COVID-19 UPDATES
Since yesterday’s update, Public Health is reporting as of this afternoon:
- 127 new positive cases of COVID-19 (21,304 total)
- 0 new COVID-19-related deaths (748 total)
- New hospitalizations is 3 (2,313 to date)
Unfortunately, up from yesterday’s low. There has been thought that the lower figures recently could have been influenced by some of the testing stations being closed because of the very bad air quality outside.
Of the 15,688 cases in which race and ethnicity information is available, 6,042 of those are white and 9,646 are Black, Indigenous and People of Color. Full information with detailed demographics of those diagnosed with COVID-19, including by age and gender, as well as on rates of hospitalization, is available on Public Health’s data dashboard.
Yesterday, Thursday, September 17th, Public Health reported 38 new positive cases of COVID-19 (21,196 total) and 0 new COVID-19-related deaths (748 total). The number of new hospitalizations was -7 (a data adjustment, bringing the total to 2,310).
Statewide, according to the state Department of Health (DOH), as of this afternoon, the total number of positive cases was 81,602. Total number of deaths statewide was 2,037, and total hospitalizations were 7,215.
   
COVID AND OTHER UPDATES
Update from State Department of Health (DOH) on COVID vaccine distribution planning
No vaccine exists yet for COVID-19, but state agencies are beginning to put in place plans for distribution once a safe and effective vaccine is available. On Wednesday, the DOH provided an update on its planning process, including determining how best to prioritize distribution of the vaccine. You can view the full briefing here on TVW.
DOH wants to remind people that when a coronavirus vaccine is approved and released, there will not at first be enough available for everyone. Some possibilities for the first priority groups to receive vaccine are:
- Essential workers
- Health care workers
- Residents and workers at long-term care facilities
DOH and Public Health emphasize continued importance of getting tested for COVID-19
 COVID-19 testing is a key strategy for reducing the spread of the virus in our community.
Public Health and DOH recommend that anyone who has COVID-19 symptoms or close contact with someone who has COVID-19 be tested right away. Testing as soon as possible after symptoms appear is important to prevent COVID-19 from spreading to family, friends, and the community.
To make it easier to find a test near you, DOH has created a new webpage to help people find COVID-19 testing locations throughout the state. See this page for a list of testing locations in King County.
Visit DOH’s testing for COVID-19 page for information about who should be tested, what you should do after you’re tested, and more. Note: Some testing sites may be closed due to the unhealthy levels of smoke in the air.
Public Health: A conversation on hope and hopelessness
 Public Health has published an important conversation focusing on the mental and emotional stresses of living through this extraordinary time. Coping with COVID-19 – and now the wildfire smoke – is difficult for everyone, but can be especially dangerous for those with existing mental health conditions.
Mental health affects us all, and brings with it various challenges and concerns. If you or someone you know is in need of support, you are not alone. Support is available. I encourage you to read the article at the link above, but please note there are mentions in the article of suicide and self-harm.
You can find another helpful article by Public Health here: Navigating grief during COVID-19.
Also, see this article in The Seattle Times: As we near 6 months in Washington’s stay-home order, mental health experts warn that things may get worse.
Public Health awards CARES Act funding to support food security efforts
 Public Health received $4.83 million through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) to support food security efforts in King County in response to the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. Following a call for applications in August, Public Health has selected several community-based organizations to receive funding for this important work.
The grants will support Black and Indigenous communities, Communities of Color, low-income communities, Immigrant and Refugee Communities, and communities that have been unable to access other forms of government aid due to structural or institutional barriers, including fear of deportation or those experiencing gender-based violence in King County (outside of Seattle).
See this related recent report from KIRO 7: Gets Real: Food insecurity spikes sharply among Black and Hispanic families.
Digital equity needed for all Washington State students
The new school year is underway. Unfortunately, some students still do not have reliable access to the Internet or to a laptop or tablet for their schoolwork. Many teachers, administrators, elected officials and others worked hard over spring and summer to correct this gap, in anticipation of remote fall school openings. On the County Council, we were able to provide $1 million for students in need of assistance with remote learning in the Third Emergency Covid budget that passed last June.
However, as explained in this editorial in The Seattle Times, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction estimates that between 12 – 21% of our state’s K-12 students still lack the technology or reliable Internet access needed to participate and succeed in remote learning.
See the following pages for more information:
- List of Technology Resource Centers from Seattle Public Schools: Eight technology resource centers available to support PreK-12 students and families with technology access.
- Comcast to launch Wi-Fi 'Lift Zones' in Seattle to help students with remote learning – Seattle PI
- Remote learning resources – Seattle Public Schools
- King County’s 2020 Broadband access study
- Information on low-cost home Internet – City of Seattle, multiple languages
- List of sites with free public access to technology – City of Seattle (pdf)
Two people at SoDo Clean Air Shelter test positive for COVID-19
Two people at the Clean Air Shelter in SODO have tested positive for COVID-19. Shelter staff are notifying all shelter guests, staff, and visitors about their possible exposure during the period of September 12-14.
The shelter is scheduled to close tomorrow; however, anyone already staying at the shelter who agrees to a voluntary COVID-19 test will be able to remain onsite through the morning of Saturday, September 19th when they will learn the result of their COVID-19 test. Anyone who may have been exposed to COVID-19 and exhibits symptoms consistent with COVID-19 or who tests positive for COVID-19 will be able to complete her or his isolation period at an IQ (Isolation-Quarantine) facility. Please see the DCHS Blog post for more details.
Stand with the Facts: Voting security and what you need to know: September 22nd at 1 p.m.
 KUOW and the Center for an Informed Public invite you to join them next Tuesday, September 22nd at 1 p.m. for a discussion about voting security and misinformation. What goes into monitoring the security and fairness of the ballot you cast? What is the misinformation surrounding mail-in and absentee ballots? Join KUOW's Kim Malcolm, Center for an Informed Public's Kate Starbird and Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman as they explore voter security and what you need to know this November.
If you have a question about misinformation and how it spreads, you can submit it here.
How to join: At 1 p.m. on Tuesday, September 22 tune into the conversation live on KUOW's YouTube channel or on Facebook. If you register, you’ll receive links to the stream via email.
You may also find this article of interest from The Conversation:
- Six ways mail-in ballots are protected from fraud
For full information on voting, registration and returning your ballot, visit the King County Elections webpage.
Next Tuesday: Executive Constantine will deliver his biennial budget address to the Council
County Executive Dow Constantine will present his proposed biennial budget next Tuesday at 1 p.m. at a special meeting of the County Council. The public is encouraged to view the address.
Meetings are carried live on King County Television on Cable Channel 22, and streamed live through the King County TV website. To listen by phone: Dial: +1 253 215 8782 Meeting ID: 989 2666 1129 Passcode: 484653
Council meetings are scheduled for replay on King County TV on Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m.
With safety innovations in place Metro will resume fare collection October 1
 On Thursday, October 1, Metro will resume collecting fares for all transit services: buses, Access paratransit, Seattle Streetcar (First Hill and South Lake Union), Vanpool, Via to Transit and other flexible services, and water taxi (Vashon Island and West Seattle). Fare collection is already taking place on Sound Transit Express bus and Sound Transit light rail.
Everyone who may be eligible for a reduced fare will be encouraged to sign up for that program. For a limited time, individuals enrolling in ORCA LIFT will get a $10 bonus on their card, with funding made possible by Sound Transit. Along with ORCA LIFT, we also offer reduced fares for youth, seniors, and people with disabilities. To learn more and for help enrolling, call Metro at 206-553-3000 or visit www.kingcounty.gov/metro/fares.
Metro has put in place several new safety measures to help keep drivers and riders protected from COVID-19, including plexiglass partitions and free masks on certain highly traveled routes. Passengers are required to wear face coverings when riding public transportation.
Thanks for “attending” my Town Hall!
Thanks to those of you who joined my guests and me last night on Facebook! We had a lively discussion with County Budget Director Dwight Dively, Community and Human Services Director Leo Flor, and Public Health Director Patty Hayes. We discussed the County’s upcoming biennial budget process, the County’s COVID-19 response, social and racial justice and more. The PowerPoint presentation is available here (8 MB). You can find video of the Town Hall on my Facebook page.
DID YOU KNOW?
Did you know that King County Elections offers voting materials in Chinese, Korean, Spanish and Vietnamese? The Federal Voting Rights Act requires jurisdictions to provide translated election materialsin another language if 10,000 people or 5 percent of voting-age citizens speak that language and have limited English proficiency.
Additional helpful and informative links
- Coronavirus FAQ: I see people wearing disposable coveralls on planes. Good idea? - NPR
- CDC reverses testing guidelines after report of interference – ABC News
- An expert's take on what the U.S., U.K did wrong in Covid-19 communications — and what others did right – Stat News
- European cities announce new restrictions as COVID-19 cases soar - Reuters
- Coronavirus or wildfire smoke: Here's how to tell the difference between the symptoms – Seattle PI
- U.S. reverses COVID-19 testing guidance again: exposed without symptoms need tests - Reuters
- Wildfire smoke exacerbates Covid-related respiratory concerns – KUOW
- The best masks for smoke in 2020 – Environmental Design and Construction
- Seattle is in smoke. What’s happening to the birds? – The Seattle Times
- Evidence shows troubling warming of the planet – Yale Climate Connections
- UW Evans School interim dean receives $2M NSF grant to study ‘megafires’ – UW News
- Thousands of people left King County during peak of Seattle boom, new data shows – The Seattle Times
- Seattle Art Museum is open again. Here’s how the first day went - The Seattle Times
Today’s moment of cuteness
 No doubt many of you have already seen those adorable videos of penguins leaving their exhibits and touring the aquariums where they live, visiting the other animals. One especially popular video showed penguins interacting through the glass with Beluga whales.
Crosscut’s Arts and Culture editor came up with some amazing examples of some “Penguin-only art walks.” Here’s an excerpt:
“Peruvian penguins from the Kansas City Zoo toured the empty Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (allegedly preferring Caravaggio over Monet). And two Magellanic penguins from Shedd Aquarium in Chicago recently took in the city’s Museum of Contemporary Art.
While the Woodland Park Zoo penguins have so far stayed on the premises, the Bellevue Arts Museum (which reopens Oct. 2) just released its own clever take on penguin art walks.”
Keep in touch
Thank you again for taking the time to read my updates, which I’m sending out on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays - - and sometimes more frequently. Feel free to forward them to others who can subscribe by clicking here. And you can click here to visit the archive page where you can find all of my previous enews updates.
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