HomeMy WebLinkAbout20200917_S Schumacher_COVIDFrom:Stephen Schumacher
To:Board of Health
Cc:news@ptleader.com; Michelle Sandoval
Subject:Open meetings and phased reopening
Date:Thursday, September 17, 2020 12:41:25 PM
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Dear Jefferson County Board of Health,
1) The latest Board of Health minutes available to the public arefrom December, 2019:https://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/1088/Agenda-Minutes
At minimum, 2020 board minutes need to be posted promptly. Please
also consider ways to restore open meetings as soon as possible,perhaps by holding them outside (once the smoke clears!) or in a large hall.
2) Washington State's phased reopening has been indefinitely pausedsince July 14 in response to a Yakima spurt in cases. Since then,COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths have consistentlydecreased statewide, and are near-zero in our own county. As such,why does reopening remain indefinitely paused?
Since current statistics don't justify it, are we fearing that"winter is coming" with a dreadful second wave? UW's Institute forHealth Metrics and Evaluation projects the COVID-19 death rate tostay stable for the next month, double by election day, then explode14 times higher by year end unless hard lockdowns arereapplied. Note IHME has had a terrible track record so far thisyear and its new guesses are unfalsifiable until November, so pleasedon't let premature fears shape public policy until facts arise tojustify them.
Yours truly,Stephen Schumacher2023 E. Sims Way #200Port Townsend, WA 98368