First San Juan County Resident Tests Positive for COVID-19 Coronavirus
An Orcas Island resident has tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus.
“The patient is in stable condition and is being treated at home,” said Dr. Frank James, San Juan County Health Officer. “The patient was seen by their physician after experiencing COVID-like symptoms. The COVID-19 test was administered at the UW Medicine Orcas Island Clinic in Eastsound, test results were received on Friday, March 20th.”
Dr. James said, “The patient is isolated and being treated at home. Family members residing in the home are being quarantined. County Health staff have contacted a small number of people who have had close contact with the patient. These individuals are being guided to quarantine themselves at home and to monitor themselves for fever and respiratory symptoms for 14 days following their last exposure.”
As of March 20, this is the first San Juan County resident who has tested positive for COVID-19.
We’re getting questions daily about testing. Because of a severe shortage of testing supplies, CDC has some new guidance on ending self isolation after symptoms resolve without a test and whom should be tested. We need to be testing far more patients but simply can’t currently. Dr. House has been doing all testing personally in the parking lot only (to avoid exposing Eventide Health staff or other clinics patients). We will continue to do parking lot testing. We will continue to provide telemedicine visits and in person visits as appropriate. Telemedicine visits are proving to be easy and efficient. Guidelines can change at a moment’s notice. Thanks for cooperating so well. We’re doing our best in what was already a challenging season for us with the clinic transition. 
In the wake of newly announced statewide regulations designed to slow the spread of the coronavirus, we are temporarily closing Griffin Bay Bookstore and Café to in-store shopping, events, and meetings beginning Tuesday, March 17 and continuing until further notice.