Public Health Issues Health Advisory for Lake Lawrence |
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Board Approves Contract to Manage Eviction Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) |
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Public Works Continues Fish Passage Enhancement Projects |
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Thurston County Board of Health Chair, and Board of County Commissioners Vice-Chair, Tye Menser spoke with Thurston County Health Officer Dr. Dimyana Abdelmalek, or Dr. A for short, about her experiences working around the world, the COVID-19 pandemic, and other health issues impacting our community. You can watch their full conversation here.
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Sadly, one Thurston County resident passed away this week due to COVID-19 complications. She was a woman in her 80's. We send our deepest condolences to her family, friends, and loved ones. Since the pandemic began,11 Thurston County residents have lost their lives due to COVID-19.
From Friday, August 7, to Thursday, August 14, Thurston County Public Health and Social Services (PHSS) confirmed 80 additional Thurston County residents were diagnosed with COVID-19. This brings the total of confirmed cases in the county to 823. There has been a total of 58 people hospitalized (number is of accumulated hospitalizations, not all currently hospitalized), and 657 people have recovered or are recovering.
In addition, PHSS is investigating four congregate care outbreaks. You can learn more in Health Officer Dr. Dimyana Abdelmalek's latest Letter to the Community. Follow PHSS on social media for the most up-to-date COVID-19 information.
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Health Advisory in Effect for Lake Lawrence
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Thurston County Public Health and Social Services issued a health advisory for Lake Lawrence due to a toxic algae bloom producing unsafe levels of microcystin. Lab results show toxin levels at the sample site are 43 ug/L. The state advisory level for microcystin is 8 ug/L. When there is an algae bloom present, health officials recommend extra precautions be taken to avoid the health risks posed by potential toxins.
- Avoid contact with water containing algae
- Keep pets and livestock away from areas where algae blooms are present
- When fishing, it is safest to catch-and-release any fish caught during an algae bloom
- Do not drink water taken from the lake
The algae sample was collected on Monday, August 10. The health advisory for Lake Lawrence will remain in place until samples are within safe levels. For more information about toxic algae blooms and health risks, please visit: nwtoxicalgae.org.
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Eviction Rent Assistance Program Coming to Thurston County
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On Tuesday, August 11, the Thurston County Board of Commissioners approved a contract with Community Action Council of Lewis, Mason and Thurston Counties (CAC) to manage the Eviction Rent Assistance Program (ERAP) for Thurston County renters. The funding, totaling $3,183,179.00, for the program is funded by the CARES Act managed by Washington State Department of Commerce, and must be spent by December 31, 2020.
The intent of ERAP is to provide rental assistance for those most likely to become homeless after an eviction, to suffer severe health consequences if evicted, and to promote equity for groups of people disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 in Thurston County. Eligible applicants must be at 50% or below the area median income, have at least one month rent unpaid or partially paid since March, and be experiencing at least one risk factor from a list developed by Washington State Department of Commerce. The program may cover up to three months of missed rent payments. You can learn more about ERAP in Thurston County at: thurstoncountywa.gov.
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Thurston County is Hiring
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Thurston County has more than 25 job openings! These include positions with the Sheriff's Office, Public Works, Community Planning and Economic Development, Public Health and Social Services, and many more. Many of the current openings are permanent positions, and some positions are directly connected to the county's COVID-19 pandemic response. These include community-based outreach and support positions, isolation and quarantine facility staffing, facility inspectors, and more!
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2020 Fish Passage Enhancement Projects
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Public Works Road Crews set sills in anticipation of the pre-fabricated bridge placement for the Salmon Creek Fish Passage Enhancement project on Jones Road.
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This summer, construction began on three projects in the Fish Passage Enhancement Program. Now in its third year, the award-winning program addresses culverts that are barriers to fish passage in Thurston County.
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“When Washington’s physical distancing mandate went into effect, our local shelters went from about 440 available beds to about 330,” said Keylee Marineau, Thurston County’s Homeless Prevention and Affordable Housing Coordinator. Officials at Thurston County orchestrated a robust outreach effort contracting with local nonprofit organizations and government agencies to meet the basic needs of Thurston County’s unhoused population when the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in our community in late March. Learn more in this article from Thurston Talk: https://bit.ly/30TmKsn.
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The Thurston County Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, August 19, at 7:00 p.m. to receive public testimony on proposed amendments to the Thurston County Comprehensive Plan. The major topics of the 2020 Comprehensive Plan update are mineral lands, long-term forestry, parks, and health. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this public hearing will be held virtually. Copies of proposed amendments to the Comprehensive Plan are available online at: Thurston2040.com. A self-guided virtual open house is also available here.
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