News & Information

COVID-19 Testing Results Update for Kitsap County as of 11:00 a.m. November 18

• Positive tests to date: 17,783
• Deaths to date: 244
• View Kitsap Public Health's COVID-19 surveillance report - Disponible en Español
• DATA UPDATE: The rate of new cases reported per 100,000 population over 7 days. Previously, the rate was new cases per 100,000 over 14 days.  
• The COVID-19 Bulletin now publishes on an occassional basis. The Bulletin will continue to highlight recovery resources for businesses and families, as well as new guidance from the state, typically once or twice each month. The COVID-19 Weekly Outlook from KPHD will continue to provide the latest public health information on the pandemic. To subscribe to the Weekly Outlook click here and select "COVID-19 updates" under Kitsap Public Health District on the menu.  

Now is the time to get your COVID-19 vaccine. Visit Kitsap County Public Health at kcowa.us/vaccine and sign up here for vaccine updates from Kitsap Public Health.

COVID-19 vaccinations underway for children ages 5-11

The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is now authorized for children ages 5–11 and vaccinations have started in multiple locations here in Kitsap County. It’s emotional news for kids and parents alike.

For some, the assurance of a vaccine for your child may feel like a weight has finally lifted. Others may need some time to process the information. An article by Washington State Department of Health reminds parents that children have always been at risk of getting COVID-19. That risk has increased with new COVID-19 variants that are more dangerous and infectious to children than the original strains. As of early November, nearly 6.6 million children in the United states have tested positive for COVID-19 since the onset of the pandemic.

The article also notes that the vaccine is the best way to protect children from becoming severely ill or having long-lasting health impacts due to COVID-19. Research shows COVID-19 vaccines offer better protection than natural immunity alone and that vaccines, even after prior infection, help prevent reinfection.

• Click here for a fact sheet that includes basic information about Pfizer vaccination for children and a listing of local providers. 

Your body's defense system: How immunity works

As COVID-19 circulates around the world, scientists and doctors continue to study the virus closely to see just how our bodies react to it.

Your body’s ability to protect you from getting sick is called immunity. There are several types of immunity, and you’ve probably heard about them before. But what do terms like vaccine immunity, natural immunity, herd immunity, and hybrid immunity actually mean? And is one type more effective against COVID-19 infection than another? 

In recent interview with Dr. Mabel Bodell, a nephrologist (kidney specialist) at Confluence Health in Wenatchee provided this summary: 

Everyone’s body has an immune system. You can think of your immune system as an army, ready to attack. When any foreign substance, like a virus or bacteria, enters your body, the army determines the level of danger to the body and plans its attack.

If the invader is familiar (like a cold or flu), your immune system remembers fighting it before and can launch an attack quickly. But when an unfamiliar invader enters the body, like COVID-19, it takes your body some time to gather its weapons and determine how to battle it. Since every body has different immune systems, diseases and viruses affect everybody differently.

Read about the different types of COVID-19 immunity here.

Reminders on how to stay safe this Thanksgiving

Kitsap Public Health District has created this helpful guide to gathering safely this Thanksgiving. You are invited to post it and pass it on to others with a PDF copy you can download here.

Financial assistance for funeral expenses

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought overwhelming grief to many. FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) has established a resource to ease some of the financial stress and burden caused by the virus. Financial assistance up to $9000 for  funeral expenses is available to families that qualify. Requirements include a death certificate which attributes the death to COVID-19. 

Examples of expenses which qualify for reimbursement include:

              • Transportation to identify the deceased individual
              • The transfer of remains
              • A burial plot or cremation niche
              • A marker or headstone
              • Clergy or officiant services
              • The use of funeral home equipment or staff
              • Cremation or interment costs

A fact sheet from FEMA on this assistance can be found here.

Vaccination or negative test now required for large events

Proof of a COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test is now required to attend most large events in Washington state. This requirement applies to indoor gatherings of over 500 people. Read the governor’s full proclamation here.

How to access vaccine records and testing

Washington State has recently rolled out WAverify as new tool which allows you to establish a digital COVID-19 verification record. This record can be stored on either an iPhone or an Android device. You can starting the process by going to https://waverify.doh.wa.gov/ . Find frequently asked questions here. Additionally, vaccine records can still be accessed at https://myirmobile.com/. 

There is also a vaccine helpline from the Washington State Department of Health available to assist you in getting a copy of your COVID-19 vaccine record. Call toll-free 1-833-829-4357 Tuesday - Sunday 6:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. and Mondays from 6:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Find a list of local testing sites on the KPHD website or visit the state's testing page.

Kitsap drive thru testing schedule for Thanksgiving week

Drive thru testing for COVID-19 will be available only Monday and Tuesday this coming week in observance of the Thanksgving holiday weekend. Here is the full list of locations: 

- Mondays: Bainbridge Island - Rolling Bay Presbyterian Church, 11042 Sunrise Dr NE 

- Tuesdays: Bremerton - Harborside Parking Garage, 100 Washington Ave.

- Thursdays: Poulsbo - City Hall Parking Garage, 200 Moe St.

    (Closed Nov. 25. Resumes Dec. 2)

- Saturdays: Central Kitsap - Fairgrounds (Sheep Barn), 1200 Fairgrounds Rd NW

    (Closed Nov. 27. Resumes Dec. 4)

Registration is recommended for all locations to guarantee a spot and for faster service. For more information, visit kcowa.us/covidtesting. Additionally, Kitsap Public Health District regularly updates the list of local test providers. Questions about test sites? Call 2-1-1.

REPORTING OVER-THE-COUNTER COVID-19 TESTS: People who test themselves at home should report their results to public health by calling the Washington State Department of Health COVID hotline (1-800-525-0127) and follow CDC recommendations for isolation or quarantine.

Finding a COVID-19 vaccine provider

No matter where you are in Washington, the Vaccine Locator  provided by Washington State Department of Health makes it easy to find and schedule an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine. A regularly updated list of COVID-19 vaccine providers in Kitsap County can be found here.

Homebound and need a COVID-19 vaccine? 
Fill out a secure online form to let us know if you or someone you know is homebound. Your answers will allow us to connect individuals to available County and/or State Mobile Vaccine Teams.

Kitsap Public Health District continues to provide vaccine clinics at Bremerton Saint Michael Medical Center. Register at: https://kphd.timetap.com/#/ 

Need transportation? If you need transportation assistance to a COVID-19 vaccine site, please call Kitsap Transit's ACCESS service at (360) 479-7272 or (800) 422-2877. To make an appointment for a vaccination, please contact your health-care provider or clinic.

Need help? Call the hotline at 1-833-VAX-HELP (833-829-4357), then press #. Language assistance is available. You can also text your zip code to 438-829 (GET VAX) or 822-862 (VACUNA) for vaccine locations near you.

Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines at cdc.gov/coronavirus

Useful Links

• Online reporting of COVID-19 cases for businesses & organizations
• COVID-19 Vaccine Locator
• Kitsap Public Health vaccine clinic calendar
• Kitsap Public Health Coronavirus Information Page
• Resources for families and individuals
• Funeral expense reimbursement from FEMA

• Resources for businesses

• Kitsap County Eviction Prevention Assistance Program

• Kitsap Community Foundation's Kitsap Cares Page

• Kitsap County Services During the Coronavirus Response

• Kitsap County EOC Coronavirus Resource and Information Page

• Washington State Department of Health COVID-19 Page with links to resources in 38 languages