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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I hope you and your family are doing well and staying safe as reopening proceeds. News reports show that a burst of social activity over Memorial Day weekend did indeed result in a surge of new cases. As we approach the July 4th weekend, please take the warnings about masks, hand washing and physical distancing seriously. The pandemic is continuing to spread and it is up to each one of us to minimize risks for ourselves, our loved ones and the entire community.
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, including racial justice, as well as helpful information related to the COVID-19 crisis. You can read previous updates I have sent out on an archive page so you can find any information you may have missed. 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,
COVID 19 UPDATES
Since yesterday’s update Public Health is reporting 168 new positive cases of COVID-19 in King County today (10,069 total) and 0 new COVID-19-related deaths (586 total). So, a major increase in new cases but fortunately without any new deaths.
Over the weekend in King County, Public Health reported 124 new cases on Saturday and 0 new deaths. On Sunday, Public Health reported 82 new cases and, again, 0 new deaths.
Statewide, as of June 28, there were 32,253 confirmed COVID-19 cases statewide and 1,320 related deaths. (Note: We do not consistently receive the statewide data daily in time to include in our daily update.)
It should be noted that the number of new cases is fairly high compared to numbers from a couple of weeks ago. We need to follow the patterns closely but, in the meantime, wear your mask!
Detailed information about demographics of those who died from COVID-19, as well as on rates of hospitalization, is available on Public Health’s data dashboard. And, 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
(These graphs are based solely on the daily announced totals from Public Health, and do not reflect that daily announced cases are typically diagnosed on several previous days. Corrections or adjustments by Public Health that change daily totals are not reflected.)
   
COVID AND OTHER UPDATES
COVID-19: How to read the data and the role of case investigation
The Seattle Times published a helpful article yesterday, discussing how to interpret all the data that are now available about the spread of COVID. The article, COVID-19 data: What the numbers mean and how to tell if the coronavirus is spreading, looks at cumulative data vs. daily counts, how to compare rates in different areas and more.
And a recent blog post by Public Health – Seattle & King County explains the role of investigation and contact tracing in containing the spread of the virus, and details the process of investigating cases.
Some key numbers:
- Public Health investigates about 200 cases a week. The remainder are investigated by the Washington State Department of Health.
- Public Health has successfully interviewed between 80% and 90% of cases.
- Most cases and contacts are contacted within 24 to 48 hours of Public Health being assigned the case.
Community Zoom meeting on Tuesday: how are Greenwood/Phinney organizations and businesses coping with the pandemic?
The Greenwood Community Council, in partnership with the Phinney Ridge Community Council and Phinney Neighborhood Association, is hosting a Zoom meeting tomorrow, June 30, from 7 – 8:30 p.m. The forum is an opportunity to hear from local businesspeople and community organizations about what they’re facing, how they and their employees are coping, and what the community can do to help. Space is limited – email info@greenwoodcommunitycouncil.org to register
 From the state Department of Health (DOH): “Just because you can doesn’t mean you need to.”
A recent update from the state DOH contained important information about reopening our economy while the number of positive COVID-19 cases is rising. I wanted to share a couple of key points with you. Hospital capacity is a key piece of information that is assessed in deciding whether a county is ready to move to the next phase. However, as DOH points out, “Just because there is room for you in the hospital doesn’t mean you want to go there. To keep you and your family safe, it is just as important as ever to keep up your vigilance against COVID-19: stay home when you can, limit the number of people you hang out with, and stay six feet away from them!” And don’t forget your mask and hand sanitizer when you leave the house. Read the full article here.
The state DOH also announced the availability of free face masks. The state has purchased 3.6 million cloth face masks to provide two masks to every person in Washington below 200% of the federal poverty level (which means, for example, a family of four earning $52,400 or less). See this page for more information.
Pop-up blood donation site starts today at Nordic Museum; other arts and heritage organizations will also host blood centers
According to an article in today’s Myballard.com, beginning today the National Nordic Museum in Ballard will host an on-site pop-up blood donation center run by Bloodworks Northwest. The pop-up donation center will operate at the museum through Friday, July 10. The donation hours will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.
In addition to the Nordic, STG’s Paramount Theatre, Bellevue Arts Museum, and Seattle Rep will also be hosting pop-up blood centers in the future.
RACIAL, ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE UPDATES
County’s Office of Law Enforcement Oversight (OLEO) publishes guide to the Sheriff’s office complaint process
OLEO just announced that is has published a guide for community members that explains how to file a complaint, and how misconduct complaints are handled. Scroll down to view the entire graphic.
OLEO regularly receives community member’s questions, concerns, and complaints related to law enforcement and has experienced a surge in inquiries over the past few weeks.
“The complaint process can be surprisingly complicated,” said OLEO Director Deborah Jacobs. “OLEO developed this guide to help complainants and the public at-large understand how the Sheriff’s Office reviews concerns raised by the community, and OLEO’s role on behalf of the public.”
HBO makes “Crisis Cops” documentary available for free on Youtube through July 15
The widely acclaimed documentary “Ernie and Joe: Crisis Cops” is being made available free of charge by HBO until July 15th. You can stream it on Youtube here. The Los Angeles Times said it was "moving in its humanity and forceful in its pragmatism," and The New York Times said “it should be required viewing in all police academies.”
“Ernie and Joe” is an intimate portrait of two white Texas police officers who are helping change the way police respond to mental health calls. The film takes audiences on a personal journey, weaving together their daily encounters with people in crisis. These two officers are not your everyday cops.
What if Medicaid paid for trees?
An audio story, put out by Yale Climate Connections, poses this question. They interview Bobby Cochran of the Willamette Partnership, an environmental nonprofit based in Portland, who says, “If we’ve got the science that shows that more trees equal better health, and we’re spending 18% of our gross domestic product on health … well, what if Medicaid could pay for trees?” he says. “And that’s actually not that crazy.” Listen here.
Additional helpful and informative links
- What activities are safe as the coronavirus continues to spread? – The New Yorker
- Mask shaming men won't work. Here's what will – The Los Angeles Times
- Coronavirus pandemic job losses falling hardest on people who were already hurting - The Seattle Times
- Yakima County farmworkers called ‘sacrificial lambs’ of pandemic - Crosscut
- From yellow fever to coronavirus, keeping the mail safe – The Washington Post
- Ergonomic tips for your home office – UW Environmental Health and Safety News
- Citing spike in coronavirus cases, Inslee puts pause on counties moving to Phase 4 of reopening plan – The Seattle Times
- To understand structural racism, look to our schools – The Seattle Times
- Shooting at Seattle’s CHOP protest site kills 16-year old man, leaves 14-year-old in critical condition – The Seattle Times
- Black children deserve a bright future – The Seattle Times, Op-Ed by Judge Willie Gregory
- What is pool testing and how does it work? – The Washington Post
- Seattle Now: Why people won't wear masks – KUOW
Today’s moment of inspiration
A Seattle Times article tells the story of 11-year-old Lyla Dalnekoff, who has been documenting life with the Coronavirus through comics. I think you’ll agree she has a bright future as a cartoonist!
You can view all of Lyla’s work at her blog, drawingthroughit.com.
Keep in touch
Thank you again for taking the time to read my updates, which I’m now sending out on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays - - and sometimes more frequently. Note that as this Friday is a holiday, we will not send out our enews that day. 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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