Weekly Update 12.18.20

 Lewis County Metrics

Cases spiked this week making Lewis County the 10th highest rate of infection in the state and the highest in Western Washington. "Hands, Face and Space" remains the best weapon against spread of the virus. This week, 975 dosed of the Pfizer vaccine were allocated to Lewis County. In a county with over 79,000 residents, this will only be enough for healthcare providers, first responders and those in elder care facilities. Vaccines are not expected to make a difference in the spread of COVID until spring.

New Dept. of Health Guidelines

On Wednesday, Governor Inslee, Superintendent Reykdal and representatives of the DOH and others held a press conference. The Governor introduced new school opening guidelines. He also made it clear that while he has the authority to close schools, he does not have the authority to open them. That authority rests with local school boards. The Governor indicated that those districts that were successfully operating in-person should continue even though the guidelines might indicate otherwise. Toledo, for example, is serving students in person in all schools even though case rates are well above the thresholds indicated in the new guidelines.

Here are the guidelines: 

At 630 cases per 100,000, we are well above the top of the "High Activity" category. Nevertheless, we continue to safely serve students in-person. As of this writing, Toledo Schools have had a total of 5 COVID-positive cases and 3 close-contacts. No staff members have tested positive at this time. We have had many students and families quarantining due to close contacts, but no exposures at school that we know of. We believe that school is one of the safest places for students and staff right now. Very few other places are doing daily wellness screening, disinfecting, 100% masking, regular handwashing and watching distances. We believe- and the data on schools supports this- that we can remain safely open in our current configuration.

Note that when cases are below 50/100,000 the guidelines indicate that it will be safe to return to in-person instruction. I read this to mean regular order when we're able to get our case rates down below 50. We can do this!

THS Reopening

The high school construction project has been delayed due to COVID. Several employees of subcontractors have tested positive and are quarantined. In addition, important materials and equipment have been delayed by COVID in the supply chain. This means that we will not be able to bring students to the new classrooms at THS on January 4. We are working with our contractor and architect to identify firm dates for occupancy of the new spaces. In the meantime, the team at THS is working on a schedule that might accommodate more students than we currently have. Due to construction, many areas of the existing school are not available. In ordinary circumstances, we would be cramped. Crowding isn't an option right now, so we're working on other options. Watch this blog for weekly updates on progress or contact Mr. Huffman at THS.

Weekly Briefing 12.11.20

 Lewis County Metrics

Cases continue to rise in Lewis County. While this is of concern, the good news is that it is beginning to appear that schools are among the safest places for children right now. During this school year, we have had only two COVID+ cases among students and staff. There are a number of families who have been close contacts and are isolating at home, but only two COVID+ cases associated with school. This is because everyone has been so diligent and responsible in using all of the tools available to slow the spread of the virus. 

We're asking that everyone keep up the good work and help us by doing the daily attestations and temperature checks, wearing masks, distancing and washing hands. Together, we're making this work out in our favor. Thank you for helping us keep our schools operating on campus. This has been a gamechanger for our students.

THS Return

COVID has impacted our subcontractors. Several of the crewmembers have tested positive and will be quarantined. As a result, important portions of the project will be delayed and will impact our ability to bring students into the new classrooms in January as we'd hoped. The team at THS is currently working on a plan for hybrid instruction using the old classroom wing. We are working on scheduling to see when a move will be possible.

It is important for us to have our high school students return and we plan to do that in a way that is safe and allows for social distancing. This will likely be a hybrid schedule of some sort. More as it becomes available.

Self-Care

Many of us recently participated in a training from Dr. Mona Johnson* on self-care during a disaster. The pandemic is a natural disaster like hurricanes, floods, fires and earthquakes. Unlike those other natural disasters, this one has a much longer duration.

In the chart above, you can see  how people respond in disasters. At the beginning, everyone is on board and working hard to survive and solve problems. This is the "honeymoon" phase that we saw in March and April.

As time moves on, we become fatigued and begin to feel the impact of the disaster more acutely. Community cooperation begins to decrease. As people try to cope, there is an increase in substance abuse, domestic violence and stress responses such as angry outbursts and overeating. We're seeing this now in protests and angry posts on social media. The holidays only serve to make this worse as people struggle with finances, missing family that they've lost or can't see and those who may be facing eviction.

Knowing that we're still in some of the darkest moments of this disaster, it is important that we all do what we can to take care of ourselves and encourage those we love to do the same. You can see more about what can be predicted by looking at the chart below.  Notice the holiday season and how this is particularly troublesome during a disaster. 

Taking care of ourselves is how we build the resilience needed to get through to the "other side" of this disaster.

Our personal mental health determines our ability to cope with the stress of this disaster. Maintaining that mental health involves taking care of ourselves. Dr. Johnson proposes that this self-care falls into 8 categories:

Take a moment and think about the ways that you're already coping in each of these areas. Are you going for walks? Do you contact friends by phone, read a book, meditate or pray? By paying attention to doing things in these areas, you build resilience to deal with the stresses that are part of surviving a disaster. You also make it possible to help others. 

On an airplane flight, the flight attendant always tells us, "When the masks drop, put your mask on first and then help others." Making sure that you have plenty of oxygen allows you to be helpful to others. If you don't have enough for yourself, you become one more person who requires assistance. You can't help others if you succumb to the disaster. This is why self-care is so important.

It isn't "weak" to do this and there is no shame in asking for help. We are all navigating difficult waters right now. Just as we always do in our community, helping one another is the way we get through and strengthen our community. It's part of Toledo Pride. Be well. Take care of yourself and one another.

*My thanks to Dr. Mona Johnson for her instruction and graphics.

Weekly Briefing 12.4.20

 Lewis County Metrics

Cases in Lewis County continue to increase. Thanks to students, families, and staff, we have been able to continue to serve students on campus without needing to close. This is only possible because our families have been responsible and cautious when children have been exposed to someone who is infected and self-isolate. In addition, students have been very good about wearing masks and washing hands. (We are still working with them to stay 6' apart.) Research from schools indicates that schools aren't a significant source of community spread as long as these protocols are followed. We plan to continue serving students on campus unless otherwise directed. 

Our final group to return to on-campus instruction will be 9th-11th grade students who will come back to new classrooms at THS. We're still planning to move into the new classrooms during the holiday break and be ready for students on January 4.

Community Letter

It used to be that more people smoked cigarettes than do so now and smoking was common on airplanes, in restaurants and in office environments. In spite of people knowing that smoking was a health hazard, many felt it was their right and their choice to be able to smoke and to do so wherever they chose. There were protests, arguments and angry letters to the editor and people who were asked to leave when they chose to light up in public spaces after a long legislative battle to make that illegal. No one likes to be told to do things, even if those things might improve their health. The same was true for seatbelts, airbags, child labor, 40 hour work weeks and other things we now take for granted.

Today, we're all being asked to stay 6' apart, wear masks and be diligent about washing our hands in order to reduce the spread of the virus. These requests are for the health and safety of our communities and everyone is free to choose whether to do those things or not. While many folks choose to participate in this effort, many are opposed to it for a variety of reasons.

I serve on a workgroup that advises Lewis County Public Health on decisions related to school opening. Our work has been focused on returning students to on-campus instruction quickly and safely. We have been concerned about the effect of isolation on our children and the risks that remote instruction pose for the mental health of our kids. Lewis County is one of the most aggressive counties in our state in the return of students to on-campus instruction. Other counties and schools with lower infection rates are still fully remote in instruction. We're proud of this effort and others are beginning to observe that it is possible to do this well.

In order to continue this on-campus instruction, we need as many people as possible to participate in slowing the spread of the virus. If we can do this, I believe that we can continue to safely educate students on-campus and reduce the impact of the restrictions on the mental health of our kids. Our workgroup is asking everyone in the county to participate in this effort. This letter, endorsed by pediatricians, elected officials, pastors, and county and city officials will go out to the media. Whatever your opinions are about the Governor's mandates and national politics, I encourage you to participate in making sure that we can continue to safely educate students on campus. We're not asking that you agree with the Governor or his proclamations. We're only requesting that you do everything you can to reduce the spread of the virus.