PORT ANGELES – Clallam County thought it had a 20th positive COVID-19 case, but that case has now been assigned to King County.
However, Clallam County Health Officer Dr. Allison Berry Unthank says the person had an established address in King County but was tested for COVID-19 in Clallam County. The person had contact with a half dozen people in Clallam County and Unthank says two of them are showing symptoms and are being tested.
“She did have contacts here. So, we have six contacts that we have already reached out to the are in home quarantined right now. Two are getting tested today because they’re starting to show symptoms. So, we may get some additional cases out of that exposure.”
During a briefing today, Unthank says they’re now changing recommendations for the type of test administered to some people in Clallam County. Guidance now shows a nasal swab is as effective as the more uncomfortable pharyngeal swap that had been used. Unthank says people in the general public that have symptoms and want a test can now use the less cumbersome swap.
“There have been studies that a nasal swab. So, just in the nose is actually as effective as an NP swab. And so we are recommending transitioning to only nasal swabs outside of the in-patient setting. So people in the hospital still should get an NP swab. Everyone else in clinics or anyone in the public who’s feeling sick will actually just get a swab up the nose.”
Unthank also addressed how contact tracing will work locally. She says if a positive case is determined locally, her staff will contact those who may have had contact with that patient. They may be asked to be tested and quarantine for two weeks. She was emphatic that people will not be forced from their home if asked to quarantine.
“Anyone who’s identified to a contact investigation here, will be supported on how to stay safe in their home or to get the medical care they need. But, we don’t take people out of their homes and send them other places. We do have the social distancing shelter for folks who don’t have another place to go so that they have a safe option for where they can shelter, but we don’t force anyone to leave their home.”
Clallam County is using 40 people, many volunteers, to do contact tracing if there are flare ups of COVID-19 in the area. The county has now gone more than a week without a positive COVID case. The last one was contracted and recovered in New York, but had a Clallam County address and was counted here. All 19 Clallam cases have fully recovered.