|
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
The weather this weekend was brilliant, and I sincerely hope many of you were able to safely enjoy some of our area’s beautiful surroundings – especially with rain in the forecast for the next few days.
Tomorrow, the Council will be meeting remotely and will likely act on a $57 million emergency COVID-19 supplemental budget that I have sponsored (as being the Council’s Budget Chair) to continue the County’s critical COVID-19 response efforts, including leasing isolation sites and providing alternatives to shelters, and supporting small businesses and tourism promotion and our arts, culture, heritage and science organizations and institutions in order to have our infrastructure in place to attract tourists and visitors to the County to get our economy back up to full speed once COVID-19 is in check.
The meeting begins at 1 p.m. You can stream it live by clicking the following link: https://livestream.com/accounts/15175343/events/4485487
You find out how to remotely provide public testimony and read the meeting’s full agenda by clicking this link: https://mkcclegisearch.kingcounty.gov/View.ashx?M=A&ID=786841&GUID=ED15C1D1-69B9-4E06-9BC5-A4A1F977EB85
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 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 69 new positive cases of COVID-19 in King County (7,115 total) and 7 new COVID-19-related deaths (505 total). Still stuck on a plateau for both.
As of May 9, there were 16,891 confirmed COVID-19 cases statewide and 931 related deaths. (Note: We do not receive the statewide data daily in time to include in our daily enews.)
   
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
New face covering directive
King County health officials announced today that beginning next Monday (May 18) most residents will be directed to wear face coverings in most public settings. The announcement was made at a press conference by our Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jeff Duchin who was joined by King County Executive Dow Constantine and Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan.
This means we must wear a face covering at any indoor or outdoor public space where we may be within 6 feet of someone who does not live in our homes. A face covering is not needed if we are outside walking, exercising, or otherwise outdoors and able to maintain the six-foot distancing guidelines.
Here are some of the places where we are being strongly urged to wear face coverings:
- Buses, light rail, and other forms of public transportation.
- Stores that sell food and beverages, including: grocery stores, pharmacies, corner stores, convenience stores, liquor stores, farmers’ markets, food banks, farm and produce stands, supermarkets, and big box stores that sell groceries.
- Retail stores, including: convenience stores, pet supply stores, auto supplies and repair shops, hardware and home improvement stores, garden stores that sell supplies for growing food, office supply stores, and home appliance stores.
- Restaurant take-out and food businesses. Employees who prepare, carry out, and deliver food must wear masks.
- Cannabis, tobacco, and vapor shops and stores that sell dietary supplements.
Health officers want to stress that they are asking us to wear face coverings, but not medical masks. Wear fabric face coverings, such as cloth face masks, scarves, and bandanas. It is important to save medical-grade surgical masks and N95 respirators for health care workers and people who have special health needs.
Some people do not need to follow this directive, including:
- Children ages 2 years and younger. Babies and toddlers under age two should never wear cloth face coverings. Children between 2 and 12 should only wear a face covering if a parent or caregiver supervises to make sure it’s worn safely.
- Anyone with a disability that makes it hard for them to wear or remove a face covering.
- Anyone who is deaf and moves their face and mouth to communicate.
- Anyone who has been advised by a medical professional to not wear a face covering because of personal health issues.
- Anyone who has trouble breathing, is unconscious, or unable to remove the face covering without help.
Individuals are strongly urged to comply with this Directive. There is no criminal, civil, or financial penalty for failing to wear a face covering in these settings, but please consider the valid reasons for complying.
Businesses and individuals must continue to follow all existing COVID-19 orders from the Local Health Officer, Governor, or other local, state, or federal regulatory agencies, and any other relevant local, state, or federal civil rights laws. In addition, businesses are required to post signage advising individuals to wear face coverings on the premises. Businesses can download a sign that can be used for this purpose at http://www.kingcounty.gov/masks
Lastly, check out this post from the Metro Matters blog on new face covering requirements on transit: https://kingcountymetro.blog/2020/05/11/new-public-health-directive-requires-masks-or-face-coverings-on-transit/
National Women's Health Week
National Women’s Health Week began on Mother’s Day, as it does every year, to remind women and girls to make their own health a priority and take care of themselves. During this time of COVID-19, it is especially important for all women and girls, especially those with underlying health conditions like hypertension, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular and respiratory conditions, to take care of health issues now.
Call your health care provider to set up a telehealth appointment if you are concerned that you might have COVID-19; if stress is getting in the way of your daily activities; or if you have a health condition, such as asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure or obesity, so you can develop or check in on a plan to keep it under control. Read more and get health tips from the Washington State Department of Health by clicking the following link: https://medium.com/wadepthealth/womens-health-week-f63701d400d1
Additional helpful and informative links
Today's moment of levity - seeking hope and joy
To be frank, the last few months have been bleak, and the corresponding existential dread can lead to depression and anxiety. For many, it’s not just existential – loved ones have been lost to this awful virus and that loss can be devastating.
Now more than ever we must find ways to see the joy that surrounds us. I was moved by this article from the Seattle Times chronicling the ways in which Washingtonians are finding ways to bring joy into their lives. Click the following link to read and be sure to find ways to smile and laugh and see the light – we will get through this together: https://www.seattletimes.com/life/whats-bringing-you-joy-amid-the-coronavirus-crisis-washingtonians-share-whats-getting-them-through-the-pandemic/?utm_source=referral&utm_medium=mobile-app&utm_campaign=ios
I also found this video of a father reading a bedtime story to his son in a post-COVID-19 world to be especially touching. Click the following link to enjoy: https://www.iheartradio.ca/virginradio/victoria/trending/a-beautiful-must-watch-post-covid-bedtime-story-1.12328307
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.
|
