Vancouver, Wash. – Clark County Public Health was notified this morning of two confirmed cases of COVID-19.

The new cases are a married couple – a man and a woman both in her 80s. The couple live in separate long-term care facilities but were in close contact. Both were transported to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center this week. They remain hospitalized.

One case is a resident of a small adult family home. We will not be identifying the name of that facility, in order to protect residents’ privacy.

All residents and staff of the adult family home are considered… Read More

Clark County Public Health is recommending the cancellation of large gatherings of more than 250 people in order to minimize the potential health impacts of COVID-19.

Public Health is making these recommendations in an abundance of caution. There is no evidence of widespread transmission of COVID-19 in Clark County, which still has only one confirmed case. However, the case had no recent travel history, which indicates the virus is in our community.

“We’re making these recommendations in an effort to help slow the spread of the virus in our community,” said Dr. Alan Melnick… Read More

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:

older than 60.
who have serious chronic medical… Read More

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.

Unlike with confirmed measles cases, Public Health is not announcing public locations the COVID-19 case visited. COVID-19 is spread through close contact (within 6 feet) and… Read More

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.

Public Health will release additional information as it becomes available. No additional… Read More

Vancouver, Wash. – The Clark County Council is seeking applicants for a volunteer position on the Solid Waste Advisory Commission.

The position represents Clark County at-large and is open to all residents. The three-year term begins as soon as the position is filled and ends Dec. 31, 2022.

Commission members act as representatives of their regions or stakeholder groups and advise the county council on solid waste issues, such as recycling, garbage collection, landfills, transfer stations and waste-reduction programs. Members also, at times, participate in solid waste-… Read More

Vancouver, Wash. – Clark County Public Health is seeking community members to serve on its Ethics Review Committee. The committee reviews actual and potential public health ethical dilemmas and provides recommendations to Public Health staff, management and community partners.

The committee is composed of community members and professionals from a variety of fields. The committee meets three times per year, with more meetings scheduled as needed, to understand and deliberate on ethical issues relating to public health policies, systems and operations.

Some examples of… Read More

Vancouver, Wash. – The garbage a community leaves behind tells a story – often saying more about the people than the items they keep. Clark County residents are invited to learn more about the stories told by waste, including historical trash unearthed at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, at a free event this month.

Dr. Douglas Wilson, chief archaeologist with the National Park Service at Fort Vancouver, will lead a discussion about garbology – the study of a community or culture by analyzing its waste. Wilson will discuss the differences between modern trash and historical… Read More

Vancouver, Wash. – Clark County Public Health is seeking nominations for the annual Public Health Community Award. The award recognizes both an individual and an organization in Clark County for outstanding contributions to promoting and protecting community health.

Nominations are due by 5 pm Friday, Feb. 28. Visit the Public Health website to submit a nomination online or download a nomination form to submit by mail.

“This award highlights the great contributions to public health by… Read More