There has been no change to staffing levels at the Kitsap Public Health District since the outbreak of 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19), according to district officials.

“We have not expanded staffing in response to COVID-19. We have shifted some staff from their regular duties to assist in the response,” Grellner noted in an email to the Review.

The district has 102 full-time employees.

In a presentation to the Kitsap Public Health Board at its meeting last week, officials said the district’s emergency response team was activated Feb. 3 in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

As of Feb. 25, the district has devoted 725 hours to the outbreak, and staffing costs had totaled $53,113,

The Kitsap Public Health District has received no extra funding for its COVID-19 response.

Before its meeting last week, members of the Kitsap Public Health Board were told that officials were preparing for a possible widespread outbreak of COVID-19 in Kitsap County.

Turner said the district had already spent $53,000 and devoted more than 725 hours of staff time on the response to COVID-19.

“We expect this work and expense to increase significantly in the coming weeks and months. This work is exceeding the capacity of our agency and means that many of the regular, day-to-day work and responsibilities of those employees involved in the response are being suspended or cancelled,” Health Officer Dr. Susan Turner said in a memo to the board.

The Kitsap health district’s work plan includes preparedness efforts for a COVID-19 pandemic, and the district is working with its partner agencies on developing a comprehensive county pandemic flu plan, as well as exercises and resources. Officials will continue to monitor the outbreak and update disease-specific procedures as needed.