Skagit Public Health’s COVID-19 response

If the novel coronavirus pandemic is an attack against every person, potentially, Skagit Public Health is the defending force in Skagit County. The health department, led by Director Jennifer Johnson, and advised by Dr. Howard Leibrand, County Health Officer, become the frontline troops seeking to minimize infections and the severity of COVID-19 cases of the virus last March.

Gov. Jay Inslee issued his “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order March 24, banning all gatherings and closing non-essential businesses as COVID-19 cases grew above 2,000 in Washington.

A Skagit County Unified Command was created, consisting of Public Health, Sheriff’s Office, and Department of Emergency Management. In April they opened the County’s drive-through testing site at Skagit Valley College, one of the first in the state. Some 40,000 tests will be given by end of year.

Site Manager Julie de Losada works with other public health staff to conduct tests on as many as 400 people a day with the daily average over 200. Public Health depends on partnerships it has created with Snohomish Medical Reserve Corps, Skagit YMCA, and PeaceHealth United General to augment test-site staffing. Some 200 volunteers have contributed over 11,500 hours at the site.

Testing was moved to the County Fairgrounds in September after days of strong winds drove staff to find weatherproof, permanent structures. It is an excellent example of the Unified Command meeting sudden and unexpected obstacles.

The County’s coronavirus response has depended on county, state and federal funds. Commissioner Ron Wesen praised Johnson and her staff for stretching the funds out and “making sure grants are there. They are filling out paperwork. They are finding the best benefit to the community.”

Funds have included some $1.4 million in Eviction Rental Assistance funding through four community agencies. Another $1.6 million provides new case management, rental assistance and motel voucher sheltering through Community Action of Skagit County Catholic Community Services. The agencies have opened a new housing office in Mount Vernon to implement this program.

To date 198 people have been placed in motel isolation/quarantine facilities. Fifty individuals experiencing homelessness who are high risk for COVID due to age or medical fragility have been housed in the motels.

Public Health staff daily update new cases, hospitalizations and deaths on its website. By month’s end 3,000 people will have been infected this year. Total hospitalizations are 189, but 48, 25% have been since Dec. 1. Thirty-seven people have died, 10 since Dec. 1.

Public outreach includes a new and marketing campaign through skagithelps.org