The B.1.1.7 variant of COVID-19 has been detected in two Clark County cases.

The two Clark County residents recently tested for COVID-19 were found infected with the B.1.1.7 variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

Specimens from the two cases were sent to Northwest Genomics Center, a lab at the University of Washington. The lab confirmed the variant by whole viral genome sequencing and notified Clark County Public Health of the results this week.

These are the first two cases of the B.1.1.7 variant identified in Clark County.

Vancouver, Wash. – Clark County Public Health is opening a call center to help respond to public questions around COVID-19 and local vaccination efforts.

Call center representatives can provide callers with resources for determining COVID-19 vaccine eligibility and options for scheduling vaccine appointments. Representatives can also help people fill out the COVID-19 vaccine request form on the Clark County Public Health website. This form is used to refer people who live or work in Clark County to a local facility with COVID-19 vaccine.

Beginning at 9 am Wednesday, Feb. 10, elections officials will perform a hand count of approximately 600 ballots randomly selected as part of a manual comparison against machine results.

The selected ballots will be counted in the total returns on Election Day. But for this comparison, the Battle Ground School District levy will be counted by hand, to check the accuracy of the ballot tabulation equipment.

If a voter has not received their ballot, they should contact the Elections Office at 564.397.2345 or elections@clark.wa.gov.

The county manager is seeking applicants with an interest in government and educational access television and cable television franchising to fill a position on the volunteer city/county Telecommunications Commission. 

The position is for an unexpired three-year term that ends April 30, 2023. Applicants must be Clark County residents.

The Commission on Aging will hold a joint meeting with the Clark County Council and present a summary of its eighth year of work on Wednesday, Feb. 17. The 4:30 p.m. meeting will be held in a virtual format via Webex.

Vancouver, Wash. – More than 930 residents and staff at adult family homes and other long-term care facilities were vaccinated against COVID-19 on Thursday and Friday, as volunteer teams fanned out across Clark and Cowlitz counties.

The Clark County Charter Review Commission met Wednesday, Jan. 27, to discuss its bylaws and select officers. The commissioners chose two members to act as co-chairs and one to serve as secretary.

The co-chairs are Kim Harless and Mike Dalesandro. Anthony Vendetti was selected to be secretary for the commission. The commission also finalized its bylaws.

Vancouver, Wash. – With the uncertainty around how the state’s public-gathering guidelines will unfold over the next several months, Clark County Public Works leadership made the difficult decision to extend the pause on new picnic shelter reservations and park-use permits through 2021. Additionally, all existing 2021 reservations will be cancelled. Impacted customers will receive a full refund. Staff actively monitor local and state guidelines to determine if the pause on these services could be lifted. Updates will be available as soon as possible.

Vancouver, Wash. – People who visited a Camas salon recently may have been exposed to COVID-19 and should quarantine at home.

Anyone who visited Stellar Hair Design in Camas between 10 am and 7 pm Jan. 19-23 or Jan. 26 may be at risk of contracting COVID-19. Skamania County Community Health and Clark County Public Health have been unable to identify and notify individuals who may have been exposed. It’s unclear how many people may have been exposed.

Vancouver, Wash. – Clark, Cowlitz and Skamania counties will co-host a virtual community briefing about COVID-19 vaccination efforts taking place across the three counties.