COVID-19 UPDATES
Since yesterday’s update, Public Health is reporting as of this afternoon:
- 295 new positive cases of COVID-19 (28,262 total)
- 2 new COVID-19-related deaths (806 total)
- 12 new hospitalizations (2,594 to date)
To view a breakdown of COVID-19 cases by race and ethnicity (updated on Mondays), click this link. Click here to view the “Key Indicators” data dashboard.
Yesterday, Sunday, November 1st, Public Health reported 210 new positive cases of COVID-19 (27,967 total) and 0 new COVID-19-related deaths (804 total). The number of new hospitalizations was 5 (2,582 total). On Saturday, October 31st, Public Health reported 334 new positive cases of COVID-19 (27,757 total) and 0 new COVID-19-related deaths (804 total). The number of new hospitalizations was 4 (2,577 total). On Friday, October 30th, Public Health reported 385 new positive cases of COVID-19 (27,423 total) and 1 new COVID-19-related death (804 total). The number of new hospitalizations was 8 (2,573 total).
Statewide, according to the state Department of Health (DOH), as of today, the total number of positive cases is 109,354. Total number of deaths statewide is 2,378, and total hospitalizations are 8,634. As is obvious, the numbers overall are unfortunately going up.
   
COVID AND OTHER UPDATES
Update from Dr. Jeff Duchin, Public Health
Dr. Duchin’s “Tweet of the Day”: “The longer we wait, the more difficult it gets to reverse the trajectory of our increasing outbreak.” Everyone should be concerned about rising cases in our region. @DocJeffD shares more about what we can do now to turn this trend around.
Dr. Duchin was featured on “60 Minutes” last night, discussing the first outbreak in the nation last spring, in Kirkland. Here’s the story: Lack of readiness, questionable federal inspection helped fuel first U.S. COVID-19 outbreak.
A COVID winter
 It’s here -- the dreaded first (and hopefully last) fall/winter season living under the constraints of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our first thought as the weather starts to get cold is usually to plan indoor gatherings with friends, especially as the holidays approach. But we know that indoor gatherings – even with everyone wearing a mask – can spread the virus.
The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has some very helpful advice on how to have safer indoor gatherings, including a safety checklist and a COVID conversation guide. According to DOH: “The more people we interact with at a gathering and the longer that interaction lasts, the higher the risk of becoming infected… The safest action, especially if you’re in a high-risk category, is to avoid gatherings and find different ways to celebrate.
The Scandinavian approach to winter is more outdoors-friendly, cold weather or not. This New York Times article describes the Norwegian concept “called friluftsliv, which translates roughly to “open air life.” The Times also reports on some schools taking classes outdoors. Here’s more on making it through the upcoming months:
- How to prepare for our pandemic winter—and the epidemics to come - Slate
- Covid-19’s wintry mix: As we move indoors, dry air will help the coronavirus spread – Stat News
- Reducing coronavirus risk as we spend more time indoors for fall and winter – Public Health Insider
Health clinics go the extra mile during the pandemic
 The DOH reports on the crucial role played by the state’s sexual and reproductive health (SRH) clinics during the pandemic. “As the pandemic unfolded and essential health care providers grappled with restrictions and limited access to personal protective equipment, the [SRH] clinics worked round-the-clock to ensure services were available and accessible,” according to DOH.
SRH clinics help reduce unintended pregnancies as well as maternal and newborn deaths. They provide essential health services, including cancer screenings, HIV testing and treatment, contraception and more. For more on the importance of the state SRH clinics this year, see this DOH article.
Gov. Inslee announces investment of Coronavirus Relief Funds for learning technology for students and staff
 On Friday Gov. Inslee announced the allocation of $24 million in Coronavirus Relief Funds to purchase approximately 64,000 computing devices for students and staff across the state. These devices will enable students without their own tablet or computer to fully participate in remote learning. The first shipment of 20,000 devices is expected in the coming weeks.
At the beginning of the 2020–2021 school year, more than 95% of students in Washington began the year in remote learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, according to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and the nine regional educational service districts, approximately 64,000 students and school staff statewide do not currently have their own computing device or tablet. Read the full story on the Governor's Medium page.
Election update from Elections Director Julie Wise
King County Elections Director Julie Wise today updated councilmembers and staff on the latest news regarding ballot returns and turnout.
Wise said that more than one million ballots have already been turned in, and voter turnout is currently at about 75%. She urged voters to use a drop box or a Vote Center, saying, “At this point in the election cycle we STRONGLY recommend voters use a drop box as placing it in the mail at this point won’t necessarily ensure the Election Day postmark we need in Washington State to count it as on-time. “
Wise reminds voters that Vote Centers will be open tomorrow from 8:30am – 8:00pm (and of course anyone in line by 8 p.m. at a Vote Center will be able to cast an on-time ballot). And, you will still be able register to vote (and then vote) in person tomorrow at a Vote Center.
You can also access your ballot online and print it off at home or you can pick one up at a Vote Center. If you do go to a Vote Center, please do not wait until the last minute.
For additional information on the upcoming election, your ballot and voting, see this page or the homepage for the County Elections office. You can track your ballot here.
Election results
 The Elections department is planning to post results for about one million ballots on election night, far more than has been posted on election night in the past. (The previous record was 615,000 in 2016.) This is possible thanks to all the County voters who got out there and voted early. Well done!
Elections staff will post county results of the November 3rd presidential election Tuesday evening to the sites listed below.
Link to website: https://cd.kingcounty.gov/en/elections/results
Link to PDF: https://cdb.kingcounty.gov/results.pdf
Link to CSV: https://cdb.kingcounty.gov/webresults.csv
On Election Night staff will post results soon after 8 p.m. Results will be updated thereafter on weekdays at about 4 p.m. through certification of the election on November 24th. For statewide election results on Tuesday night and after, see the elections results page of the Secretary of State’s office here.
Seattle: Rock the Blocks on Election Day (tomorrow)
With surging cases of COVID-19, Mayor Jenny A. Durkan and the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) announced new Rock the Block Stay Healthy Blocks to help residents stay close to home and keep moving on Election Day. Rock the Block gives residents the opportunity to open up their street to people walking and rolling on Election Day to get outside and be with neighbors while maintaining a safe social distance. Rock the Block is for tomorrow, Tuesday, November 3, 2020 only and requires an online registration. If residents would like to extend their block closure, they can request a free permit that allows for additional dates up to November 30, 2020.
Council to take up Fifth COVID emergency budget Tuesday at 1 p.m.
The Council’s Committee of the Whole will take up the proposed Fifth COVID-19 emergency budget tomorrow, Tuesday November 3rd (election day) at 1 p.m. For details on viewing the meeting, providing public comment and to access meeting materials and agenda see this page.
We expect final action to be taken by the full Council on this fifth and last emergency COVID budget of this year one week later, at 1 p.m. on November 10th.
Biennial budget: Update on the process and opportunities for public input
The Council is continuing deliberations on the Executive’s proposed 2021-2022 biennial budget and budget-related ordinances. Additional opportunities for public involvement in the County’s biennial budget process are coming up.
For details on joining these virtual meetings, please visit the Council's Budget and Fiscal Management Committee (BFM) web page. For full information on providing public comment see this page. We anticipate the budget will be finalized on November 17th but no later than November 24th.
Health through Housing briefing Wednesday, November 4th at 3 p.m.
County Councilmembers will be briefed Wednesday on the Executive’s Health through Housing proposal at a meeting of the Council’s Regional Policy Committee. The proposal could move as many as 2,000 chronically homeless people off the streets into safe housing, coupled with onsite case management and other services.
The public is welcome to view the virtual meeting. Meeting materials, the agenda and instructions for joining the meeting are available here.
King County Regional Homelessness Authority searching for CEO
The King County Regional Homelessness Authority has started a search for its first CEO (Chief Executive Officer). For full details on the position please see this pdf document.
DID YOU KNOW?
… that you can view the numbers of ballots returned to each drop box in the County? The results are updated every morning and you can check to see how your local drop box is doing. In the last several elections, the Ballard drop box had the highest number of ballots returned in all of King County. Interestingly, in a brief glance at the returns at a few drop-box locations, the two days that stand out for high numbers of ballots returned are October 26th and October 19th.
Additional helpful and informative links
- Another Seattle-area resident charged for COVID-related relief fraud – GeekWire
- New UW study shows COVID-19 doesn't spread evenly through Seattle neighborhoods – KING 5
- It may be time to reset expectations on when we’ll get a COVID-19 vaccine – Stat News
- These Seattle-area businesses got called out the most for alleged COVID-19 violations – The Seattle Times
- US coronavirus cases surpass 9 million driven by 'silent epidemic' of asymptomatic infections - CNN
- Seattle company says its spray treatment could make cloth masks more effective against COVID-19 - The Seattle Times
- Is the COVID-19 risk on airplanes really that low? Here’s what experts say- The Seattle Times
- A UW student’s 3D video game depicts life during COVID-19 pandemic for people of color – The Seattle Times
- Fair housing groups: Redfin ‘redlines’ minority communities – The Olympian
- Opinion: Housing the chronically homeless requires cities working together - The Seattle Times
- Daylight saving time ends this weekend: Don’t let ‘fall back’ worsen your 2020 depression- The Seattle Times
Today’s moment of inspiration
 It was such a joy to view and hear about the amazing, creative ideas Seattle residents came up with to make sure our children were able to enjoy Halloween, even in the midst of a pandemic. Examples in the Greenwood neighborhood included a “candy tree” with candy bars tied to branches, a “candy chute” made from a decorated PVC pipe to safely deliver treats, and even a “zombie slide” for contactless trick-or-treating. Many households set up outdoor treat stations for the neighborhood ghosts and goblins, many with hand sanitizer dispensers. I’m hopeful that we won’t need to take these measures next Halloween, but am warmed by the fact that communities figured out a way to make it happen, despite the obstacles.
Keep in touch
Thank you again for taking the time to read my updates, which I am now sending out on Mondays and Thursdays. 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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