Submitted by Ann Palmer
Cover your face:
The WA Department of Health and the CDC now recommend that people wear cloth face coverings when they are in public settings. This might include trips to the grocery store, pharmacy, hardware store, health clinic or similar places. Wearing a mask is not a substitute for maintaining 6-feet of physical distance from non-household members and performing frequent hand hygiene with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Wearing cloth face coverings will not prevent spread of COVID-19 without these other protective measures:
• Wash or sanitize your hands frequently
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
• Avoid being around sick people
• Practice social distancing, six feet minimum,
• Stay at home as much as possible
• Quarantine for two weeks following any trip to the mainland
• Wash your hands before and after touching and adjusting the mask.
PPE (Personal Protective Equipment):
Denise Clark has made a large quantity of hand sanitizer for distribution. We have acquired a supply of gloves and have a prototype for a gown made of Tyvek. The gowns will be made if there is a need.
Volunteers with the Covid Health Support group have sewn over 600 masks, with a goal of making 1200. We have distributed masks to people who meet the following criteria:
Anyone involved with direct patient care, with the understanding that they are not a substitute for a medical grade mask.
Anyone working an essential job involving contact with the public.
Anyone with an underlying health condition, or over the age of 65.
As our supply increases, we will begin to make masks available to others in the community, in support of the Governor’s and the County’s recommendation that everyone wear a mask when in a public place. See https://www.sanjuanco.com/DocumentCenter/View/20134/200405-Cover-the-Face.
Please let us know if you meet the current criteria and need a mask by contacting Aimee Nassoiy at anassoiy@yahoo.com or Marty Clark at martyclark89@gmail.com. A system will soon be in place to distribute cloth masks to individuals. Watch Lopezrocks for instructions or go to lopezisland.recovers.org to post your needs. If you want to help sew masks, contact Anne Dawson at anne@lopezislandquiltersstudio.com. If you have rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide to donate that has not expired, contact Denise Clark at deniseonlopez@gmail.com.
Meals on Wheels:
Roni Wilkie reported that forty seniors are being served. She’s working to recruit more drivers.
Medical Shelter:
Working with the county Department of Emergency Management, a group of Lopez volunteers led by Kai Sanburn has prepared for a Medical surge shelter on Lopez. Because regional hospitals currently have the capacity to care for patients from the islands there is no need for the shelter at this time.
Information to Help Access Care at Lopez Clinic:
Anyone who uses the Lopez Clinic for health care should have filled out a Release of Information form stating who clinic staff can speak to regarding your care. This form must be in your record and include everyone who is caring for you at home. If you have not filled one out or wish to update yours, the forms can be picked up from a folder on the bench outside the clinic. Please return them by fax or mail so we can scan them into your chart.
If you do not use the UW Lopez Clinic, it is still recommended that you register yourself and family members in case you need care and cannot get off island. This provides you with a chart and a patient ID number. You do not have to claim the clinic as your care giver and there is no cost. To register, call 360-468-2241 and hit #1. It is best to do this before there is a crisis. You can also use the patient ID number in the future if you come to the clinic for urgent treatment such as the care of a cut, sprain, or broken bone.
