Sunday and Monday, seven additional cases of COVID-19 were reported to Grays Harbor Public Health and Grays Harbor Emergency Management, bringing the county’s total cases to 34.
July’s total case count is now 8: one case was identified July 2, six cases were identified July 5, and one case was identified July 6.
“Of the seven cases identified in the past 24 hours, our case investigators have come to the conclusion that three of the seven are close contacts of previously identified COVID-19 positive cases,” read a statement from Public Health Monday afternoon. “One is a household member and the other two are household members of one another. The other four have unknown exposures and are not related to one another. Public Health is actively monitoring eight of the 34 COVID-19 positive cases and monitoring over 30 close contacts.”
The health department didn’t release any information about the ages of those who tested positive.
Despite the seven cases reported in a 24-hour period, “Grays Harbor Public Health, the Washington State Department of Health, and the Center for Disease Control do not classify this as an outbreak,” read the statement. “Outbreaks are defined as two or more non-household cases epidemiologically linked within 14 days in a workplace, congregate living, or institutional setting.”
Mask Up, Washington
Gov. Jay Inslee blanketed the state with a mask mandate, which took effect Tuesday. This mandate, referred to as Mask Up, Washington, states businesses will not be allowed to serve any customer, services, or goods if they do not comply with the statewide face covering order. The governor and state secretary of health also announced a two week pause from any county moving forward in Safe Start’s Phased reopening. Grays Harbor County is currently in Phase 3.
According to the state Department of Health, individuals with certain health or medical conditions or disabilities are exempt from the requirement to wear a face covering. Businesses can offer to provide accommodations such as curbside pick-up, delivery, scheduling of visits during non-peak hours or virtual meetings. No one is required to carry proof or documentation of their health condition or disability.
Case counts
Grays Harbor County has 34 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
March 2020: 2 cases
April 2020: 10 cases
May 2020: 5 cases
June 2020: 9 cases
July 2020: 8 cases
Anyone in the county who wants information or a testing referral can call the Grays Harbor County Public Health COVID-19 Call Center at 360-964-1850. The call center is available Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.-noon and 12:30 p.m.-4 p.m. and is available in English and Spanish.
