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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
The word I keep coming back to when thinking about our current situation is bizarre. It’s frankly unfathomable how quickly our normal lives have been turned completely upside down, especially for those who have been infected and/or have lost loved ones to the virus.
Now the virus is no longer just disrupting our lives while we are awake, it is infiltrating the dreams of some of us. I encourage you to read this article from the Associated Press about the types of dreams people around the world are having and how the stress from this global pandemic is impacting our subconscious: ‘Infecting our dreams’: Pandemic sabotages sleep worldwide. These stories are important because they provide a reminder that we are indeed not alone and many of us are carrying with us a heightened level of anxiety.
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 helpful information related to the COVID-19 crisis. You can now read previous updates I sent out on 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 here to visit the archive page.
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 64 new positive cases of COVID-19 in King County (6,054 total) and 11 new COVID-19-related deaths (427 total). So, again, the number of new positive cases is going down, but the number of deaths is continuing on a plateau.
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
Vanpools available for essential workers
To support COVID-19 response and recovery efforts, King County Metro is offering essential workers the opportunity to form temporary vanpools with as few as two riders.
In support of social distancing, ridership requirements for all Metro Vanpools have been reduced to a minimum of two people for new and existing groups, and Metro is not collecting fares on the service until further notice. Additionally, Metro has designated a limited supply of vans to provide essential workers with a rideshare option where other transit options are unavailable or unfeasible.
Essential workers interested in forming a new vanpool can email vanpool@kingcounty.gov with “Emergency Vanpool Formation” in the subject line to get started or for more information. Click the following link to learn more: https://kingcountymetro.blog/2020/04/26/vanpools-for-just-2-riders-available-for-essential-workers/
Washington 211 COVID-19 Call Center
Do you need information or answers to your questions and concerns about the novel coronavirus (COVID-19)? You can call 1-800-525-0127 or text 211-211 for help. You can also text the word “Coronavirus” to 211-211 to receive information and updates on your phone wherever you are. You will receive links to the latest information on COVID-19, including county-level updates, and resources for families, businesses, students, and more.
Isolation and quarantine facilities update
Isolation and quarantine are a proven public health practice for reducing the spread of disease. Examples of people who may need this assistance include people who cannot safely isolate from a family member who is elderly or medically fragile, or people experiencing homelessness. Individuals can only be placed into the King County sites after a health professional with Public Health has determined that they need isolation or quarantine.
Sixty people are currently staying in King County isolation, quarantine and recovery facilities. The number of residents at King County's isolation and quarantine sites is included in regular updates provided by Public Health. No other identifying or personal information is provided.
Loan applications resume for small businesses, other resources
The Small Business Administration resumed accepting Paycheck Protection Program applications on Monday, so if your small business couldn’t apply during the first round, contact an approved lender and start your application today.
Beyond federal assistance, Facebook announced last week that it had set aside $8.5 million in loans for Seattle-area small businesses. Follow this link to learn more.
COVID-19 at the state-level
As of April 26, there are now 13,686 confirmed COVID-19 cases statewide and 765 related deaths.
The Department of Health has been receiving about 200-250 new reports of COVID-19 per day. Case counts decreased in early April but then plateaued in mid-April. However, hospitalizations, which are a more reliable indicator of disease activity, have decreased throughout the month of April. Case counts can be difficult to interpret because that number is dependent on the number of tests performed and who is being tested in the population. The number of outbreaks at long-term care facilities has also decreased throughout the month of April.
Additionally, testing numbers appear stable. A new ordering process that includes a tracking and reporting dashboard is planned for implementation this week. An update in testing guidance including the recent expansion of symptoms that identify infection with COVID-19 is set to be released this week as well. I will share this information when available.
The Department of Health is still waiting for research to show whether a past exposure prevents reinfection.
Additional helpful and informative links
Today's moment of levity
Here is a simple gesture of kindness and hope that was sent to me by a subscriber of this update – Diana Thompson. She and her husband went for a walk and came across some rocks that were painted with messages of support and love. It made her day. It’s amazing how such a small act can have such a big impact on a person’s day or mood. Our community is strong, and this is a nice reminder about how we are all in this together. Enjoy the picture of these lovely painted rocks.
Keep in touch
Thank you again for taking the time to read my update. You can expect these 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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