News Flash

Registration Opens for Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccine Appointments

SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA. October 4, 2023 – Registration for the new pediatric 23-24 COVID-19 vaccine is now open, with limited availability for children under 19 years of age. Our first clinics will be held Oct. 18 on Orcas Island and Oct. 19 on San...

COVID-19 Rapid Test Kits Available Again for Online Ordering

SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA. September 27, 2023 – On Monday, Sept. 25, 2023, the federal government opened online orders for every U.S. household to place an order for four free COVID-19 rapid tests. Go online to covid.gov/tests to place your order or y...

Fall COVID-19 Booster Vaccines: What We Know Now

SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA. September 13, 2023 – When the public health emergency declaration ended on May 11, 2023, that marked the shift in the COVID-19 response from a public health response effort to a privatized medical management model. The 2023-...

Dangers of Digging When Beaches Are Closed to Recreational Shellfish Harvesting

SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA. September 6, 2023 – San Juan County beaches remain closed to recreational shellfish harvesting due to unsafe levels of Paralytic Shellfish Poison (PSP). This closure includes all species of molluscan shellfish including clam...

San Juan County Closed to Recreational Shellfish Harvesting

SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA. August 23, 2023 – As of August 22, 2023, the Washington State Department of Health has closed recreational shellfish harvesting in San Juan County due to unsafe levels of Paralytic Shellfish Poison (PSP). This closure includ...

Wildfire Smoke Forecasted in San Juan County

SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA. August 18, 2023 – Smoke from wildfires in British Columbia and Eastern Washington is predicted to make its way to Western Washington this weekend, based on forecasted overnight shifts in wind patterns. San Juan County’s Health & C...

No Appointment Needed for Back-to-School Immunization Clinics

SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA. August 17, 2023 – San Juan County Health & Community Services is offering routine vaccinations for children on San Juan, Orcas, and Lopez Islands as the new school year approaches. No appointment is needed! Don&rsquo...

COVID Doesn’t Take a Summer Vacation

SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA. August 11, 2023 – The San Juan County Health & Community Services (HCS) Department wants you to make the most out of this summer, and part of that is continuing to keep you safe from COVID-19. The CDC has reported an inc...

Fun In the Sun for Families: ‘Seed to Sprout’ Classes Offered This Summer

SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA. August 7, 2023 - San Juan County’s Department of Health & Community is proud to offer hands-on learning opportunities in the garden this summer! Families are welcome to join the fun and learn about vegetable gardening th...

Health & Community Services Launches County-wide Survey About Community Health

SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA. August 1, 2023 – On Monday, July 31, 2023, San Juan County Health & Community Services (HCS) launched its county-wide survey as a part of the Community Health Assessment process which is underway. This survey is...

Planting the Seeds with ‘Grow Your Own Food’ and ‘Seed to Sprout’

SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA. August 1, 2023 – This Spring San Juan County Health & Community Services (HCS) and WSU Extension Master Gardeners hosted a free four-week program for families with preschool-age children to learn about vegetable gardenin...

County Celebrates HolliWalk Neighborhood, the Latest Affordable Housing Project

SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA. June 9, 2023 – San Juan County is celebrating the completion of the HolliWalk Neighborhood in Friday Harbor – a project that received over $1.5 million of County funding. This is the County's second larges...

Public Health Clinic Fees Resume on June 1

SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA. May 12, 2023 – On June 1, 2023, San Juan County Health & Community Services (HCS) will begin collecting fees for some public health services again. HCS will also be rolling out their new sliding fee scale. This ...

The Public Health Emergency Declaration Ends on May 11 – What Does This Mean?

SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA. May 10, 2023 – On May 11, 2023, the public health emergency (PHE) declaration will end. What does that mean for folks in San Juan County? Let’s take a look.

Is COVID-19 gone? No. The virus is still present in Washin...

Council Takes Next Step in Argyle Lots Housing Project by Selecting San Juan Community Home Trust

SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA. April 18, 2023 – During the April 18 meeting, Council members voted to accept the Housing Advisory Committee’s recommendation of selecting the San Juan Community Home Trust as the chosen applicant from the...

Hannah Heights Water System Tests Positive for PFAS

SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA. April 15, 2023 – San Juan County Health and Community Services (HCS) received confirmed test results on Friday April 14^th indicating that a well belonging to the Hannah Heights Water System on San Juan Island tested positive...

Concern For San Juan County’s Most Vulnerable Prompts Latest Health Officer Order

SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA. April 4, 2023 – On Apr. 3, 2023, San Juan County Health Officer Order 2023-1 went into effect which continues the masking requirements in patient-facing healthcare facilities. The order excludes dental offices, optometry off...

San Juan County Publishes 'Point in Time Homeless Count' Results

SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA. March 10, 2023 – The 2023 San Juan County “Point-In Time” (PIT) Homeless Count identified 148 people who have no stable place to live, nearly matching the 2022 count of 146. 

Of the 148 people identified as having no stable pl...

San Juan County Honors Lucinda Elizabeth Stewart Boyce’s Legacy of Care with Community Health Van

SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA. March 10, 2023 – Lucinda Elizabeth Stewart Boyce lived on San Juan Island in the late 1800s and, through radical acts of public service, cultivated a legacy of care. She was known to travel by horseback, buggy, and canoe to ...

You’re Invited: Luci B Community Wellness Van Launch Party on March 15

SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA. March 2, 2023 – San Juan County Health & Community Services (HCS) is hosting a launch party for the new Luci B Community Wellness Van at the San Juan County Fairgrounds main building from 12:30 to 1:30 pm. Light refreshm...

Washington State Department of Health Approves Use of Expired COVID-19 Tests

SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA. Jan. 26, 2023 – If you have a stockpile of expired at-home COVID-19 tests, don’t throw them out. You can still use them! The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) approved the use of expired at-home COVID-19 tests.

At-home COVID-...

San Juan County Launches New Oral Health Program for School-age Children

SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA. January 11, 2023 – San Juan County Health and Community Services will be providing “Smile Checks” as part of an oral health prevention program. Healthy teeth are part of overall health and wellness. In pa...

San Juan County Seeks San Juan Island Member for Housing Advisory Committee

SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA. December 7, 2022 – Are you a San Juan Island resident who is passionate and knowledgeable about affordable housing in San Juan County? The County is seeking a new member for the Housing Advisory Committee (HAC) to fill the S...

Hot Topic 63: Changes to COVID-19 Data Reporting

SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA. December 5, 2022 – Key changes in COVID-19 data reporting that everyone should be aware of.

As of December 1, 2022, Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has decommissioned the Washington State Coronavirus Response (COV...

Hot Topic 62: Influenza Treatments

SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA. November 30, 2022 – With influenza spreading rapidly throughout Washington and our own community, it is important to be aware of treatment options.

Rates of influenza in our community and throughout Washington state are very high, with...

Sharing is caring—except when it comes to viruses

SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA. November 23, 2022 – Washington state is seeing an increase in cases of RSV (respiratory syncytial virus). RSV is a common respiratory virus that causes cold and COVID-like symptoms, including runny nose, coughing, sneezing, ...

Affordable Housing: The Future of Affordability

The need for affordable housing is a widespread and growing issue – not just in the Islands, but throughout the region and nation. The San Juan Islands are home to multiple organizations working to create long-term affordable housing opportuniti...

Hot Topic 61: Best Practices for COVID, Cold, and Flu Season

SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA. November 16, 2022 – You’ve always been asked to stay home when you’re sick, but it’s not always that simple. This year, more than ever, it’s important to stay home when you have cold o...

Affordable Housing: A Foundation for San Juan’s Future

Take a stroll through Friday Harbor’s neighborhoods and you’ll find the next wave of affordable housing. On Price Street, passersby will see walls being framed in, hear the hum of compressors hard at work, and feel the excitement in th...

Affordable Housing: Lopez’s Community-Driven Solutions

Leyna Lavinthal and her family of three are about to celebrate a major milestone – one year in secure, affordable housing. The Lavinthal family left Seattle behind and moved to Lopez Island in 2018 in search of a safe community to raise their so...

Affordable Housing: Providing Opportunity on Orcas

To some, the term ‘affordable housing’ means nothing more than a low monthly payment. But to Stephanie Nouvel and her family of four, ‘affordable housing’ means so much more. For the Orcas Island family, it means co...