COVID-19
Mask mandate ends March 12, in-person Council meetings resume March 22
Washington’s COVID-19 mask requirements will be lifted March 12 following decreases in hospitalization rates and public health guidance from the Centers for Disease Control.
Masks will still be required in some settings, including medical facilities, long-term care facilities and public transit.
The City of Bainbridge Island is following the state’s guidelines and will not require masks in City facilities. We understand that some people may continue wearing masks in City facilities for their comfort and they are welcome to do so. In addition, people will not have to sign in while visiting City facilities.
On March 22, the City Council will resume in-person meetings in the Council Chamber. The public will be able to provide comments in person and on Zoom.
The status of future City committee meetings is still being determined.
We look forward to welcoming everyone back to the Chamber for Council meetings!
Test site at Rolling Bay now closed
The City's drive-thru test site at Rolling Bay closed March 1 due to decreased demand for testing and significant reduction in COVID-19 cases in Kitsap County.
If you need a PCR test, there is a full list of sites posted on the Kitsap Public Health District site here: https://kitsappublichealth.org/communityHealth/Covid-19/CoronaVirus_Testing.php
If you need a test specifically for travel or events that information is listed here: https://kitsappublichealth.org/communityHealth/Covid-19/files/COVID-TravelTesting.pdf
You may also order tests kits for your household directly from the State and Federal government here: https://www.sayyescovidhometest.org/index.html and COVIDtests.gov - Free at-home COVID-19 tests
What should I do if I think I have COVID and can’t find a test?
Assume you are positive until you can get tested. If you don’t have symptoms, you should isolate from others, including people in your home, for five days. After five days, you can come out of isolation, but must wear a mask for five days whenever you’re around anyone else.
What should I do if I’ve been exposed to someone with COVID and can’t find a test?
- If you are not vaccinated, or it’s been at least six months since you got your second dose of Moderna or Pfizer and you have not received a booster, or if it’s been two months since you got Johnson & Johnson and you have not received a booster:
- Quarantine for five 5 days if you don’t get any symptoms. Then, wear a mask around others for 5 days, and get tested on day 5.
- If you are fully vaccinated and boosted:
- Make sure to wear a mask any time you are around others for 10 days and get tested on day 5.
COVID-19 leaders receive Humanitarian Award for vaccine efforts
The City of Bainbridge Island and its partners (Bainbridge Prepares, Bainbridge Island Community Pharmacy, Bainbridge Island Fire Department, Island Volunteer Caregivers, Rotary Club of Bainbridge Island and the Senior Community Center) received the Bainbridge Community Foundation’s Humanitarian Award for exceptional leadership in the Bainbridge Island COVID-19 vaccination efforts.
Since Dec. 23, 2020, the COVID-19 partnership has administered more than 30,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine thanks to the coordinated effort. In 2021, more than 600 volunteers have dedicated more than 32,000 hours to the City's ongoing COVID-19 pandemic efforts; this includes the vaccine clinics and testing site. The team has administered vaccines to the most vulnerable populations in Kitsap and Jefferson counties through home visits and a mobile clinic.
Congratulations to all, and thank you to the volunteers who continue to serve our community!
Below is a video the Bainbridge Community Foundation produced to highlight the vaccine distribution efforts.
Read the full Bainbridge Community Foundation announcement.
City Council ends local emergency, terminates hazard pay requirementThe City Council on July 13 approved rescinding the Proclamation of Emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Council took this action based on improving conditions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including increasing rates of vaccination and decreasing COVID-19 cases.
The Proclamation of Emergency was issued March 9, 2020 just after the Kitsap Public Health District’s confirmation of the county’s first positive COVID-19 case on Bainbridge Island. A proclamation allows the City to use all resources necessary to prepare for and respond to an outbreak, to adjust City policies and operations if needed, and to access state or federal funds and other resources related to emergency response.
The City Council on July 13 also repealed the hazard pay ordinance (Ordinance No. 2021-13) approved by the Council earlier this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ordinance No. 2021-13 required hazard pay of $2 per hour for grocery employers with 500 or more but less than 2,000 employees worldwide, and $4 per hour for such employers with 2,000 or more employees.
Based on the termination of the Proclamation of Emergency on Bainbridge Island and improving safety conditions for workers who are eligible for hazard pay, the Council repealed the ordinance and ended the hazard pay requirement.
Effective July 21, 2021, the additional pay is no longer required.