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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I want to take a moment to send a very special and grateful thank you to everyone in our world who continue to make life possible during this truly unprecedented time. To all of the doctors, medical professionals, first responders, delivery drivers, grocery store workers and restaurateurs and others doing everything to keep life as normal as possible for the rest of us, we are forever in your debt. I encourage you all to take a moment to thank the people in your life who are working hard every day for the rest of us.
Also, in case you missed it, Governor Inslee addressed the public yesterday announcing some new protections for at-risk employees. You can watch the press conference in its entirety by clicking the following link: https://player.invintus.com/?clientID=9375922947&eventID=2020031184
New isolation site at Harborview
In a continuing effort to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus in the community and to preserve critical hospital beds for those with the most acute health care needs, King County has joined with Harborview Medical Center to plan for opening an isolation and recovery center in the county’s Harborview Hall building, located at 326 Ninth Avenue. The new site will make available 45 beds for recovery and isolation.
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Latest numbers 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 3/20/20.
- 934 confirmed cases (up 141 from yesterday)*
- 74 confirmed deaths (up 8 from yesterday)*
These additional deaths include:
- A woman in her 80s, who died on 3/19
- A woman in her 100s, who on died 3/15
- A man in his 80s, who died on 3/20 at Swedish Ballard
- A woman in her 70s, who died on 3/20 at Northwest Hospital
- A man in his 70s, who died on 3/20 at Northwest Hospital
- A woman in her 70s, who died on 3/20 at Highline Medical Center
- A man in his 60s, who died on 3/20 at Swedish Issaquah
- A man in his 80s, who died on 3/20 at Valley Medical Center
Of the 74 deaths reported, 35 are confirmed to be associated with Life Care Center of Kirkland.
*After case investigation, one previously reported death was confirmed to be a resident of a different jurisdiction. We have removed this person from our overall confirmed case and death counts.
Exercise caution
Please be cautious when you go outdoors to exercise, especially if you are going to remote regions, to not spread the virus. Act like you have it. This is a short and excellent read by a 29 year-old who is currently suffering from COVID-19. It’s a plea to his generation and to all outdoor enthusiasts to be seriously careful and highly considerate around coronavirus safety. Youth and being in good health are no excuse to be any less vigilant: https://backcountrymagazine.com/stories/splitboarding-in-the-time-of-covid-19/?fbclid=IwAR2PxSugMYA9duMq7JbgqqGqGf_SD6Xi0uRs9bfjivHpGQsvXy5g7iZxnYA
Playgrounds and sports courts closed
King County and City of Seattle have announced they are closing playgrounds and sports courts. The closures include playground equipment, picnic shelters, basketball and tennis courts, ballfields, and other active recreation locations. Playfields, however, remain open for walking and other non-team activities.
Parks, natural lands, regional trails, backcountry trails, and beaches where social distancing can be maintained remain open.
Rent relief
Mayor Jenny A. Durkan announced yesterday that the City of Seattle will provide $400,000 in rent relief to arts and cultural and other nonprofits, small businesses, and artists’ studios that are located on City-owned facilities. An estimated 90 tenants on the Seattle Center grounds and on Parks and Recreation facilities will receive immediate financial relief in the form of rent waivers or rent deferment for April and May. Click the following link to learn more: https://durkan.seattle.gov/2020/03/city-of-seattle-to-provide-immediate-rent-relief-for-nonprofit-and-small-business-tenants/
Need a laugh? Watch this on conference calls
Many of us are still learning the ropes when it comes to working from home. And working from home can involve lots of conference calls. I couldn’t help but laugh at this hilarious video about conference calls and the awkwardness that can ensue. Thanks to Sheila Stickel for forwarding it to me. Click the following link to enjoy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYu_bGbZiiQ
Beautiful poem
Here is a beautiful poem about the coronavirus crisis I read in the Huffington Post. It is written by an Irish priest, Richard Hendrick, and it sums up the hardship and hope many of us have felt during COVID-19 outbreak. It is pasted below but you can hear it by clicking the following link: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ireland-priest-coronavirus-lockdown-poem_n_5e748a0cc5b6f5b7c541e875
Lockdown
Yes there is fear. Yes there is isolation. Yes there is panic buying. Yes there is sickness. Yes there is even death. But, They say that in Wuhan after so many years of noise You can hear the birds again. They say that after just a few weeks of quiet The sky is no longer thick with fumes But blue and grey and clear. They say that in the streets of Assisi People are singing to each other across the empty squares, keeping their windows open so that those who are alone may hear the sounds of family around them. They say that a hotel in the West of Ireland Is offering free meals and delivery to the housebound. Today a young woman I know is busy spreading fliers with her number through the neighbourhood So that the elders may have someone to call on. Today Churches, Synagogues, Mosques and Temples are preparing to welcome and shelter the homeless, the sick, the weary All over the world people are slowing down and reflecting All over the world people are looking at their neighbours in a new way All over the world people are waking up to a new reality To how big we really are. To how little control we really have. To what really matters. To Love. So we pray and we remember that Yes there is fear. But there does not have to be hate. Yes there is isolation. But there does not have to be loneliness. Yes there is panic buying. But there does not have to be meanness. Yes there is sickness. But there does not have to be disease of the soul Yes there is even death. But there can always be a rebirth of love. Wake to the choices you make as to how to live now. Today, breathe. Listen, behind the factory noises of your panic The birds are singing again The sky is clearing, Spring is coming, And we are always encompassed by Love. Open the windows of your soul And though you may not be able to touch across the empty square, Sing.
March 13th 2020
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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