On Monday, May 4 at 9:45am, Dr. Tom Locke, Jefferson County Public Health Officer, and Willie Bence, Director of Emergency Management provided public updates during the County Commissioners’ weekly meeting about COVID-19 and our county’s preparedness.
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.
Since 1999, Jumping Mouse Children’s Center has helped kids heal through expressive mental health therapy. Play, rather than talking, is a child’s natural way of communicating. At Jumping Mouse, play therapy is based on a trusted relationship between the child and therapist, so the child feels safe to tell their story. This week, we visit with Jumping Mouse’s Executive Director, Jenny Manza, and we talk about the importance and their good work, especially during these difficult times, when nurturing a child’s healthy development is so important
Phil Andrus spoke with Kathleen Keenan, to discuss the pros and cons around the current testing practicality and efficacy in our local area.
On Thursday, April 30, Port Townsend City Manager John Mauro conducted his weekly coffee meeting with the public on KPTZ’s Discovery Road, with host Tim Quackenbush. Mauro shared information about local plans being enacted for the days ahead. The half-hour conversation can be streamed and downloaded here.
Make a note for next Thursday: John Mauro will be taking questions via live phone calls from 10-10:30am on KPTZ’s Discovery Road with host Timothy Quackenbush. Call 360-215-7270 to ask your question. And, enjoy the ride!
(First airdate: April 29, 2020) Guest Bob Jepperson from Fidalgo Island relates to Mary Robson the spring progress of fledgling Great Horned Owls as they leave the nest and fly. Listen here for his sound recordings used on the show.
Now is the Month of Maying, and Phil Andrus brings us a Tossed Salad of great variety:
1:00 – Through Science to Health: Kathleen Keenan
1:20 – Jonathan Doyle and Jake Sanders, from the archives
2:00 – Lee Greeley and Myer’s Chuck from Alaska
2:20 – Rob Story, Chimacum Corner Farmstand, on grocery shopping in a pandemic
2:30 – Katelyn Bosley, WDFW Crustacean Program Manager
3:00 – Choro folks from Centrum
4:00 – Al Bergstein and Ross Anderson, Rainshadow Journal
4:25 – Catherine McNabb reading from “Talking Leaves”, an anthology of Native American stories
Chris Bricker asked Kathleen Keenan to comment on an article that appeared in The NY Times on March 20, 2020 in an oped piece regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. The article was written by Dr. David L. Katz, a preventive medical specialist. His article described an alternative to reopening society based on what was known at that time about the virus. He proposed that those not infected and with the least risk of severe disease consequences, be able to go back to work and acquire the infection, thus developing more herd immunity. Those at higher risk (the elderly or immune-compromised) would remain isolated until a vaccine was developed.
A comparison was made between March 20 and today, April 28, about what we now know and whether this is still an alternative solution. Younger persons with the disease are being hospitalized from COVID-19 infection, dose exposure to the virus can cause more severe disease as seen in the deaths among our frontline responders and medical staff, and the infrastructure for reopening is not in place. We would need ramped-up testing for the virus, an army of contact tracers, and sufficient personal protective equipment to protect frequently exposed workers until herd immunity is achieved with the development of a vaccine.
