FACEBOOK LIVE MEET GREET WITH KEY COVID-19 RESPONSE STAFF

September 16, 2020

Chelan & Douglas County, WA – The Chelan-Douglas Health District will be hosting a virtual meet & greet for the public and media with Interim Administrator Nathan Weed and Incident Commander John Unfred. Most of the conversation will focus on both leader’s vision and the team’s role in the response.

The event with be hosted in a Facebook Live event tomorrow, September 17, 2020 at 2:00pm on the CDHD Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ChelanDouglasHD/ . We ask that any questions the media has be submitted via email to: [email protected] by tomorrow at 12:00 pm. The public will be able to ask questions through Facebook live comments and the meeting is anticipated to last around 15 minutes.

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Full Press Release:
2020-51 Facebook Live Meet & Greet English and Spanish

COVID TESTING RESCHEDULED DUE TO AIR QUALITY

September 14, 2020

Chelan & Douglas County, WA – Due to current and forecast very unhealthy (201-300) and hazardous (301-500) air quality levels, the Chelan-Douglas Health District made the decision to cancel the COVID-19 testing that was scheduled for Tuesday, September 15, 2020 in Plain, WA.

Testing will now take place on Wednesday and Thursday, September 16-17, at Station 93, 19015 Beaver Valley Road in Leavenworth, WA. The team will be reviewing air quality levels throughout the week to ensure safe operations outdoors and may make additional changes.

To see current air quality levels please visit: https://enviwa.ecology.wa.gov/home/map . Public health would like to remind everyone to please stay indoors, use a HEPA filter if possible and wear a mask if you must go outdoors.

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Full Press Release:
2020-49 Testing Rescheduled Due To Air Quality English & Spanish

Board of Health Announces New Interim Administrator

September 11, 2020

Wenatchee/Olympia, WA — At a special Board of Health (BOH) meeting Wednesday, September 9, the Chelan-Douglas Health District (CDHD) Board voted to approve a request for assistance from the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) to identify an Interim Administrator to lead CDHD.

Nathan Weed, Director of Community Health Systems at DOH, will serve as the Interim Administrator starting today. He will provide leadership and support the recently formed CDHD Coordinated Policy Group, responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. The BOH is recruiting for a permanent Administrator. As Interim Administrator, Mr. Weed will also assist CDHD and BOH by strengthening relationships with local healthcare centers and key community groups, especially those representing the Latinx community.

DOH has provided the resource-constrained CDHD with technical assistance in a number of areas in recent weeks, including epidemiologists, a Type III Incident Management Team, and partial funding for epidemiologist and pandemic specialist, Dr. Peter Houck.

“It is essential that we get our schools and businesses open moving forward”, said BOH Chairman/Douglas County Commissioner Dan Sutton. “Our case numbers are starting to slowly come down and the assistance provided to us by DOH will help us to continue this trend.”

Chelan and Douglas Counties continue to experience high rates of COVID-19 positive cases and remain in a modified Phase 1.5 of Governor Jay Inslee’s Safe Start Plan. Currently, Chelan and Douglas counties have a 215.5 per 100,000 population positive case count and must reach 25 cases per 100,000 during a 14 day period to be considered for moving to Phase 2. There have been 19 deaths attributed to COVID-19.

The Latinx community and agricultural workers in Chelan and Douglas Counties have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. “It became clear that we need more help if we are to get our community on a better path to social and economic recovery through a long-lasting response to this pandemic”, added Sutton. “We are grateful for the partnership of the state who is providing us with these resources.”

Bruce Buckles, who has led the Health District since late June, will transition to District Special Projects Coordinator and eventually return to his role heading Aging and Adult Care of Central Washington.
“We want to thank Bruce for graciously stepping in to lead the Health District,” BOH Vice-Chair/Chelan County Commissioner Kevin Overbay said. “He has worked tirelessly the past two months – during a challenging time for our community and the District.”

“We continue to learn throughout this pandemic how interconnected and interdependent we all are as individuals and communities. DOH is honored to help our local healthcare partners and the residents of Chelan and Douglas counties during these very challenging times and at critical points in the pandemic response”, said Secretary of Health, John Wiesman.

Mr. Weed has a background in infectious disease, epidemiology and public health preparedness and response. He has served in many senior leadership positions in state and local government to prepare him for this role. Mr. Weed currently directs the Office of Community Health Systems at DOH. He previously served as the Deputy Director of Emergency Preparedness and has also worked in local public health in Washington and Louisiana. Mr. Weed has been deeply engaged in the COVID-19 response, including serving as Incident Commander for the statewide health response.

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Full Press Release:
2020-48 New Interim Admin for CDHD English & Spanish

Additional Death from Coronavirus (COVID-19)

September 10, 2020

EAST WENATCHEE – Chelan-Douglas Health District (CDHD) reports its 19th death from COVID-19. The individual from Chelan County was a male in his 60s. This brings the total number of deaths in Chelan County to 12, and 7 in Douglas County.

CDHD would like to remind everyone of the importance of all public health precautions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Anyone can have COVID-19 and not know they are contagious.

COVID-19 is easily spread to close contacts, friends, family and loved ones before a person knows they are unintentionally spreading the virus. Please do your part to prevent the spread of COVID-19, continue to mask-up, social distance and avoid group gatherings.

Be a protector, not an infector! For more information, visit www.cdhd.wa.gov/covid-19 and follow CDHD on Facebook & Twitter .

Full Press Release:
2020-47 Additional Death From COVID-19 English & Spanish

CDHD OFFERS FREE VOLUNTARY TESTING IN PLAIN

September 8, 2020

EAST WENATCHEE – In response to concerns about COVID-19 transmission in Chelan and Douglas counties, the Chelan-Douglas Health District (CDHD) is offering free, voluntary COVID-19 testing in communities throughout the two counties.

CDHD, in partnership with the local community, has identified Plain as the next testing location.

Free, voluntary, self-administered COVID-19 testing will be available to residents of Plain on September 15, 2020 and September 16, 2020.
Drive-in and walk-up testing will be available at Station 93 from 1:00 PM – 7:00 PM.

CDHD would like to remind everyone of the importance of all public health precautions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Anyone can have COVID-19 and not know they are contagious.

COVID-19 is easily spread to close contacts, friends, family and loved ones before a person knows they are unintentionally spreading the virus. Please do your part to prevent the spread of COVID-19, continue to mask-up, social distance and avoid group gatherings.

Be a protector, not an infector! For more information, visit www.cdhd.wa.gov/covid-19 .

Full Press Release:
2020-46 CDHD Offers Free COVID-19 Testing in Plain English & Spanish

TWO ADDITIONAL DEATHS FROM COVID-19

September 3, 2020

EAST WENATCHEE – Chelan-Douglas Health District (CDHD) reports two additional deaths from COVID-19. This brings the total number of deaths in Chelan County to 11, and 7 in Douglas County.

The individual from Chelan County was a female in their 70s and the individual from Douglas County was a female in their 60s. The Health District’s total COVID-19 deaths is now eighteen.

CDHD would like to remind everyone of the importance of all public health precautions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Anyone can have COVID-19 and not know they are contagious.

COVID-19 is easily spread to close contacts, friends, family and loved ones before a person knows they are unintentionally spreading the virus. Please do your part to prevent the spread of COVID-19, continue to mask-up, social distance and avoid group gatherings.

Be a protector, not an infector! For more information, visit www.cdhd.wa.gov/covid-19 and follow us on Facebook & Twitter .

Full Press Release:
2020-43 Two Additional Deaths from COVID-19 English & Spanish

CDHD SEEKS INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN ASSISTING WITH COMMUNITY OUTREACH EFFORTS

September 4, 2020

EAST WENATCHEE – In response to concerns about COVID-19 transmission in Chelan and Douglas counties, the Chelan-Douglas Health District (CDHD) is offering free, voluntary COVID-19 testing in communities throughout the two counties.

CDHD, in partnership with local communities, has identified Peshastin and Dryden as the next testing locations.

Part of the Health District’s process involves seeking assistance from local community members interested in canvassing their neighborhoods and sharing information about COVID-19 and upcoming testing efforts with their friends and neighbors.

We are currently seeking bilingual individuals in Peshastin and Dryden who are interested in participating in these efforts. Hours and days vary and compensation and paid lunch breaks are provided.

Those interested should contact CDHD for more details.

COVID-19 is easily spread to close contacts, friends, family and loved ones before a person knows they are unintentionally spreading the virus. Please do your part to prevent the spread of COVID-19, continue to mask-up, social distance and avoid group gatherings.

Be a protector, not an infector! For more information, visit www.cdhd.wa.gov/covid-19 and follow us on Facebook & Twitter .

Full Press Release:
2020-44 CDHD Looking for Volunteers English & Spanish

COVID-19 TEST RESULTS FROM BRIDGEPORT

August 31, 2020

EAST WENATCHEE – In response to concerns about COVID-19 transmission in the Bridgeport community, the Chelan-Douglas Health District offered free, voluntary COVID-19 testing between August 25, 2020 through August 27, 2020.

303 self-administered tests were completed, with three individuals testing positive for COVID-19. Community health workers are working to provide resources and wrap around services for those three individuals who tested positive for COVID-19.

This effort would not have been possible without the dedication and hardwork of community outreach workers and local community members from Bridgeport who worked tirelessly to inform their friends and neighbors about the opportunity for free, voluntary COVID-19 testing.

The Chelan-Douglas Health District has identified Rock City as the next testing location. On Tuesday, September 1 walk up/drive up free, voluntary self-administered testing will be available at the Rock Island Volunteer Fire Department from 1:00 pm through 7:00 pm. Wednesday, September 2 through Friday, September 4, community health workers will offer self-administered tests in a door-to-door effort in Rock Island.

Community members interested in assisting with these compensated outreach efforts are asked to contact CDHD for more information.

Be a protector, not an infector! For more information, visit www.cdhd.wa.gov/covid-19 and follow us on Facebook & Twitter .

Full Press Release:
2020-42 COVID-19 Test Results From Bridgeport English & Spanish

CDHD OFFERS FREE, VOLUNTARY TESTING IN ROCK ISLAND

August 28, 2020

EAST WENATCHEE – In response to concerns about COVID-19 transmission in Chelan and Douglas counties, the Chelan-Douglas Health District (CDHD) is offering free, voluntary COVID-19 testing in communities throughout the two counties.

CDHD has identified Rock Island as the next testing location. Free, voluntary COVID-19 testing will be available to residents of Rock Island September 1, 2020 through September 4, 2020.

The CDHD is looking for local Rock Island residents, interested in assisting with outreach efforts between August 29, 2020 through August 31, 2020. Volunteers would be visiting residents to provide testing information and COVID-19 education materials, and would be compensated for their time. If interested, contact information is listed on the press release.

Testing will begin on Tuesday, September 1, 2020 from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Rock Island Volunteer Fire Department for drive-up or walk-up testing. Wednesday, September 2, 2020 from Friday, September 4, 2020, teams of volunteers will then canvas the community door-to-door from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. for a home testing option.

CDHD would like to remind everyone of the importance of all public health precautions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Anyone can have COVID-19 and not know they are contagious.

COVID-19 is easily spread to close contacts, friends, family and loved ones before a person knows they are unintentionally spreading the virus. Please do your part to prevent the spread of COVID-19, continue to mask-up, social distance and avoid group gatherings.

Be a protector, not an infector! For more information, visit www.cdhd.wa.gov/covid-19 and follow us on Facebook & Twitter .

Full Press Release:
2020-41 Rock Island COVID-19 Testing English & Spanish

CDHD ASSISTS MCDOUGALL SONS WITH COVID-19 RESPONSE

August 28, 2020

EAST WENATCHEE – On August 27, 2020, McDougall & Sons confirmed their ninth positive employee case of COVID-19, at the packing plant work site within the town of Monitor.

McDougall & Sons pro-actively requested the assistance of the Chelan-Douglas Health District (CDHD) to ensure they meet the agricultural requirements for response to COVID-19, as defined in Governor Inslee’s Proclamation 20-57.1, concerning agricultural industry requirements for response to COVID-19.
CDHD is providing support and coordination of testing efforts of all employees at the packing worksite receives a COVID-19 test. Confluence Health began conducting tests on August 28, 2020.

The Department of Health (DOH) provides recommendations for managing employees who test positive, these include requirements to isolate for at least 10 days or until a person no longer has COVID-19 symptoms and without a fever for at least 24 hours.

CDHD will continue to support McDougall and Sons’ response to COVID-19 and will provide guidance based on DOH recommendations relative to positive cases: exposure, cleaning and disinfecting and employee contact tracing.

Be a protector, not an infector! For more information, visit www.cdhd.wa.gov/covid-19 and follow us on Facebook & Twitter .

Full Press Release:
2020-40 CDHD Assists McDougall & Sons with COVID-19 Response English & Spanish