COVID-19 Weekly Outlook newsletter from Kitsap Public Health

May 12, 2021

This newsletter is produced weekly. For daily COVID-19 updates, go to kcowa.us/covid19 or sign up to receive the daily bulletin produced by the Kitsap County Emergency Operations Center. You can manage your subscriptions using the links at the very bottom of this bulletin.

Vaccination available soon for ages 12-15; support local COVID-19 response by taking our survey!

• COVID-19 vaccination will soon be available for ages 12-15. The Food and
  Drug Administration authorized use of the Pfizer vaccine for this age group
  and we expect Washington state to follow suit with a recommendation this week. Find a convenient vaccination option for your family at vaccinelocator.doh.wa.gov.
• Variant strains of the COVID-19 virus now make up a majority of new cases
  reported. Younger people are at higher risk from these variants, which spread
  more easily and can cause more severe illness. Getting vaccinated, wearing masks, and avoiding indoor gatherings remain effective tools to keep all forms of COVID-19 at bay.
• Help us improve our local response to the COVID-19 pandemic by taking
  our COVID-19 community survey. We launched this survey to better
  understand how the pandemic has affected life in Kitsap County and gauge
  local perceptions of COVID-19 vaccines. Participants can enter to win one
  of six $25 gift cards. Take the survey at kcowa.us/survey

PRINTABLE WEEKLY OUTLOOK Download our weekly outlook report as a PDF that you can print and share in your community. Thank you for spreading reliable information about COVID-19! Looking for an image file to share? Click here.

Numbers to know

• As of May 6, 49% of Kitsap residents 16 and older had received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 38% were fully vaccinated.
• 221 COVID-19 cases were reported in our county in the most recent week with full data available (April 25- May 1): 3 cases in Bainbridge, 77 in Bremerton, 61 in Central Kitsap, 30 in North Kitsap, 102 in South Kitsap. 
• Kitsap County's rate of cases per 100,000 population over 14 days — a key metric in state reopening plans — has fallen to about 180. COVID-19 continues to spread widely in the county.
• 109 COVID-19-associated deaths have been reported in Kitsap to date.
• Find more local COVID-19 data at kcowa.us/covid19data

Fight the spread of COVID-19

We will need to use all the tools available to us to bring the COVID-19 pandemic to an end:

• Get a COVID-19 vaccine if you haven't yet. Go to covidvaccinewa.org or call 1-800-525-0127 for information. Kitsap Public Health has appointments available at kphd.timetap.com
• Wear a mask when you are around people you don't live with. 
• Keep at least 6 feet of space between you and people you don't live with. 
• Wash your hands frequently.
• Stay home if you feel sick. 
• Get tested if you have COVID-19 symptoms or have been around someone who tested positive for COVID-19. Go to kcowa.us/covidtesting 

QUESTIONS? CONTACT: pio@kitsappublichealth.org