Washington County has a 1.1% 14-day average positive COVID-19 test rate as of Tuesday morning.

County Public Health Administrator Danielle Pettit-Majewski gave her weekly COVID-19 update during Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting, informing the board that the county has had six new positive cases in the last seven days, and 58 total active cases. Pettit-Majewski mentioned how the state has directed counties this week to begin Phase 1C of vaccine distribution which covers those 64 years and younger with preexisting conditions that may be at an increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19. This is estimated to add one million people to the priority group, and Pettit-Majewski stated that the county is not receiving any additional vaccines for the expanded group at this time, but there are additional doses going directly to pharmacies from the federal government. She says the county has been directed to work on the Phase 1C group concurrently with tiers two through five and those 65 years and older in Phase 1B, “We just want to remind people that it will still take a little bit of time. I think they’ve said that by the end of May we should have enough doses for every adult in America that wants one, but we’re still working through slowly but surely.”

Pettit-Majewski mentions that there are likely over 500 people in the county who fall under tiers two through five of Phase 1B, which includes food, agriculture, distribution, and manufacturing workers who work or live in congregate settings that don’t allow for social distancing. The Washington Economic Development Group has been assisting public health with an audit of about 13 businesses that meet that criteria.