Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Gov. Jay Inslee announced today three new advisory groups that will focus on certain areas as the state moves to reopen in phases from the closures brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. The three groups – Public Health and Health Care Systems, Safe Work and Economic Recovery, and Social Supports – will be headed by corresponding state department heads, but will be made up of representatives from across the state.
Inslee said the advisory groups would serve as a forum for his office to interface with the broader community on key issues as the state moves through the steps needed for the phased reopening of the state’s economy. More information will be available here.
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 71 new positive cases of COVID-19 in King County (6,653 total) and 4 new COVID-19-related deaths (467 total). So, while these numbers do reflect a decline in the past few days, once again we are not out of the woods or consistently declining from the plateau we’ve been on.
As of May 4th, there were 15,594 confirmed COVID-19 cases statewide and 862 related 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
Many state parks open today, Tuesday May 5th
I am so happy to share that more than 100 Washington state parks are reopening today, Tuesday, May 5th. But many others remain closed and there are restrictions and guidelines that must be followed. If you intend to head out, the state asks you to stay close to home, check the status of your favorite park or trail heads before heading out, come prepared with your own hand-washing supplies and follow State Parks’ guidelines for responsible recreation.
…and don’t plan on bathrooms being open!
King County Parks to open this Friday, May 8th
King County Parks announced today, they will begin to re-open parks and trails, including regional and backcountry trails, on Friday, May 8. This includes parking lots, trailheads, fields, docks, boat launches and the off-leash dog area at Marymoor Park. Active use and high touch facilities such as restrooms, play areas, sports courts, picnic shelters, the aquatic center, and the campground at Tolt-MacDonald Park will remain closed, and organized events and programs will remain suspended.
A detailed list of the status of park facilities, safety guidelines and a tool to report crowding and other issues is available on the KC parks blog: kingcountyparks.org/COVID.
Metro adds trips and seat signs; No fares through May 31
King County Metro continues to provide service for essential trips only and remains committed to making transit as safe and reliable as possible. The latest set of actions promotes safety and is outlined in the latest Metro Matters blog post.
Highlights include, increasing trips on selected routes where social distancing has been challenging, seat signs that provide a visual cue to stay apart from other passengers and suspension of fares through the end of May.
League of Education Voters hosting a free webinar on mental health supports for students and more
Check out this timely opportunity to join a free webinar this Thursday, May 7 at 12:30 pm. League of Education Voters will host a panel of counselors, social-emotional learning, and behavioral health experts who will describe which services are currently available in Washington state, which services are still needed, and will answer your questions. Register HERE if you wish to attend.
Additional helpful and informative links
A new children’s book helps kids understand the COVID-19 pandemic
From the World Health Organization:
This beautifully-illustrated storybook, aimed at 6-11 year-olds, explains how children can protect themselves, their families and friends from coronavirus and how to manage difficult emotions when confronted with a new and rapidly changing reality. In order to reach as many children as possible, the book is being widely translated. All language versions are available at the link below.
The book was produced through a collaboration of more than 50 organizations working in the humanitarian sector as part of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Reference Group on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings, co-chaired by WHO.
To celebrate the launch of “My Hero is You, How kids can fight COVID-19!”, well-known artist, Howard Donald, gives the first public reading in support of the #ReadTheWorld initiative of WHO, UNICEF and the International Publishers Association. Click the image below or follow this link to watch the reading: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mBWE--T9yQ&feature=emb_logo
Today’s moment of levity: Pets in a Pandemic
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.
Sincerely,
-Jeanne
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