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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
The good news is we are beginning to flatten the curve. The not so good news is that it’s happening at a slow pace. According to a new model from the Institute for Disease Modeling based in Bellevue, the rate of decline is slow enough that likely our stay at home order will have to last through May. For now, it seems we’re halfway there. You can read more about the recent modeling and what it is indicating by clicking the following link: https://www.capitolhillseattle.com/2020/04/a-slow-decline-latest-models-show-seattle-half-way-through-possible-90-days-of-covid-19-lockdown/
Today’s edition of my enews is a bit shorter than usual but I’d like my staff to have some rest over the weekend. We will send out our enews tomorrow, also likely to be briefer. Then we will be back on track on Monday. 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 122 new positive cases of COVID-19 in King County (5,811 total) and 12 new COVID-19 related deaths (399 total). It’s unfortunate, to see the fatalities number go up again.
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
Poll shows support for social distancing
Even though we have seen protests and resistance to social distancing in the news lately, a new Crosscut/Elway Poll shows that 76% of voters believe the restrictions in place are working and 61% do not want the reopening of our economy to be rushed. You can read more about the poll results by clicking the following link: https://crosscut.com/2020/04/poll-most-wa-voters-wary-reopening-economy-too-soon
The bottom line is the vast majority of Washingtonians are doing their part to stay safe by staying home and by complying with the social distancing guidelines. For those you who are doing your part, thank you. Our most vulnerable neighbors are depending on us all to stay to the course, which will help all of us get back to normal.
Additional helpful and informative links
The first link on funding for artists and arts groups is germane to the legislation transmitted by King County Executive Dow Constantine on Thursday. As the sponsor of the legislation along with Councilmember Rod Dembowski, I am overall very pleased with the legislation and look forward to steering it through the Council process. It may be amended along the way, but we’re looking at having it up for consideration by our Committee of the Whole on Tuesday, May 5 at our 1 p.m. meeting, and subsequently receiving a Council vote on it on Tuesday, May 12th.
Today's moment of levity is a moment of beauty
One of the great traditions of our region is the tulips that blossom annually in the Skagit Valley. But with social distancing restrictions in place, the tulip festival has been cancelled this year. I miss not being able to see the beautiful spring colors. Fortunately, this article has a lovely photo gallery of the blossoms. And, needless to say, they are breathtaking. Enjoy the gallery by clicking the following link: https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/2020-the-year-the-bulbs-went-out-at-skagit-valley-tulip-festival/?utm_source=referral&utm_medium=mobile-app&utm_campaign=ios
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.
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