Clark County Public Health has identified 84 cases of COVID-19 among employees of Firestone Pacific Foods and their close contacts. The Public Health investigation into the outbreak at the Vancouver food processing facility is ongoing.
As of Tuesday morning, 69 employees of Firestone Pacific Foods have tested positive for COVID-19; four are not Clark County residents. Another 15 people identified as close contacts of those cases have also tested positive.
Vancouver, Wash. – Clark County Treasurer Alishia Topper reminds taxpayers that 2020 first-half property taxes are due Wednesday, June 3. The deadline was extended for individual residential and commercial taxpayers due to the COVID-19 state of emergency.
Despite the due date extension, property tax collections in Clark County are closely tracking with 2019’s collection rates.
Clark County Public Health was notified today that the state has put the county’s request for a Phase 2 variance on pause until further discussion next week. The decision is the result of a current COVID-19 outbreak at a Vancouver food processing facility.
As of this morning, 38 employees of Firestone Pacific Foods in Vancouver have tested positive for COVID-19. At least two of those people are not Clark County residents. One person has been hospitalized.
Clark County Public Health has submitted its request for a Phase 2 variance to Washington Secretary of Health John Wiesman. If approved, the variance would allow the county to move into Phase 2 of the state’s reopening plan.
Vancouver, Wash. – The Clark County Council has unanimously approved a contract with Kathleen Otto to continue as Interim County Manager through at least May 31, 2021. Otto has been Interim County Manager since March of this year. She has previously served as Deputy County Manager, Director of Internal Services and Director of Human Resources.
Clark County Public Health is preparing a variance request that, if approved, would allow the county to move into Phase 2 of the state’s phased reopening plan.
Gov. Jay Inslee issued guidance this week for partially reopening restaurant and tavern dining areas. Clark County food establishments are encouraged to use this guidance to prepare for reopening, however, local restaurants cannot reopen their dining areas at this time.
Vancouver, Wash. – Clark County has been monitoring revenues and expenditures due to the economic impact of COVID-19 and developing initial assumptions on potential revenue loss. The county is anticipating current year revenue losses of $5 to $13 million. In order to prepare for the revenue shortfall, the county is implementing a phased reduction approach to balance the 2020 budget.
The initial phase included implementing strategic initiatives at the onset of the COVID-19 response, including:
Vancouver, Wash. – The Clark County Finance Committee is scheduled to meet at 9:30 am Tuesday, May 19, 2020.
Due to the COVID-19 emergency, and in support of Washington State’s extended Stay Home, Stay Healthy order, the meeting will be held via WebEx conference call.
Here is the WebEx information for the meeting:
The agenda includes discussion of the First-Quarter 2020 County Finance Report.
Clark County Public Health is urging anyone who develops symptoms of COVID-19 to contact their health care provider about testing as soon as possible. Early testing is critical to slowing the spread of COVID-19 in Clark County.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently expanded the list of symptoms consistent with COVID-19. People with these symptoms or combination of symptoms may have COVID-19 and should call their health care provider to request testing:
