Thurston official recommends phase in of in-person learning; 74 COVID-19 cases announced The Olympian 1/22/2021 Rolf Boone, The Olympian (Olympia, Wash.) Jan. 21—Thurston County's top health official is recommending a cautious return to classroom-based learning for K-5 and middle school students, and if the county continues to make progress on COVID-19 transmission rates, it will be followed by a recommendation for high school, the county announced Thursday. County Health Officer Dr. Dimyana Abdelmalek based that recommendation on the county's moderate transmission range for the virus, and the following: — Thurston County Public Health and Social Services has the capacity to respond to cases that may occur in schools, identify those who are close contacts in need of quarantine, and investigate instances of COVID-19 transmission in the schools.