86 new COVID cases on San Juan Island
Posted January 29, 2022 at 9:48 am by Jeff Arnim
The San Juan County Department of Emergency Management reports 86 confirmed or probable new COVID cases on San Juan Island since Jan. 21. The County also reports 22 new cases on Orcas Island, and 22 on Lopez Island. This week’s 130 new cases bring the total case count to 986.
In their media release, the County provides additional insight into the nature of our area’s COVID cases:
Islanders are understandably curious about case trends during this ongoing surge. Are the cases in kids? Older folks? Those who travelled? The clear answer is yes to all. Recent cases are popping up in students, those who have been out of Washington or out of the country, and plenty of islanders who haven’t left the islands and haven’t clearly engaged in high-risk behavior. The reality of Omicron is that transmission rates are high and the disease spreads easily.
As case numbers continue to be high, a common refrain is “well, let’s just get this over with and all get it”. A few quick thoughts on that:
Being able to think like that is a luxury borne from an incredibly successful vaccine and (in the islands anyway) a very successful vaccination roll-out. Without vaccinations, this current wave would be truly catastrophic and many, many more islanders would be severely ill and hospitalized.
It is also important to keep in mind that there are islanders who have literally had to fight for their lives during this latest surge, and some of those who have ended up in the hospital were relatively young and healthy. Being vaccinated remains far and away your best move to ensure you stay out of the hospital. While any one person’s odds of being killed by COVID are relatively low, it does happen, and if getting vaccinated nearly guarantees that it won’t happen to you, isn’t it worth it?
The County also notes that many islanders have opted not to receive a COVID booster shot. First shots, second shots, and boosters are available at the upcoming vaccine clinics held on Feb. 7, Feb. 13, and Feb. 21.
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