Island County COVID-19
Island County Public Health wants to make sure that the citizens of Island County have access to reliable guidance surrounding COVID-19. We will be updating our guidance to the community weekly and hope that you will use this to help inform and empower yourself and our community.
Stay Home, Stay Healthy
The Stay Home, Stay Healthy order will be in effect through May 4th, but a slow lifting of physical isolation measures are expected, with many remaining in place moving forward. Continue to follow guidance to prevent further spread and minimize impacts of COVID-19.
• We have seen very few new cases of COVID-19 in the last week in Island County, and in order to continue this trend, all residents need to continue following all parts of the Governor’s order. The Governor’s order must be lifted slowly, like the turning of a dial. If we move too fast in re-opening, we risk having to completely shut down again.
• Stay at home except for essential activities. When conducting essential business in settings where adequate physical distancing is not possible, it is recommended to wear a cloth mask. Wash your hands and mask as frequently as possible to protect others.
• Governor Inslee recently announced that construction projects previously underway are allowed to resume, subject to certain requirements. On Tuesday, May 5th, some outdoor recreation will be allowed with appropriate safety precautions including: fishing; hunting; playing golf; and day use of certain parks and public lands. Visit the Governor’s Medium page for additional details.
Reopening Businesses
We are cautiously optimistic as we look to the future and consider what “turning the dial” means for our community. A number of key things need to be in place before we can reopen safely. State and local officials are working on these pieces - plan to see more information in the next few weeks. A few of these key pieces are listed below.
• Testing: Planning is currently underway for widespread COVID-19 testing in Island County and throughout Washington State. Island County hopes to begin testing by the middle of May.
• Adequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Public health staff, healthcare facilities and EMS/Fire must have access to sufficient PPE for testing, transport, and treatment.
• Healthcare Capacity: Hospitals must have the capacity to treat COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients appropriately.
Economic Impacts
Although needed, the Stay Home, Stay Healthy order has significant financial impacts on individuals and the community at large. Connect to resources to help address the financial impacts of COVID-19:
• The Island County Department of Emergency Management (DEM) is working to organize and consolidate all of the financial assistance information for individuals and businesses. Please visit their pages and refer others.
• Every business in our county should be preparing a safety plan now and be preparing for Governor Inslee to release some restrictions by May 4th. Start taking action now, with the intention of being open in the near future.
• The Coupeville Historic Waterfront Association recently announced the Light at the End of the Tunnel (LENT) Micro-Loan Program to help support Coupeville businesses. The Association is seeding the program with $20,000 and looking for additional community donations. See their website for more information.
Contact Us
If you have questions or concerns about COVID-19 in Island County, start by visiting our website or our Facebook page.
Public can contact the Island County call center at 360.678.2301.
Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm; Saturday and Sunday, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.
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