.
Done in open session this day of NO tMbex 2020.
APPROVED AS TO FORM: BOARD OF HEALTH MASON COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Tim Whitehead
.L 4 mmn Q'RN 1' 18L /join
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Peggy V Buskirk, Chaii—
ATTEST: Kevin Shutty,Commissioner
McKenzie S h, Cle'Tf,,of the Board Randy lin, Commissioner
Sharon Trask, Commissioner
Ked Davidson, School Bpi rid
Scott Hil rn, Hospital bikricel
Kathy WDowell, City df Shelton
Gary Ple s, Mason Co ty ire Di riot #4 ��