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Home My WebLink AboutM082020 inmown • JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH MINUTES August 20, 2020 Jefferson County Public Health, 615 Sheridan Street, Port Townsend WA 98368 Board Members Staff Members Pamela Adams,Vice Chair,Port Townsend City Council Michael Dawson,Water Quality Manager Greg Brotherton,County Commissioner,District#3 Vicki Kirkpatrick,Public Health Director Kate Dean,County Commissioner District#1 Thomas Locke,Health Officer Kees Kolff,Public Hospital District#2 Commissioner Apple Martine,Community Health Director Denis Stearns,Citizen at large Pinky Mingo,Environmental Public Health Director David Sullivan,County Commissioner,District#2 Veronica Shaw,Public Health Deputy Director Sheila Westerman,Chair,Citizen at large Acting Chair Pamela Adams called the August 20, 2020 meeting of the Jefferson County Board of Health to order at 2:30 p.m. A quorum was present. Members Present: Commissioner Pamela Adams, Commissioner Greg Brotherton, Commissioner Kate Dean, Member Kees Kolff, Member Denis Stearns, Commissioner David Sullivan Staff Present: Michael Dawson, Water Quality Manager; Dr. Thomas Locke, Health Officer; Apple Martine, Community Health Director; Pinky Mingo, Environmental Public Health& Water Quality Director APPROVAL OF AGENDA Acting Chair Pamela Adams asked for approval of the agenda for August 20, 2020. Dr. Locke, asked to add a report on Energov System and Regulatory Reform Efforts under Old Business. Commissioner Sullivan asked to move New Business item number 1 to after item number 5. Member Kolff moved to approve the agenda as edited. Commissioner Sullivan seconded the motion. The motion carried. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Acting Chair Pamela Adams asked for approval of the minutes for July 16, 2020. Member Kolff motioned to approve the minutes. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Sullivan. No further discussion. The motion passed unanimously. • Page 1 of 5 t t • OLD BUSINESS AND INFORMATIONAL ITEMS 1. Jefferson Healthcare Update Member Kolff briefly discussed that Jefferson Healthcare continues to serve a vital function and reported that more people are getting comfortable coming into the facilities and the Telecare volume has decreased. Jefferson Healthcare continues to increase the number of providers and services to the hospital district. Commissioner Brotherton inquired about insurance companies paying for customers voluntary Covid-19 testing. Member Kolff turned it over to Dr. Locke to answer. Dr. Locke explained the different options patients have. Members discussed testing options and protocols. 2. Changes in Safe Start for July and August, 2020 Dr. Locke discussed the different phases of WA Safe Start, how the phases are changing, new restrictions and what that means for different activities and businesses. 3. Safe Start for Long Term Care Facilities Dr. Locke discussed the mortality issues of the pandemic in high risk populations, virus transmission prevention and changes in protocols now that transmission numbers are declining in Washington State. He discussed Jefferson County protocols in regards to long term care and skilled nursing facilities and reintroduction of visitation rights. IIICommissioner Brotherton inquired about long term care facilities reporting requirements. Dr. Locke explained the requirements. Commissioner Dean inquired about new case numbers for Jefferson County and level of concern. Dr. Locke discussed the calculation protocol for new cases. Commissioner Dean shared concerns about grocery store transmission seeking input from Dr. Locke on level of concern. Dr. Locke explained transmission issues for food service establishments. 4. Energov System Report Staff Member Mingo gave an update on the Energov System and training. She reported that they are on track for making it operational on the first of the new year. Acting Chair Pamela Adams asked for clarification on what and how Energov Systems was going to be used. Staff Member Mingo clarified. Commissioner Brotherton asked for clarification and timeline on data migration as well as GIS Mapping integration. Staff Member Mingo clarified and Staff Member Dawson discussed the GIS Mapping integration. • Page 2 of 5 Three draft policies and code are ready. Staff Member Mingo commented that it is a large packet, and asked if the Board wanted them all at the same time or just a couple. The Board preferred to have them all. If all aren't ready by September, the Board prefers to review the Basic Sanitation Policy. Member Stearns discussed the homeless situation and proposed reviewing that code first. Commissioner Dean commented that because we're in the middle of a pandemic, workload priorities might need to shift but reviewing the homeless encampments first was a good idea. NEW BUSINESS 1. Covid-19 Pandemic Situation Report for Washington State Dr. Locke discussed the new planning model and data modelling for Washington State which includes results of past efforts, the reproductive number, outbreaks, and ways to move forward as well as the status of Jefferson and surrounding counties. Member Kolff asked Dr. Locke to further comment on numbers of cases stemming from parties and events. Dr. Locke discussed this, citing the statewide trends in outbreaks associated with large gatherings. There was further discussion about the reporting system, quarantine protocols, and how a surge in cases might affect the new school year plans. 2. Jefferson County Schools: 2020-2021 School Year Planning and Public Health Response Dr. Locke discussed guidance for in-school education as well as the Districts' plans for the upcoming 111 school year. He feels strongly that they are all very well prepared at this point after working on the many plans over the Summer. Member Stearns asked if there was a plan for students that struggled with home learning. Dr. Locke explained the schools' plan for this. 3. August 11,2020 Jefferson County Health Officers Order Re: Covid-19 Guideline compliance and Food Service Establishments Dr. Locke discussed what has happened in the last month on this Order. Dr. Locke expressed gratitude for the extensive legal consultation from Mr. Phillip Hunsucker, chief civil deputy prosecuting attorney for the County, has contributed a great deal to this Order. He reported on his recent visits to many different establishments in Port Townsend and was impressed with the compliance and creativity. The push will now be to get this level of compliance county wide and discussed the range of enforcement tactics to deal with the small percent of businesses that are still non-compliant. Member Stearns talked about the importance of developing and maintaining good relationships with food service establishments and possibly reaching out to the majority that are very compliant, and commending them for their outstanding efforts. Staff Member Mingo discussed the letter that was sent out with the Order. Commissioner Brotherton commented that there could be more open dialogue to prevent further miscommunications. • Page 3 of 5 Member Stearns asked for clarification of the rules for bathroom configurations where a restaurant is transitioning from take out only, to dine in with limited seating. Staff Member Mingo responded that restaurants must provide bathrooms to customers. 4. Immunization Planning,2020-2021 School Year Dr. Locke discussed the plan for regular vaccinations including the flu shot. Dr. Locke predicts that we will have a relatively mild flu and common cold season this year due to our extraordinary efforts in preventing disease transmission. Member Stearns asked about the insurance and appointment requirements for receiving the flu shot this year in Jefferson County. There was some Board discussion on this issue. 5. A Resolution of the Jefferson County Board of Health Declaring Racism a Public Health Emergency Member Stearns gave an update on the progress of this Resolution as edited by the ad hoc committee and sought input from the Board as to next steps toward adoption of this Resolution. There was Board discussion on activities since the last Board meeting, content of the draft and it was decided to table this for more editing, and will direct any suggested edits to Member Stearns for incorporation into the draft resolution. ACTIVITY UPDATE Community Health Division Updates Staff Member Martine briefly reviewed what the Jefferson County Public Health Community Health Division has been doing and how they have adopted strategies for working within Covid-19 restrictions. There were some questions from the Board on school-based health clinics working within these restrictions. It was suggested by Commissioner Dean that, for future agendas in this format, time be made to respond to public comment. Member Kolff requested that the Board move the Community Health Division Updates to the beginning of the meeting. Member Kolff also asked Staff Member Martine to submit written updates to the Board members before the meetings. Acting Chair Pamela Adams agreed that the Community Health Update be moved to the beginning of the meetings. Commissioner Dean and Member Kolff left the meeting. AGENDA PLANNING CALENDAR • Addressing racism as a public health concern • Handling of public comment • Childcare for school aged children • Page 4 of 5 • • NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING The next Board of Health meeting will be held online as a GoToMeeting on Thursday, September 17, 2020 from 2:30—4:30 p.m. ADJOURNMENT Acting Chair Pamela Adams adjourned the August 20, 2020 Jefferson County Board of Health meeting at 4:47 p.m. JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH 1,��,�J, �,,y�F wSe,"�'s�CQ i VI `� �`^ ""'`i Sheila Westerman, Chair Kate Dean, Member • CLRPro(Jc I 1oi11 C�PfbV -0( '��.i eU Pamela Adams, Vice Chair U (Ireg Brotherton, Member o 1?prD ile ° affry Q Crphoms P David Sullivan, Member Kees Kolff, Member cJ pruti-01()Ohakallir Denis Stearns, Member Respectfully submitted K. Abbott 1111 Page 5 of 5