|
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Happy Arbor Day! While it’s challenging to think of any day’s being happy at this time, I think we have to find what still is beautiful in our lives and hope you will be able to find a way to safely get some fresh air and exercise this weekend and enjoy viewing some of our area’s beautiful trees. Stay strong, we will get through this.
Earlier today, Governor Inslee addressed the public and laid out a plan to allow construction projects previously underway to be completed. The recommendations were informed by workers, contractors, health and safety experts, and local government officials, and were based on safe construction standards. You can read more about the plan by clicking the following link: https://medium.com/wagovernor/inslee-announces-plan-to-allow-construction-projects-previously-underway-to-be-completed-b0d7139455
You can also stream a replay of the press conference by clicking this link: https://www.tvw.org/watch/?clientID=9375922947&eventID=2020041078
The rest of this e-newsletter is meant to provide you with an update on some of the other issues on which I’ve been working as well as on helpful information related to the COVID-19 crisis. You can now read previous updates I have set out. I have put together an archive page so you can find any information you may have missed. I have been sending updates every day since March 1 (sometimes more than one in a day). Click the following link to visit the archive page: https://www.kingcounty.gov/council/kohl-welles/News/eNewsletters/covid-enews.aspx
As always, I would like to hear from you. Please do not hesitate to contact my office if you have any questions or comments. You can call me at 206-477-1004 or you can reach me by email at jeanne.kohl-welles@kingcounty.gov.
All the best,
Latest numbers from Public Health
Since yesterday’s update, Public Health is reporting 120 new positive cases of COVID-19 in King County (5,689 total) and 3 new COVID-19 related deaths (387 total). Good to see the fatality numbers continuing to decline, although the number of new positive cases being reported are continuing higher than we’d like. And it appears that as we get more testing conducted, we’ll likely have those numbers increase. And as we keep hearing from experts, there likely is a large incidence of unreported cases.
Detailed information about demographics of those who died from COVID-19 are available on Public Health’s data dashboard. And, interestingly, you can click on your zip code to learn of the number of “positive” cases and fatalities where you reside.
Also, and again, here is an excellent website that offers real-time COVID-19 data in clear formats, broken down by country and state: https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/#countries
Bleach not for human consumption
During times of crisis, it is extremely important to have the most up-to-date and accurate information. Yesterday and today, the idea that drinking bleach could help fight COVID-19 was making its way around popular news outlets. However, drinking bleach is not helpful and could lead to serious harm or death. Please read the following article to learn more about why drinking bleach is the wrong thing to do: https://www.nytimes.com/article/coronavirus-disinfectant-inject-ingest.html
Clean masks regularly
As I’m sure you are already aware, the CDC now recommends wearing a face mask any time you have to out in public. But, it’s important to remember that you should also regularly wash your masks to help stop the spread of germs. Please click the following link to read an article from Good Housekeeping that includes tips for keeping your mask clean: https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/a32173021/how-to-clean-cloth-face-masks/
Free child care for first responders and essential workers
As I have mentioned before, King County and the City of Seattle have coordinated free emergency child care for essential workers under Governor Inslee’s Stay Home, Stay Healthy guidelines. This service is available for any employee defined as an essential worker under Governor Inslee’s March 23 proclamation and includes medical professionals and support staff, corrections officers, transit workers, grocery store employees, and others.
If you are an essential worker who lives or works in King County outside the City of Seattle and you are interested in accessing the free emergency child care slots, please call Child Care Aware of Washington Family Center at 1-800-446-1114 and complete an intake with Family Center staff. After intake, a resources specialist will work to match you with an eligible child care provider that meets your family’s needs.
If you are an essential worker living or working in the City of Seattle, please visit this website to fill out an interest form.
For more information, including information in Chinese, Russian, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese, visit the Department of Community and Human Services emergency child care webpage.
Additional helpful and informative links
Today's moments of levity and inspiration
Our essential workers have been the true heroes of this unprecedented crisis. I was moved by this article that appeared in The Washington Post about factory workers who worked for 28 days straight, day and night, to keep making masks for frontline workers and medical professionals. Their selflessness and determination will be remembered long after this pandemic is behind us. Thanks to them and everyone who keeps our world running in the face of danger. Click the following link to read this truly inspiring story: https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/04/23/factory-masks-coronavirus-ppe/
Also, there is no doubt that pets are the best when stuck isolating at home. Here is my cat Precious helping my husband Alex keep up on current events. If you have pet photos you would like to share, please send them my way.
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, sometimes more than one. 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 mark this email address as a “safe sender” 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.
|
