Dear Community,
As protests continue across the nation and here in King County, I believe that it is very important that we continue to talk about the issues of racism, inequality, oppression, and violence that persist in this country and in our county. As these demonstrations continue, it is important that we continue to dig into the truth. Whether that’s the truth of our nation’s oppressive history, the truth of these demonstrations, the truth of our own implicit bias or, in fact, all of these, we cannot look away.
On that note, now more than ever it is important to carefully assess the reliability of the news that we consume. Seeking varied sources and checking our assumptions are essential to get a full picture of what’s happening. In the tweet included at the top of yesterday’s newsletter, a constituent let me know that there were concerns about its statistical validity. Though I still do stand by the expressed sentiment, it serves as a reminder to me and my staff to continue to be diligent in ensuring the accuracy of the information we provide. Thank you for your feedback, and thank you for trusting me to provide information to you.
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 42 new positive cases of COVID-19 in King County (8277 total) and 2 new COVID-19-related deaths (562 total).
As of June 1st, there were 22,157 confirmed COVID-19 cases statewide and 1,129 related deaths. (Note: We do not receive the statewide data in time each day 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
(A note regarding data sources: The graphs included below are based solely on the daily announced totals from Public Health. They do not take into account that announced cases on a given day are typically diagnosed during previous days. Corrections or adjustments by Public Health that change prior daily totals are not reflected. Moving averages ignore days where data were not available.)
   
King County applying to move into modified reopening
Working with community, business, and government partners – including the County Council and Board of Health leadership – King County Executive Dow Constantine announced that the county has applied to move forward to allow limited or modified openings for several business sectors and personal activities. King County has not yet met key criteria to enter Phase 2 of the Safe Start plan and case counts are still unstable, so it will move forward with a modified approach, including partial re-opening of certain businesses and activities. To learn more, visit this link.
Gov Inslee provides issues new guidance for libraries, drive-in theaters
Yesterday, Governor Inslee issued guidance for library operations, including plans for the Washington Talking Book and Braille Library, in Phase 1 and 2, and drive-in theater operations for Phase 2. Through the Washington "Safe Start" plan, additional businesses and activities will re-open in phases, with adequate safety and health standards in place. Each phase will be at least three weeks. More details are found in the list of guidance for all current businesses.
New guidance issued for masks
Which Mask for Which Task guidance was issued today by the Division of Occupational Safety and Health at the state’s Labor and Industries Department. Complete guidance for workers and businesses is found here. Beginning June 8, all employees will be required to wear a cloth facial covering, except when working alone in an office, vehicle, or at a job site, or when the job has no in-person interaction. Employers must provide cloth facial coverings to employees, unless their exposure dictates a higher level of protection under the Department of Labor and Industries’ safety and health rules and guidance. Employees may choose to wear their own facial coverings at work, provided they meet the minimum requirements.
Protesting Safely in the Time of COVID
Racism is a public health threat we cannot ignore. Nor can we wait until the pandemic is over to address it. The violent, senseless death of George Floyd and the ensuing national outrage is a sobering reminder and wake-up call that the violence against Black people has occurred in this country since our very beginnings. This racism and hate come on top of the stress, burden and illness being inequitably experienced by Black, Indigenous, Latinx and other people of color during the pandemic, the result of centuries of systemic racism. WA State Department of Health stands with our Black community members and all People of Color in solidarity, support, and love. Full blog post from DOH here.
Seattle-King County Public Health has also put together a Q&A with Public Health Officers on how to protest safely. Read the full article here.
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.
Interested in volunteering during disasters and significant events like COVID-19?
Register with the Washington State Emergency Registry of Volunteers (WAserv) to partner with public health and others who need assistance in their response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Additional helpful and informative links
A Moment of Action
As I’ve said, current events recently call for a shift in this section, and today I’d like to address part of the role that the King County Council has in addressing criminal justice, though it will be inherently insufficient in an eNews edition.
Earlier today, I joined many of the individuals -- Councilmembers and staff -- who work with me at the King County Council for a Zoom discussion on “Let’s Talk about Race” that was convened by our Equity and Social Justice Program in our legislative branch. I was pleased to speak at it in responding to what was communicated by some of our Black staff; I was truly moved by the experiences, insights and wisdom shared, including how we cannot solely be non-racist in what we do, but also that we must be anti-racist. As the Council’s budget chair this year, I’m committed to working with my colleagues to align our investments with our values, even in what will be a difficult fiscal year for King County.
I am pleased to be serving on the Council Law and Justice Committee, chaired by Councilmember Girmay Zahilay, as the committee’s work includes many social and racial justice issues. While the King County Council doesn’t hold jurisdiction over the Seattle Police Department, the Council approves the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) budget and works closely with the separately elected King County Sheriff. The Office of Law Enforcement Oversight (OLEO) is an agency, separate from the Legislative Branch, within the King County Council that was established by charter amendment in 2015 and provides oversight and recommendations to KCSO. Recently, the team at OLEO, led by Director Deborah Jacobs, developed a dashboard to monitor KCSO’s progress in implementing recommendations from OLEO. Please take a moment to look at it here. We are hoping to restart our L&J committee meetings again soon as we had been restricted in doing by the Governor’s order in what we can do remotely. That restriction was just lifted.
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.
-Jeanne
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