Radio Connects Us All

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Jefferson Community Foundation President and CEO Siobhan Canty is a regular guest of Chris Bricker on Morning on the Salish, at 10:30am Tuesdays. Each week Siobhan shares updates on JCF’s work to strengthen the landscape of services available to people and the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, which has raised more than $436,279 to date. If you belong to a nonprofit working to help those in need as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, grant applications will be accepted on a weekly rolling basis for emergency funding. Go to JCFgives.org to learn more. 

On today’s Morning on the Salish, Lynn Sorensen, RN, BSN and Chris Bricker expressed how they feel constantly on overload – or have a case of COVID or Pandemic Fatigue from the constant news and media barrage about the pandemic. They agreed how important it is to take a periodic sanity break in order to not burn out. Turning off the relentless news and going for a walk, or working in your garden can help create balance in this upside down world.

We are still in the early stages of this pandemic according to Dr Tom Locke and now is not the time to let our guard down or relax the prescribed mitigation practices of hand washing, social distancing and wearing masks.

Their conversation concluded by reading the poem Pandemic written by Rev. Lynn Ungar.

Dr. Tom Locke addressed the concerns related to the County’s potential variance offered by the governor, for moving into Phase 2 of the Safe Start plan. Department of Emergency Director Willie Bence discussed emergency planning issues in light of the potential for tourism here in upcoming days and weeks.

KPTZ broadcast via 91.9FM and streamed at KPTZ.org this timely COVID-19 information, which was also videostreamed live and recorded for online viewing any time thereafter at the Jefferson County website.

On Tossed Salad, host Phil Andrus and guest, Kate Keenan, Retired Communicable Disease Investigator from San Diego County, discussed a recent article by Dr.  Erin Bromage characterizing elements of environments that provide from the safest to the most risky chance of exposure to an infected person with COVID-19…..where as many as 50% of people with active infection are asymptomatic. 

As the state proceeds through the four phases of re-opening our community, outside settings with continued social distancing appear to provide the least risk of exposure, while small crowded settings with poor ventilation and crowded with people appear to be the most risky.  All individuals 65 of age and older are still advised to shelter in place and limit themselves to essential outings.  Outdoor activities still remain a good source of protection as well as a boost to one’s mental  health to everyone, along with continued hand-washing, masks and social distancing.