COVID-19 UPDATES
Since yesterday’s update, Public Health is reporting as of this afternoon, which definitely could be better:
- 94 new positive cases of COVID-19 (22,212 total)
- 0 new COVID-19-related deaths (758 total)
- 7 new hospitalizations (2,362 to date)
To view a breakdown of COVID-19 cases by race and ethnicity (updated on Mondays), click this link.
Yesterday, Sunday, September 27th, Public Health reported 118 new positive cases of COVID-19 (22,118 total) and 0 new COVID-19-related deaths (758 total). The number of new hospitalizations was 2 (2,355 total). On Saturday, September 26th, Public Health reported 71 new positive cases of COVID-19 (22,000 total) and 0 new COVID-19-related deaths (758 total). The number of new hospitalizations was 4 (2,353 total).
Statewide, according to the state Department of Health (DOH), as of today, the total number of positive cases was 86,638. Total number of deaths statewide was 2,100, and total hospitalizations were 7,477.
The graphs we usually include here are not available today. We apologize for any inconvenience.
COVID AND OTHER UPDATES
Update from Public Health on data
Last week Public Health – Seattle & King County (Public Health) sent an update to Councilmembers on COVID-19 data, including this information on how the key indicator data (updated once a week on Wednesdays) are used to guide decisions on reopening:
The key indicators that the State and County are using to make decisions about reopening include a measure of the total number of cases reported in the previous 14 days per 100,000 residents, which is twice as high as the target (the lower the better). The target for this metric is less than 25. During the 14-day period between September 11th – 24th, 49.5 cases were reported per 100,000 residents. As of September 23rd, two of the eight key indicators are not meeting the targets established by the Washington State Department of Health (DOH). The key indicators not meeting targets are:
- Total number of cases for the last 14 days per 100,000 residents.
- Effective reproductive (Re) number calculated by the Institute for Disease Modeling and Microsoft AI for Health team.
For more information:
- Public Health’s Daily COVID-19 outbreak summary
- Seven questions people ask about our daily COVID-19 data dashboard (from June) – Public Health Insider Blog
- Washington State COVID-19 risk assessment dashboard
Updated COVID-19 guidance from Public Health for child care administrators
 There may be differences in the guidance issued by local, state, and national entities. King County is currently more heavily impacted by COVID-19 than many other regions throughout the state. Public Health’s guidance applies solely to child care providers in King County.
For resources for child care administrators in multiple languages, including guidance documents, checklists, exposure notification letters, and COVID-19 fact sheets, see this newly updated page from Public Health: What to do when you have a suspected/confirmed case of COVID-19 in your facility.
You may also be interested in this article:
- National report warns crumbling child care industry will slow economic recovery in Washington state and beyond – The Seattle Times
Wednesday: Serious impacts of coronavirus on BIPOC communities in U.S. cities
 Join the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health for a free panel discussion that will examine the disproportionate burden of COVID-19 on communities with populations that are predominantly Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC). This Forum will draw on results from a recent poll, The Impact of Coronavirus on Households Across America, conducted by NPR, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the Harvard Chan School.
The event will live stream on YouTube, Facebook, The Forum site, this Wednesday, September 30th at 9 a.m. – 10 a.m. Pacific Time. There is no registration required to watch the event online. The public can send questions for the panelists in advance or during the Q&A: theforum@hsph.harvard.edu or post them to @ForumHSPH.
Get ready to hunker down
 Photo by Arisa Chattasa, Unsplash
The sun is shining, but cooler weather is on the way, and public health experts are reminding the public of the need to remain vigilant with COVID-19 precautions. Below are a few articles and resources about our upcoming COVID winter, including hints for staying safe from COVID, what to expect and resources for handling the pandemic in cold weather while experiencing homelessness.
- Fauci says U.S. needs to 'hunker down' for fall and winter – NBC News
- Prepare now for your pandemic winter. Your future self will thank you - NPR
- Opinion: Coronavirus winter is coming: What have we learned about how to prepare for it? – The New York Times
- The winter will be worse – The Atlantic
- Seattle-area ski resorts will reopen this fall with COVID-19 precautions. Here’s what to expect. The Seattle Times
- Coronavirus forces restaurants to prep for cold weather dining – King 5
- Spokane nonprofit anticipates housing crisis to worsen - KXLY
- Eviction moratoriums in Washington won’t last forever - Crosscut
- King County Homelessness Emergency Response – Information on housing and shelters
- King County COVID-19 Homelessness Response – Many resources, links and information on COVID and homelessness
- King County data on COVID and homelessness
- King County Health Care Services for People Living Homeless
Wednesday: First Council meeting on the proposed biennial budget
This Wednesday, September 30th, from 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. (estimated), the Council’s Budget and Fiscal Management Committee, which I chair, will hold its first meeting to review the Executive’s proposed biennial budget. Committee members will hear presentations from the County’s separately-elected officials on the proposed budgets for their departments. The public is welcome to view this remote hearing and to submit public comment. Click here for complete information on how to access the meeting and how to provide comments.
For more information on the Council’s budget review process see this page. We’re looking for final Council action in approving the budget on November 17th.
Full Council meets remotely tomorrow, Tuesday the 29th at 1 p.m.
The full Council will meet tomorrow to take up a number of important proposals. The public is invited to attend and to submit public comment. For full information on accessing the meeting materials, viewing the meeting and providing public comment, please click here.
Key to Hope Week: This week at noon, through Friday
Plymouth Housing Group is presenting “Key to Hope Week: Inspiring Stories From 40 Years of Ending Homelessness,” free web programming featuring stories from those with direct experience living without shelter and those who try to help them.
Registration is free (ignore the suggested donation and click the “plus” sign to indicate number of participants). Once you register, materials will be sent to you by email.
Great Seattle Arts Adventure: October 5th – 25th
 Seattle-area residents of all ages are encouraged to join in a free community-wide arts event - - The Great Seattle Arts Adventure. It’s a scavenger hunt for all ages, with 22 different (and varied) Seattle-area arts and cultural groups participating. The game will run from October 5thto 25th. Click the link above for more information. This could provide a very enjoyable and needed experience and diversion for kids and adults from the weird and gloomy times we’ve been encountering.
DID YOU KNOW?
Fifty years ago this month, nine women changed women’s tennis (and women’s sports) forever. As someone who spent years working on Title IX and increasing women’s access to sports, this was an important landmark moment.
In 1970, nine female tennis players, including Billie Jean King, organized a boycott of the Pacific Southwest Championships that carried a prize purse weighted 12:1 in favor of male players. They instead managed to organize a rival tournament, which later became the first women’s professional tennis tournament. See these articles for more information:
- Because these women signed $1 contracts, today’s tennis stars can make millions - MarketWatch
- Remembering the Original 9, the pioneers of women's tennis who allowed future generations to live their dream - CNN
And speaking of women’s sports, I’d be remiss not to mention the great news that the Seattle Storm has made it – once again – to the WNBA finals! See this article in The Seattle Times: Storm advances to WNBA Finals for fourth time after sweeping Lynx with 92-71 win in Game 3.
Additional helpful and informative links
- Lessons learned from easing COVID-19 restrictions: an analysis of countries and regions in Asia Pacific and Europe - The Lancet
- Among people of color asked to join Covid-19 vaccine trials, worries about inequities run deep – Stat News
- Medicine for the Greater Good: one hospital’s way of supporting its nearby communities of color – Stat News
- Suffering from COVID-19 science overload? This UW team wades through the deluge so you don’t have to – The Seattle Times
- AUDIO: Seattle Now: Can technology get more people to wear masks? – KUOW
- Adjusting tactics quickly cut EMS providers’ COVID-19 risk – Local Health Guide
- 'Take home' lawsuits over COVID infections could be costly for U.S. employers – Reuters
- Fifty BLM protesters bring personal injury and civil rights lawsuit against City of Seattle and State of Washington – The South Seattle Emerald
- As arrests, property damage ramp up, SPD chief says protest response is draining resources – The Seattle Times
- As wildfires break records, firefighters face growing health risks - Crosscut
- California wine country fire quadruples in size, more evacuations ordered - Reuters
Today’s moment of inspiration
 As reported in this KOMO News story, “Lucy Paredes and Gregorio Mendoza were sitting there in a park in Bothell alone and frightened with no money or food and no place to go.” They had arrived in January from Lima, Peru to visit their daughter but couldn’t fly home due to COVID-19.
As the months passed, the situation with their daughter and her husband apparently worsened, to the point that it was affecting Mendoza’s health. Feeling they had no option but to leave, despite having no money, Paredes and Mendoza packed their suitcases and headed first to a nearby church to pray, and then went to sit under a gazebo in a local park.
“And that is when a neighborhood and then a larger community got involved.” First one local spotted them and, learning they spoke only Spanish, he reached out for help on the local Facebook page. A nearby bilingual couple saw the post and walked over to the park at 9 p.m., spoke to the couple, and then contacted the Sheriff’s office. Sheriff’s Deputy John Krajcar responded to the call, and tried to locate shelter space for the couple. According to the KOMO story, “There were no spots available. So the deputy drove them to the Extended Stay America hotel.” And he paid for three night's lodging out of his own pocket.
In the meantime, the Spanish-speaking neighbors set up a GoFundMe page for the couple, and someone at the Snohomish County Sheriff's office called the Peruvian consulate. The consulate contacted a Peruvian woman who runs an AirBNB and had a room available. The GoFundMe effort raised $6,000. According to KOMO, “[Paredes and Mendoza] haven't decided what to do yet. The relationship with their daughter is fractured. Maybe time will heal [it]. Maybe it won't. But they're no longer alone, or broke, or hungry, and their hearts are full.”
Keep in touch
Thank you again for taking the time to read my updates, which I will be sending out on Mondays and Thursdays, starting this week. 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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