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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Metro suspends fare collection
In yesterday’s update I mentioned that Metro is reducing service hours. These reductions are necessary and are aimed to keep the system resilient and ready to ramp back up once the crisis is over. Today, Metro announced it will end fare collections until further notice effective tomorrow, Saturday, March 21st. Riders will not be required to pay fares when riding King County Metro services, including buses, water taxi and Access paratransit, until further notice.
Riders will also be directed to board and exit at the rear doors of buses, reserving front-door access for customers using mobility devices or who require use of the boarding ramp. This change is aimed at minimizing the interaction between the operator and passengers in an effort to promote social distancing for everyone on the bus. You can read more about these operational changes by reading the Metro Matters blog by clicking the following link: https://kingcountymetro.blog/
Inslee press conference today at 4:30
I also want to bring to your attention that Governor Jay Inslee will address the public later today at 4:30 p.m. He’s expected to lay out some new protections for at-risk employees. You can view it on TVW or his Facebook page.
Tax deadline moved to July 15
Individual and business taxpayers will have an additional three months to file their taxes this year, as the federal government took more steps to help workers and business owners during the continuing coronavirus crisis. President Donald Trump on Friday directed the U.S. Treasury to move the filing deadline from April 15 to July 15. Filers will have the additional time to file and make payments without any penalties or fees.
Latest info from Public Health
Public Health—Seattle & King County is reporting the following confirmed cases and deaths due to COVID-19 through 11:59 p.m. on 3/19/20.
- 793 confirmed cases (up 100 from yesterday)
- 67 confirmed deaths (up 7 from yesterday)
These additional deaths include:
- A man in his 80s, who died on 3/19
- A woman in her 90s, who died on 3/17
- A man in his 70s, who died on 3/18
- A woman in her 80s. who died on 3/18
- A woman in her 70s, whose date of death has not been confirmed
- A man in his 70s, who died on 3/19 at Valley Medical Center
- A woman in her 60s, who died on 3/19 at Harborview Medical Center
Of the 67 deaths reported, 35 are confirmed to be associated with Life Care Center of Kirkland.
Porcupine living the good life
As a member of the Woodland Park Zoo Board, I thought I’d share this cute video of one of the zoo’s porcupines enjoying the peace and quiet of the zoo. Without park visitors, he has free roam and is obviously enjoying himself. This video certainly helped brighten my mood. Click the following link to check it out: https://www.facebook.com/WoodlandParkZooSeattle/posts/10158465355902708
Keep in touch
Thank you again for taking the time to read my update. You can expect ones to continue being sent out on a daily basis. Feel free too forward them to others who can subscribe by clicking here. I will do my best to send updates over the weekend but be sure to visit my Facebook page for the latest info.
Also, let me know if you have ideas or tips for getting though these difficult times. Whether it’s an idea for staying healthy, keeping your sanity when self-quarantining or isolating, or unique ideas for those who work from home - we want to hear from you!
Finally, to prevent these updates from going straight to spam or junk folders, I encourage you to whitelist these emails by adding the email address to your contacts or address book. And be sure to check your spam folder if you think you may have missed an update.
And please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns and, most importantly, be well.
Sincerely,
Jeanne Kohl-Welles
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