Submitted by San Juan County.

The San Juan County Council will be meeting on Friday, March 13 to declare an emergency in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

By declaring an emergency, San Juan County can fully employ all emergency response plans, utilize county resources and authorize emergency expenditures for the response throughout San Juan County. There will be no restrictions or closures included in the declaration.

“An emergency declaration is another step in our efforts towards ensuring all County resources are available as needed,” said Rick Hughes, Chair of the San Juan County Council.

As of March 12, 2020, there have been no confirmed COVID-19 cases in San Juan County, however, rapid spread throughout Washington state has increased the county’s aggressive planning and preparation work.

Chair Hughes said, “Our County has been working on emergency preparations since January and we have ramped up our efforts as the outbreak has progressed. This is a challenging situation for everyone, and we absolutely appreciate the ongoing spirit and energy of the islands and our citizens in the midst of so much stress and uncertainty.”

A copy of the emergency declaration will be available on the County website once officially approved by Council.

San Juan County health officials continue reminding everyone that if you feel sick and have mild symptoms, stay home. If you feel you have more serious symptoms or if you are at risk for severe illness, stay home and call your health provider. Do not visit a clinic or the hospital without calling first. Follow your doctor or health professional’s direction. If you feel the situation is urgent, call 911.

For more information, visit www.sanjuanco.com and click on the “COVID-19 Information” bar at the top of the page. This website is updated as new information becomes available. You can also visit the San Juan County Health and Community Services Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SJCPUBLICHEALTH/.