COVID-19 UPDATES
Since yesterday’s update, Public Health is reporting as of this afternoon:
- 160 new positive cases of COVID-19 (22,560 total)
- 0 new COVID-19-related deaths (758 total)
- 4 new hospitalizations (2,378 to date)
To view a breakdown of COVID-19 cases by race and ethnicity (updated on Mondays), click this link.
Yesterday, Wednesday, September 30th, Public Health reported 137 new positive cases of COVID-19 (22,400 total) and 0 new COVID-19-related deaths (758 total). The number of new hospitalizations was 5 (2,374 total). On Tuesday, September 29th, Public Health reported 51 new positive cases of COVID-19 (22,263 total) and 0 new COVID-19-related deaths (758 total). The number of new hospitalizations was 7 (2,263 total).
Statewide, according to the state Department of Health (DOH), as of today, the total number of positive cases was 88,116. Total number of deaths statewide was 2,132, and total hospitalizations were 7,573.
The bottom and unfortunate line is that we are once again trending up in the number of new positive cases…
   
COVID AND OTHER UPDATES
Tomorrow at noon: Dr. Jeff Duchin of Public Health will brief the media on current status of pandemic in King County (but the public is invited to view the briefing)
Dr. Jeff Duchin, Health Officer for Public Health, will speak with reporters and take questions about the latest status of COVID-19 spread in King County during a media briefing tomorrow, October 2nd.
Dr. Duchin will address where Public Health is seeing cases occur in King County, including a summary of recent COVID-19 outbreaks at fraternity and sorority organizations at the University of Washington, and at the Salish Lodge & Spa. Dr. Duchin will also provide information on new testing sites that will be opening in south King County and the continued importance of getting tested for those who suspect they may have been exposed to the virus.
The briefing will be livestreamed for the public on Public Health’s Facebook page @KCPubHealth.
Public Health investigates COVID-19 outbreak associated with Salish Lodge & Spa in Snoqualmie
Public Health is investigating an outbreak of COVID-19 associated with the Salish Lodge & Spa in Snoqualmie. At least 25 cases are connected to this outbreak including 23 staff and two guests. Public Health is recommending anyone who visited the Salish Lodge & Spa overnight or as a guest during the day get tested for COVID-19 and monitor for symptoms of COVID-19.
Specifically:
- If you visited the Salish Lodge & Spa from September 16th through September 30th, Public Health recommends you get tested for COVID-19, monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 and avoid close contact with others. Public Health recommends that anyone who visited the lodge during this time should quarantine and stay away from others for 14 days.
- If you visited the Salish Lodge & Spa from September 5th through September 15th and did not develop symptoms of COVID-19, you do not need to be tested for COVID-19 or quarantine for 14 days unless recommended or required by your healthcare provider or Public Health.
For those seeking testing and currently without symptoms, the ideal testing window is at least five to seven days after visiting the Lodge & Spa. If you develop COVID-19-like symptoms, get tested right away. More information about testing, including a list of free test sites, is available on the County’s COVID-19 testing webpage.
New free COVID-19 testing locations in King County
 New locations providing free testing for COVID-19 are now open at the Atlantic Boat Ramp in the Rainier Beach neighborhood in South Seattle and at the Church by the Side of the Road in Tukwila. A new location will open at the Federal Way Aquatics Center starting October 13th.
The County testing sites provide free COVID-19 testing – regardless of immigration or insurance status. They are open to anyone who cannot access a COVID-19 test through their regular healthcare provider.
See this page for full information, including a list of ADA-accessible sites and testing location information in 15 languages. Registration in advance is required.
Washington State Department of Health (DOH) prepares for targeted deployment of new rapid COVID-19 tests
The state DOH announced yesterday that it expects to receive and distribute the first batch of Abbott BinaxNOW antigen test kits for COVID-19 from the federal government. These are rapid tests that can return results in as little as 15 minutes.
These rapid tests work best for and are approved for people with symptoms. This first batch will be distributed to community health centers, tribal clinics and critical access hospitals to increase access to COVID-19 testing in the communities they serve across the state. A plan for distribution of future shipments is in development.
For now, the DOH weekly report will include positive antigen results at the state level only. This report will remain separate from the molecular test results on the DOH dashboard or on the Governor’s Risk Assessment dashboard.
Update on vaccine distribution planning from DOH – National guidance to be released tomorrow
According to this update from the state DOH, tomorrow the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine will release the final Framework for Equitable Allocation of COVID-19 Vaccine. This report will help guide equitable allocation of a limited initial supply of COVID-19 vaccine once one is approved and available. DOH will use that framework to prioritize vaccine distribution until there is sufficient supply to meet demand.
In addition to an updated framework for equitable allocation, the report will include recommendations for ensuring equity in distribution, administration, and access to the vaccine; for effective community engagement, risk communication, and strategies to promote vaccine acceptance; and for equitable global allocation.
DOH has received $5 million in federal funding for COVID-19 vaccine response preparation. This funding will support DOH partnerships with local health jurisdictions, tribal entities, health partners and community organizations. DOH expects to be ready to turn in its vaccine plan to the CDC by the October 16 due date.
Speaking of a COVID-19 vaccine… Johns Hopkins and the UW will host a free symposium on Tuesday with Dr. Fauci and other public health experts
 The UW, together with Johns Hopkins University, is hosting a symposium on the process of getting to a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine. Entitled, “Preserving the scientific integrity of getting to COVID-19 vaccines: From clinical trials to public allocation,” the symposium will take place Tuesday, October 6th from 10:30 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Pacific Time.
The UW and Johns Hopkins designed this symposium to review the need to adhere to the scientific principles underpinning any potential licensure, allocation and use of COVID-19 vaccines. The program will bring together the leading voices in the field to discuss challenges around the development and distribution of the vaccine, including the regulatory framework for assessing vaccine safety and efficacy; the need to conduct trials that are inclusive and allow for assessment of highly affected communities; and issues of access and allocation in the U.S. and globally.
Confirmed speakers include Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health; Michael Bloomberg, former mayor of New York City and founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies; Dr. Christopher Murray, director of the UW’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation and other public health experts.
Click here for more information and to register.
And tomorrow, at 9 a.m. Pacific Time, a live webcast on public acceptance of a COVID-19 vaccine
 Join Howard Koh, Harvey V. Fineberg Professor of the Practice of Public Health Leadership at the Harvard Chan School and the Harvard Kennedy School for a Facebook Live Q&A: The coronavirus pandemic: Will people accept a COVID-19 vaccine?
More than 180 COVID-19 vaccines are in various stages of development, including several currently being tested for safety and efficacy. Some experts expect a vaccine to be available in the next few months. However, a recent poll suggests that sixty percent of Americans report that they do not want to take a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as one is available. What might such hesitancy mean for curbing the current pandemic? How might slow acceptance impact communities with historically lower general vaccination rates? And what role do seasonal flu vaccination campaigns play in setting the stage for COVID-19 vaccine acceptance?
Presented jointly by The Forum at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and The World from PRX & WGBH. For more information, see The Forum’s website. Post your questions for the Q&A on: @ForumHSPH or @pritheworld #coronavirus #covid19, Or email them to theforum@hsph.harvard.edu
Help with child care costs available
 Do you or someone you know need help with child care costs? You may qualify for financial assistance to pay for child care if you live or work in King County, fall within income guidelines and your income, work schedule, or access to child care has been negatively impacted by COVID-19, OR if you are an essential worker.
The CARES emergency funding for COVID-19 child care supports will provide vouchers to eligible families to pay for child care costs at licensed child care providers between now and the end of the year. The voucher amount depends on a child’s age and will be paid directly to the provider. Funding is also available to assist eligible families with the cost of child care co-pays under the Working Connections Child Care program or other subsidies. See this webpage for more information, 22 languages available.
Metro resumes charging fares today; reminds riders to follow safety precautions
 Metro is reminding riders that fare collection started back up as of today. While Metro has added several new safety measures, tapping your ORCA card is the fastest and healthiest way to pay your fare. Metro asks riders – if boarding at a stop with an ORCA reader - to tap your card before boarding and, if possible, board at the back door. At all other stops, or if you need to tap your card on-board or pay a cash fare, please board at the front door to pay.
Metro thanks riders for following safety policies and guidelines, including wearing a mask or face covering in public places, on transit vehicles and at transit stops. Also, riders are asked to stay home if sick, maintain six feet of distance from others, and abide by posted safety guidelines and other information.
New Climate Action Toolkit will help King County cities develop customized strategies to cut greenhouse gas emissions
 County Executive Constantine has proposed a new Climate Action Toolkit, subject to approval by the Council. The Toolkit was developed in partnership with the King County-Cities Climate Collaboration, known as K4C, an alliance of King County, the Port of Seattle, and 16 cities representing 80 percent of King County’s 2.25 million residents working to advance climate action at a region-wide scale.
The Climate Action Toolkit will help cities conduct an inventory of climate emissions, quantifying how much is caused by transportation, or the built environment or industrial activity. It provides actionable and practical strategies for how to most effectively and quickly reduce greenhouse gas emissions based on the primary sources in their cities. You can download the pdf document here: https://your.kingcounty.gov/dnrp/climate/documents/climate-action-toolkit-09-2020.pdf
All King County residents honored with Executive's award for community resilience
This year, instead of recognizing one organization, the King County Executive's Award for Community Resilience honors the efforts that every resident, organization, and community group is doing to support each other during an unprecedented 2020, including the Coronavirus pandemic, racial injustice, snowstorms, historic flooding and wildfire smoke.
Council’s budget review process began this week
- See this overview for key dates and other information on the Council’s process for reviewing the proposed biennial budget.
- The Council’s Budget and Fiscal Management Committee, which I chair, met yesterday to review budget proposals from separately-elected County officials. You can view a video of the full meeting here.
Metro Virtual Town Hall: Join Councilmembers Zahilay and Dembowski and me on October 14 at 6 p.m.
 Metro Transit is seeking community feedback on restructuring the current transit network as three new Link light rail stations open in north Seattle next year. Please join my Council colleagues and me to help ensure a safe, reliable and affordable transit system.
DID YOU KNOW?
…that the arts have been scientifically shown to have “…a robust impact…on both mental and physical health?” That’s according to a World Health Organization report published almost a year ago, and then reported on this past June by Forbes magazine in this article: Why evidence for the effect of art on health is especially relevant during a pandemic.
According to the story in Forbes, “The report, by Daisy Fancourt and Saoirse Finn of University College London, summarizes years of scientific research into the effect of different forms of arts on our health…They considered different art forms, such as the performing arts, visual arts, or taking part in cultural activities. The final conclusion is that ‘the overall evidence base shows a robust impact of the arts on both mental and physical health.’ In addition to that, they found that the arts were able to address complex health issues - such as those that have both physical and mental components - and that arts interventions often offered an economical solution.”
Additional helpful and informative links
- This year's flu vaccine is 'essential,' health officials say – Patch.com
- Push to bring coronavirus vaccines to the poor faces trouble – AP News
- Elder Abuse and Ageism During COVID-19 – Psychiatric Times
- Washington Post analysis reveals coronavirus recession is 'most unequal' in history – The Week
- Where’d all the smoke go? It didn’t just disappear – KUOW
- King County residents can still register to vote – Queen Anne & Magnolia News
- Voting lawsuits pile up across U.S. as election approaches – AP News
Today’s moment of inspiration
 Photo: CNN.com
When electrician John Kinney responded to a call from 72-year-old Gloria Scott, he realized her house problems were far more extensive than just electrical. She also had dangerous plumbing problems, holes in the ceiling and raccoons taking up residence.
According to this story from CNN, “After leaving Scott's house, Kinney couldn't stop thinking about the woman alone in her run-down home… "I knew she needed help and I knew she wasn't going to ask for it," Kinney said.
The CNN story continues, “Kinney and some friends started helping out Scott with yardwork. But in order to make all the necessary fixes, Kinney needed more people to help. He started a fundraiser page titled, "Nice old lady needs help." The community answered, loudly.
Within 24 hours, people had donated more than $3,500, and the amount has since topped $100,000. The money paid for skilled professionals to work on the house, but volunteers also showed up along with donated materials and supplies. And local restaurants are sending over meals.”
Keep in touch
Thank you again for taking the time to read my updates, which I am 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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