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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
In this COVID-19 update you will find information on the following topics:
- New testing program
- Reduced Metro service
- Celebrating our pets
- Helpful links
- And more!
First off, I want you all to be aware that this evening at 5:30 p.m., Governor Inslee will address the public to lay out enhanced strategies to mitigate the COVID-19 outbreak. You can watch the press conference live by clicking the following link: https://www.tvw.org/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery This will likely also be carried on TVW and other television channels as well.
Tomorrow we will be holding a regular meeting of the King County Council starting at 1 p.m. However, this meeting will take place entirely virtually and over the phone. This will be a unique challenge, but it is important that we keep government running during this difficult time. Click the following link to see our meeting agenda and find out how you can participate if you wish to provide public commentary: https://www.kingcounty.gov/council/committees/full_council.aspx
West Seattle Bridge closes
Just what didn’t need is more bad news! In a break from COVID-19 news, I want to let you know that today it was announced that the Seattle Department of Transportation has decided to close the West Seattle Bridge out of safety concerns. The bridge will close tonight indefinitely for repairs. You can read more about this development by clicking the following link: https://komonews.com/news/local/west-seattle-bridge-to-close-monday-night-for-repairs-no-timeline-on-reopening
New COVID-19 testing program
To better understand how widespread the COVID-19 outbreak is and whether social distancing efforts are slowing the spread, Public Health – Seattle and King County has partnered with the Seattle Flu Study to launch a home testing program called SCAN.
The outbreak surveillance program will send home tests to a random cross-section of residents around King County and use the collected data to better predict the number of people who may be infected but unrecognized. SCAN will help answer questions like how the virus is affecting our kids, and which groups in King County are most at risk for infection, so we can better protect them.
You can sign up to participate – whether you have symptoms or not – or simply learn more by visiting scanpublichealth.org.
Reduced Metro service began today
As mentioned earlier, Metro will be operating on a Reduced Schedule as of today. As this new schedule rolls out, buses may be running less often, during fewer hours, and/or be canceled. As such, Metro is encouraging riders to text their bus stop ID # to 62550 to find out when the next bus will arrive.
Metro has updated the Metro Matters Blog to reflect this instruction in 14 languages: https://kingcountymetro.blog/2020/03/22/covid-19-update-use-text-for-departures-to-see-reduced-service-starting-march-23/
If you need help planning your next trip, please call Metro Customer Service at 206-553-3000 (WA Relay: 711) for assistance. If you require an interpreter, please call 206-553-3000 and select the interpreter option (Press 1) from the menu when prompted. Let the representative know which language is needed. It will take a moment but an interpreter, in the requested language, will join the call. Nearly 200 languages are covered by the translation line. Please note that interpreter calls may take longer.
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 3/22/20.
- 1170 confirmed cases (up 130 from yesterday)
- 87 confirmed deaths (up 12 from yesterday)
These additional deaths include:
- A woman in his 70s, who died on 3/21
- A man in his 70s, who died on 3/21 at EvergreenHealth
- A man in his 80s who died on 3/22 at EvergreenHealth
- A man in his 80s, who died on 3/22 at Swedish Issaquah
- A woman in her 70s, who died on 3/22
- A woman in her 90s. who died on 3/22
- A man in his 70s, who died on 3/22
- A woman in her 90s, who died on 3/22
- A woman in her 60s, who died on 3/22 at Swedish Cherry Hill
- A man in his 60s, who died on 3/21 at Swedish Cherry Hill
- A man in his 60s who died on 3/22 at University of Washington Medical Center
- A man in his 60s who died on 3/22 at Virginia Mason
Of the 87 deaths reported, 37 are confirmed to be associated with Life Care Center of Kirkland.
Statewide there are now 2,221 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 110 related deaths.
Resource for parents and families
Schools and childcare centers being closed for the foreseeable future has created a major challenge for people with school-aged kids in their households. Here is a helpful article I read in National Geographic aimed at giving you the tools you need to help your kids cope and thrive will being stuck at home: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/family/in-the-news/coronavirus/setting-a-schedule/ I have found National Geographic to be very helpful.
Pets are the best
One of the bright spots for me staying-in-place has been seeing more of my cat, Precious (as well as my husband, Alex). It’s a stressful time for many of us and our pets can bring us much needed joy and comfort. I think it’s safe to say that while this experience has been difficult for humans, the region’s pets are probably having the best time of their lives with their human companions being home so much. Here is a photo of Precious obviously yearning to be done with social isolation and ready to the hit the road! Feel free to share your images of a furry friend in your life that is helping you get through this crisis.
Helpful and informative COVID-19 links
Beethoven from home
I continue to be moved by the everyday acts of kindness and goodwill people are doing across the globe to help their neighbors weather this difficult storm. Here is a moving video of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra playing Beethoven’s 9th using video conferencing technology as a way to share their music with people stuck at home. Click the following link to enjoy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eXT60rbBVk&feature=youtu.be
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 to forward them to others who can subscribe by clicking here.
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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