|
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
It’s clear to me that our efforts to maintain social distance and self-isolation are making a difference, as the numbers indicate that the curve is flattening. Unfortunately, the numbers have yet to dip downward enough to warrant returning to the way things were before the outbreak began to take hold on our region. We still have a way to go but we are all able to make a difference by staying the course.
On that note, I want to bring to your attention to an article that appeared in Geekwire featuring Seattle/King County – Public Health’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jeff Duchin. He states his deep concern that as other states begin to reopen their economies, they could be negatively impacted, and COVID-19 cases and fatalities could begin to rise again. Essentially, diseases know no borders. And a new model projects that if distancing measures were lifted starting May 1, a rapid rise in the rate of cases would occur that would likely exceed recent peak levels by the end of the month. Click the following link to read the full article: https://www.geekwire.com/2020/top-seattle-area-health-official-worries-covid-19-spread-across-country-states-reopen/?fbclid=IwAR02DunAfoE9tH5K6IiiBbNj_8ALEUfk14FagogaV9vFiYzVfVphaWvduHc
Lastly, tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. there will be a remote meeting of the King County Council. Click the following link to see the meeting agenda and information about how you can participate and provide public testimony: https://mkcclegisearch.kingcounty.gov/View.ashx?M=A&ID=782460&GUID=EA22E95B-6006-4E7B-A4C5-9C44E66F4864
You can stream the meeting live by clicking the following link: https://livestream.com/accounts/15175343/events/4485487
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 78 new positive cases of COVID-19 in King County (5,990 total) and 9 new COVID-19-related deaths (416 total). So, there’s once again a decline in the number of new positive cases as tested but unfortunately without a corresponding decline in the number of deaths.
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
Inslee announces easing of some outdoor restrictions
At a press conference this afternoon, Governor Inslee announced that as of Tuesday, May 5, some outdoor recreation will be allowed with appropriate safety precautions, including: fishing; hunting; playing golf; day use at state parks, state public lands managed by the Department of Natural Resources and at state Fish and Wildlife areas.
The governor stressed that all of these activities must be done with appropriate social distancing and the safety and security of participants and the people who work in outdoor recreation.
Public gatherings, events, team sports, and camping, among other things, are not resuming at this time.
You can read more about this announcement by clicking the following link: https://medium.com/wagovernor/inslee-announces-easing-of-outdoor-restrictions-8ed2c3d62050
You can also watch a replay of today’s press conference by clicking this link: https://www.tvw.org/watch/?clientID=9375922947&eventID=2020041080
Support small businesses and restaurateurs
Small and independent restaurants in our region have been completely upended by the economic fallout caused by the COVID-19 outbreak. However, many are still open for delivery and takeout. If you are able, I encourage you to support restaurants that are important to you. Here is a great list that details which businesses are still open: https://intentionalist.com/covid-19-takeout-delivery-directory/
You can also visit this informative site that the City of Seattle put together listing restaurants and showing them on a map: https://seattlecitygis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=1499ec293fed4fc587e2c559099a7e64
Thanks to all our small business owners and their employees who are doing everything they can to keep our lives as normal as possible during this tremendously difficult time.
Additional helpful and informative links
Today's moment of levity
Here is a funny cartoon I found in an article that appeared in the New York Times. I think it is safe to say that many of us are feeling a heightened sense of anxiety. To be fair, this a truly stressful and unpredictable time. But I want you all to know that you are not alone. Many of us are feeling overwhelmed and it is important to take some time to laugh and do something for yourself to keep from getting too low. Click the following link to read the article I mentioned about how cartoonists are beginning to run strips inspired by the COVID-19 crisis: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/27/arts/design/comic-strips-coronavirus.html?action=click&module=Editors%20Picks&pgtype=Homepage
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.
|
