Vancouver, Wash. – Clark County Public Health is issuing new recommendations for populations at higher risk of serious illness from novel coronavirus, or COVID-19.

Public Health is recommending – but not requiring – that people at higher risk stay home and away from large groups of people as much as possible. This includes large public gatherings where there will be close contact with others, such as conventions, sporting events and concerts.

People at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19 include people:

Vancouver, Wash. – The county council decided out of an abundance of caution to cancel the State of the County 2020 event originally scheduled for 6 pm today, March 11.

“Public Health is not currently recommending restrictions on public events or gatherings. However, given that some people may be concerned about attending public events at this time, we are canceling tonight’s State of the County,” said Council Chair Eileen Quiring.

Vancouver, Wash. – Clark County Public Health has posted caution signs at Battle Ground Lake due to a bloom of cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae.

Public Health will collect water samples from the lake to determine if toxins are in the water. Results should be available later this week.

Public Health is advising people to avoid direct contact with lake water in areas of floating blue-green-colored scum. Blue-green algae produce toxins that can be harmful to people and deadly for small pets that drink the water.

Health officials are recommending:

Clark County Public Health announced its first case of novel coronavirus, COVID-19, late Friday night. Since then, Public Health has identified a small number of people who had close contact with the case. Those individuals have been notified and are now in quarantine, where they will remain for 14 days.

Public Health also received results for two additional pending tests. Those results were negative.

Clark County Public Health received its first positive test result for novel coronavirus, COVID-19.

The confirmed case is a male in his 70s. He has been in isolation, pending test results, and remains in isolation.

Public Health is working as quickly as possible to identify close contacts of the confirmed case. Close contacts, which could include family members and coworkers, will be instructed to stay home for 14 days after their last contact with the confirmed case.

Vancouver, Wash. – The Commission on Aging is focusing this year on community engagement and advocacy. The commission’s goal is to travel throughout the county by visiting each city and holding joint meetings with city councils to discuss issues related to older adults and livability of the communities within Clark County and getting feedback from local residents.

The first joint session will be with the Battle Ground City Council on Monday, March 16. The 5:30 p.m. study session will be at Battle Ground City Hall, 109 SW First St., Suite 148. It is open to the public. 

Vancouver, Wash. – Beginning at 11 am Wednesday, March 11, 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, ballots with the Democratic candidates also will be counted by hand, to check the accuracy of the ballot tabulation equipment.

Vancouver, Wash. ‒ Every election, the Clark County Auditor’s Office provides an online voters’ guide with information about candidates and ballot measures for voters to make an informed decision when voting the ballot. The voters’ guide includes statements by and photographs of candidates for elective offices as well as local ballot measures with supporting and opposing statements written by citizens.

Vancouver, Wash. – Clark County residents will have the opportunity to help neighbors in need by bringing non-perishable food donations to the upcoming State of the County 2020 event.

The annual gathering will be 6-7:30 pm Wednesday, March 11 in the sixth-floor hearing room in the Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St.

Vancouver, Wash. – Clark County is seeking applicants for one vacancy on the Clark County Historic Preservation Commission. The term is for three years and begins July 1.

The seven-member commission is responsible for: