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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
One of the real challenges of COVID-19 has been having to venture out to grocery stores to get food items. This errand can be a real challenge, especially when it comes to maintaining social distancing standards. This is further compounded by people who may not be adhering to the County’s face covering directive. That’s why I’m excited to see that the Queen Anne Farmers’ Market began its 2020 season today. The market runs every Thursday, May 28 - October 8, 3-7:30 p.m. at Queen Anne Ave. and West Crockett St. This provides an opportunity to buy fresh food items without having to be inside. But, if you are going to go, be sure to adhere to the current COVID-19 health guidelines. Click the following link to read more about the market, shopper expectations and what precautions are being taken to keep vendors and patrons safe and healthy: https://qafm.org/covid19?fbclid=IwAR3seYqHRxyPslQbwDOjslCc3oUqjY1rEFeNwagy1fyJC28uaBBk3y_W60s
In previous updates I’ve shared graphics displaying what a six-foot distance looks like. I’m pleased to share this image that was sent to me from a constituent Brock Howell showing what six feet looks like when walking on a typical Seattle sidewalk. Most sidewalks in Seattle are just 6' wide, stamped into 2' squares. They are only wide-enough for one person (or a group of related people).
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). However, I have now transitioned to sending updates only during the week unless there are major developments. 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 55 new positive cases of COVID-19 in King County today (7,986 total) and 3 new COVID-19-related deaths (552 total).
As of May 26, there were 20,406 confirmed COVID-19 cases statewide and 1,095 related deaths. (Note: We do not receive the statewide data daily in time to include in our daily update.)
Also, yesterday the Washington State Department of Health updated the definition of a COVID-19 close contact to align with new CDC guidance. The new guidance states that a close contact is defined as someone who was within six feet of someone with COVID-19 for at least 15 minutes. Previous guidance stated 10 minutes.
Detailed information about demographics of those who died from COVID-19 is 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
Lastly, here is an updated list of places open for COVID-19 testing: https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/news/2020/May/~/media/depts/health/communicable-diseases/documents/C19/community-health-center-testing-locations.ashx
   
Face covering directive not for everyone
The King County face covering directive strongly urges people to wear face coverings when in any indoor or outdoor public space within 6 feet of someone who does not live with you. Because COVID-19 can spread before someone develops symptoms, we can protect one another by wearing a face covering.
However, there are some people who are unable to wear face coverings for good reasons, including some people with disabilities, children, and those with some very specific health or safety concerns. That’s why not everyone needs to wear a face covering. Click the following link to find out who doesn’t need to be wearing a face mask and what you can do to stay safe if you are unable to wear some kind of facial covering: https://publichealthinsider.com/2020/05/28/not-everyone-needs-to-wear-a-face-covering-but-why/
Businesses can be cited, fined for not following pandemic orders
Washington businesses that decide to open or operate in direct violation of Gov. Inslee’s Stay Home, Stay Healthy order may be cited and fined for unsafe workplace conditions under emergency rules filed today by the state Department of Labor & Industries.
The closure order and the Safe Start Plan to reopen businesses are in place to keep workers and the public safe and to prevent the spread of the easily transmissible coronavirus.
The emergency rules, enacted at the direction of the Governor, take effect immediately. They give the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) the authority to cite businesses for being open or for operating in a way that is purposely defying the phased-in approach and, as a result, putting their workers at risk. You can read more by clicking the following link: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WADLI/bulletins/28d7e64
COVID-19 testing at long-term care facilities
Gov. Jay Inslee on Thursday announced a new order from the state Department of Health that will require broad testing in long-term care facilities. Under the order, all residents and staff at nursing homes must be tested for COVID-19 by June 12, and residents and staff at assisted living facilities with memory care units must be tested by June 26.
Inslee said facilities where everyone was tested last month would not need to go through the testing again.
At the same press conference, Inslee announced new guidance to protect farmworkers, including additional safety measures for farmworker transportation. There isn’t a link available yet, but I will be sure to share one once it becomes available.
New website to help Washington get back to business
The Association of Washington Business announced a new website aimed at helping Washington businesses safely welcome back employees and customers.
The website, located at www.reboundandrecovery.org, features an online portal to connect Washington businesses with ‘Made in Washington’ manufacturers of personal protective equipment (PPE), plus a toolkit for small businesses to help prepare their physical spaces for reopening and assist in communicating new health and safety protocols with employees and customers.
The site is free to use and available to all Washington businesses.
Additional helpful and informative links
Today's moment of enjoyment (to come)
Missing live music? Worry not! A number of Washington’s biggest stars are coming together for a benefit concert you can watch right from your living room. Superstars like Dave Matthews Band, Pearl Jam, Brandi Carlile, and Ciara will be performing in a special broadcast on KING and KONG (and online) in an effort to raise money for a wide range of groups working on food security, youth homelessness and helping small businesses and undocumented workers. Tune in on June 10th at 7pm. More information is available here: https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/music/major-covid-19-relief-concert-to-feature-pearl-jam-dave-matthews-brandi-carlile-and-other-seattle-stars/
Keep in touch
Thank you again for taking the time to read my update. You can expect these to continue being sent out daily, 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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