Wednesday, March 3, 2021
Thurston County Will Host a Drive Through Mass Vaccination Event at the Thurston County Fairgrounds Friday Mar. 5
Wednesday, March 3, 2021
Thursday, February 4, 2021
Wednesday, January 20, 2021
Tuesday, December 22, 2020
Friday, December 18, 2020
Friday, December 11, 2020
Thursday, August 20, 2020
Thursday, July 30, 2020
Thurston County Health Officer Recommends Distance Learing for All Thurston County Schools in Fall
Friday, June 19, 2020
Thurston County Distributing More Than 128,000 Cloth Masks for Low-Income Individuals and Families
Wednesday, June 17, 2020
Thurston County Submits Phase 3 Application to State Department of Health
Sunday, June 7, 2020
Public Health Confirms Second COVID Related Death in Thurston County
Friday, May 29, 2020
Public Health Confirms Two Long-Term Care Facility COVID-19 Outbreaks
Wednesday, May 27, 2020
Thurston County Receives Approval to Move to Phase 2
Wednesday, May 27, 2020
Thurston County Health Officer issues Face Covering Directive
Tuesday, May 26, 2020
Wednesday, May 13, 2020
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
Wednesday, March 18, 2020
Wednesday, March 11, 2020
Wednesday, February 26, 2020
Statements
Friday, January 15, 2021
On January 7, 2021,
three Thurston County Sheriff’s Office employees who work at the Thurston
County Correctional Facility tested positive for COVID-19. Thurston County
Public Health and Social Services (PHSS) initiated case investigation and contact
tracing and deployed a testing strike team to the facility on January 11,
2021. Eight out of 203 inmate test results were positive for
COVID-19. The
facility has isolated the COVID-19 positive inmates and the close contacts of
the inmates have been identified and are in quarantine. PHSS is
monitoring the facility and working closely with the Thurston County Sheriff’s
Office Correctional leaders to manage the outbreak and protect the health and
safety of staff and inmates. PHSS will conduct a second round of testing
at the facility on January 19, 2021.
Tuesday, December 22, 2020
Today, Thurston County Public Health and Social Services adjusted the data on COVID-19 related deaths to be in alignment with Department of Health new practices for reporting deaths.
Tuesday, December 8, 2020
As
of today, Thurston County Public Health and Social Services (PHSS) is changing
the reporting timeframe for COVID-19 positive cases. Previously, PHSS reported
the cases posted from noon the previous day to noon of the current day. PHSS
will now report the previous day’s cases, 12:01am to midnight. For example, the
cases added to the website today are cases confirmed for December 7, 2020. PHSS will report daily COVID-19 positive
cases from the previous calendar day going forward. PHSS also adjusted the data
on COVID-19 related deaths based on updated information from patient death
certificates.
Wednesday, November 25, 2020
On
November 21, 2020, we reported a death of a male in his 90’s. We received the
final death certificate and the death certificate showed the individual did not
die due to complications with the COVID-19 virus but from other causes. This
death has been removed from our COVID-19 death count. It is unfortunate to have
a resident in our county die from any cause and our thoughts continue to be
with the family of this individual.
Tuesday, November 10, 2020
Health Officer Dr. Dimyana Abdelmalek stated, "On Sunday, November 8, 2020, we added two additional outbreaks, one in an adult family home and another in an assisted living facility, bringing our ongoing outbreaks total to 12. Upon further investigation over the last two days, I have determined there is not an outbreak in the assisted living facility. Our current outbreak totals are now 11 ongoing and 21 total to date."
Thurston County Health Officer Dr. Dimyana Abdelmalek stated, "Since Friday October 23, 2020, there have been an additional seven COVID-19 related deaths in our community. Six of these deaths are associated with known long-term care outbreaks in our community. Public Health is working with these facilities to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. My heart goes out to the families and loved ones of those who have passed away. COVID-19 is a serious illness and we must remain vigilant."
Friday, October 23, 2020
Thurston County Health Officer Dr. Dimyana Abdelmalek has been partnering with the management of Garden Courte Memory Care to support their efforts to contain the outbreak and spread of COVID-19 in their facility. She participated in a follow up walk through of the facility in conjunction with the State Department of Health to inspect the infection control processes and procedures and provide additional directions and guidance for areas of improvement.
“An outbreak in a
long-term care facility is always difficult because the residents are often the
most vulnerable population to the virus,” said Health Officer, Dr. Dimyana
Abdelmalek. “On Tuesday we deployed our strike team to the facility to conduct
COVID-19 testing of all residents and employee. The facility will continue to
have weekly testing until the outbreak is resolved.”
Friday, October 16, 2020
Today, Thurston County Public Health and Social Services (PHSS) reported 47 confirmed COVID-19 cases, the highest number of cases reported in a single day to date. Twenty-eight (28) of today's cases are associated with an outbreak in an assisted living facility, Garden Courte Memory Care in Olympia. PHSS first began investigating this outbreak earlier this month after a staff person tested positive and subsequently deployed testing strike teams to conduct further facility-wide testing. We have had 36 residents and 13 staff test positive for COVID-19 thus far including a female resident in her 90's who died earlier this week. Additional test results are expected back next week.
Director Schelli Slaughter stated, "Our hearts go out to the family who lost their loved one and to all the residents, staff, and family members that have been impacted by this outbreak. Transmission of COVID-19 is on the rise here in Thurston County and this record number of cases serves as an important reminder to everyone to take this virus seriously and do your part to protect others, especially our most vulnerable community members. We urge everyone to please stay home and do not go to work or other public places when feeling ill with even one symptom, get tested quickly, wash hands frequently, wear a mask that covers your mouth and nose completely, and stay at least six feet apart from everyone outside of your immediate household. Together we can slow the spread of COVID-19 here in Thurston County, save lives, and keep our community safe!"
Thurston County Public Health and Social Services will follow the Washington State Department of Health and end publication of death counts from COVID-19 over the weekend. This will be in effect on August 28, 2020. We will report any deaths from the weekend as part of our Monday case count totals for COVID-19.
Thursday, August, 27, 2020
Thurston County Health Officer Dr. Dimyana Abdlemalek stated, "On August 26, 2020, Thurston County Public Health and Social Services (PHSS) reported an additional outbreak in a congregate care facility, bringing our current ongoing outbreaks to a total of eight. An outbreak in a long-term healthcare facility is defined as one or more residents or healthcare workers with confirmed COVID-19."
She continued, "After additional investigation by our Disease Control and Prevention staff, what we initially identified as a single case linked to a long-term care facility was not in fact linked because the individual was not present at the facility during their infectious period. PHSS has initiated testing of all residents and staff at the long-term care facility. The process for case investigation is fluid and evolves. We uncover more information as the cases unfold. To confirm, as of August 27, 2020, we have seven congregate care outbreaks."