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Public Health
Thanks to all who are helping slow the spread of COVID-19
COVID-19 is spreading through our communities more slowly than before, thanks to social distancing and other measures. But we're still seeing too many cases every day, and we're still vulnerable to a rebound in cases that could overwhelm our health care system if we change course too quickly.
In line with Governor Inslee’s Stay Home, Stay Healthy order, everyone should stay home and avoid all non-essential contact. When you must go out, limit your trips and stay six feet apart from others.
Together, we're proving we can slow the spread of COVID-19 and save lives. Our individual actions affect the health of our entire community. And what we do as a community protects us all.
The Public Health–Seattle & King County website has information about COVID-19 in 30 languages, a COVID-19 data dashboard, community support resources, and much more. Find the latest updates on the Public Health Insider Blog.
If you have medical questions related to COVID-19, call Public Health’s Information Line (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.–7 p.m.) at 206-477-3977.
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Washington's phased approach to reopening
On May 1, Governor Jay Inslee described a phased approach that he and public health officials will take for resuming recreational, social, and business activities. Every phase will still require social distancing and appropriate health precautions, including the use of personal protective equipment in a number of workplaces. Learn more and see a chart illustrating the plan.
Road Services
Road maintenance work is essential
 Please maintain social distancing while road crews work to keep King County moving.
Trimming roadside plants, cleaning out drains to prevent flooding, and clearing trash from the road may not spring first to mind when you think about essential work. But deferring these and other road maintenance tasks could cause immediate safety hazards as well as long-term damage to the county’s road and bridge system.
King County Road Services is doing its part to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 while keeping our roads and bridges in unincorporated King County safe and usable. Their crews are following public health guidance while doing their work—avoiding close contact with one another, using gloves as needed, and following enhanced cleaning practices for shared tools, equipment, and vehicles.
You can help!
Road Services is asking the public to please stay clear of crews who are working on roadsides or in their vehicles. It’s important for their safety and yours to observe social distancing and allow at least six feet of distance if you need to speak to a maintenance worker. (Learn more)
To report a road issue in unincorporated King County, call the 24/7 Helpline at 206-477-8100, or send email if the issue is not an emergency. To learn more about King County Road Services, visit their website or follow them on Twitter @kcroads.
Emergency Management
You can help fight COVID-19 through donations and volunteering
The King County Regional Donations Connector helps make sure services, supplies, and funding reach health care providers, first responders, and social service providers working on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic response. Current needs are:
For the response
- AAMI (Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation) surgical gowns
- Surgical and N95 masks
- Nitrile gloves
- Thermometers
- Face shields
To donate supplies to health care facilities and first responders, please email donations@kingcounty.gov.
For community-based organizations
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) including masks, gloves, etc.
- Cleaning supplies
- Hand sanitizer
- Non-perishable food
- Hand-made masks
To donate supplies to community organizations, visit the King County Regional Donations Connector.
Metro Transit
Vanpools for just 2+ riders now 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.
Metro Vanpool is a commuter service that uses Metro vans for small groups of people—normally five or more coworkers, friends, or neighbors—with a similar origin or destination.
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.
Also, Metro has designated a limited supply of vans to provide essential workers with a ride share option where other transit options are not available or feasible.
Essential workers interested in forming a new vanpool can email vanpool@kingcounty.gov with “Emergency Vanpool Formation” in the subject line to get started.
Learn more on the Metro Matters blog.
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Natural Resources & Parks
Parks considers phased-in reopening of some sites
In light of Governor Jay Inslee’s April 27 announcement about reopening selected state recreational lands, King County Parks is working through a phased-in reopening scenario for its parks, trails, and other facilities, likely starting with natural lands and regional trails.
In the meantime, the agency is still following Public Health-Seattle & King County COVID-19 guidelines and the Governor’s Stay Home, Stay Healthy order. All King County parks, trails, and other facilities are still closed until further notice. You can stay up to date on the Parks blog.
All Parks volunteer events are canceled, at least through May 4. Parks staff members will make every effort to reschedule as many events as possible when it’s safe to do so. You can learn more about the volunteer program in a recent blog post.
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Free reminder stickers for dog owners
Do you live in a neighborhood where dog poop is left behind instead of thrown in the trash? Request a free “Scoop it, Bag it, Trash it” sticker at Scooppoop.org. Puget Sound Starts Here created several colorful stickers you can post or give to your friends who “forget” to pick up their dog’s poop every now and again.
It’s important to always pick up after our pets, as their poop can carry diseases that can be transmitted to other pets, wildlife, and even humans. Help keep our neighborhoods and environment healthy by reminding others to scoop, bag, and yes—put it in the trash.
And if you have a moment to spare, take this brief pet waste sticker survey.
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NOTE: Although public meetings have been canceled, here's a list of community councils and associations that serve King County's unincorporated Community Service Areas, including their usual (or most recent) meeting sites and contact information where applicable.
:: Community Alliance to Reach Out and Engage
Lord of Life Lutheran Church
12819 160th Avenue SE, Renton
See blog for the latest information and to confirm meetings.
:: Enumclaw Plateau Community Association
Headsworks Brewing
1110 Marshall Avenue, Enumclaw
Newly formed community association. Monthly meetings are open to the public, and may feature guest speakers in addition to community reports and information from a variety of local organizations. For more information contact Nancy Merrill.
:: Fall City Community Association
Fall City Fire Station
4301 334th Place SE, Fall City
The Fall City Community Association promotes building of community, proactively communicates on local issues, and takes action on selected issues that affect the Fall City community. Open to the public. For more information, visit fallcity.org or email Angela Donaldson.
:: Four Creeks Unincorporated Area Council
Eastside Fire & Rescue Station 78
20720 SE May Valley Road, Issaquah
Visit the website for the latest information and to confirm meeting dates and locations.
:: Greater Maple Valley Unincorporated Area Council
Maple Valley Fire Station
Southeast corner of SE 231st Street and SR-169 intersection
Visit the website for the latest information and to confirm meetings.
:: Green Valley/Lake Holm Association Meeting
Mountain View Fire and Rescue, Station 95
32316 148th Avenue SE, Auburn
Stay connected through their Facebook page or by email.
:: Skywest Tool Library
Skyway Water and Sewer office
6723 S 124th Street, Seattle
Join the SkyWest Tool Library Monthly Meeting to learn more about helping to start a new tool library in Skyway. The purpose of the library will be to share ideas, teach, learn, and borrow tools and more. Contact the library on Facebook.
:: North Highline Unincorporated Area Council
North Highline Fire District
1243 SW 112th Street, White Center
(Parking and entrance are in the back of the station)
Monthly board meetings are open to the public and often feature guest speakers in addition to community reports and information from local organizations. For more information, email Liz Giba.
:: Upper Bear Creek Community Council
Woodinville Library
17105 Avondale Road NE, Woodinville
Visit the website or Facebook page for the latest information and to confirm meetings.
:: Vashon Chamber of Commerce First Tuesday Networking
Vashon Chamber of Commerce
17141 Vashon Highway SW, Vashon
Contact: Jim Marsh at 206-463-6217 or discover@vashonchamber.com.
:: West Hill Community Association
Skyway Fire District 20
12424 76th Avenue S, Seattle
The organization's website now features a page with information about businesses and restaurants in the community that are still operating during the Governor's "Stay Home, Stay Healthy" order.
Monthly board meetings are open to the public and often feature guest speakers as well as community reports and information from local organizations. For more information, visit the website or send email. Learn more on Facebook.
One of the profound impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic is the way it has limited our ability to communicate with one another, on both a personal level and as communities. We’re struggling to find ways to do our jobs, keep in touch with loved ones, and even care for elderly parents or grandparents in this new reality.
At the Department of Local Services, much of our work is focused on community relations, preferably face-to-face. Over the past two months we’ve shifted to using technology such as conference calls and video meetings.
It looks like we’ll be dealing with COVID-19 for the foreseeable future, until a vaccine is available. So we need to find ways to stay in touch with our communities while continuing social distancing.
I hope you’ll share any ideas you have about how we can do a better job of supporting you during this time. Give us a call or reach out by email (see contact info below).
And please—stay safe and healthy!
Director’s Corner is a column from John Taylor, the director of King County Local Services.To contact John, email AskLocalServices@kingcounty.gov or call 206-477-3800 (Relay 711; language interpreters available).
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