COVID-19 UPDATES
Since yesterday’s update, Public Health is reporting as of this afternoon:
- 672 new positive cases of COVID-19 (35,209 total)
- 1 new COVID-19-related death (829 total)
- 33 new hospitalizations (2,872 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 15th, Public Health reported 542 new positive cases of COVID-19 (34,537 total) and 0 new COVID-19-related deaths (828 total). The number of new hospitalizations was 36 (2,834 total). On Saturday, November 14th, Public Health reported 627 new positive cases of COVID-19 (33,995 total) and 0 new COVID-19-related deaths (828 total). The number of new hospitalizations was 7 (2,798 total). On Friday, November 13th, Public Health reported 798 new positive cases of COVID-19 (33,368 total) and 2 new COVID-19-related deaths (828 total). The number of new hospitalizations was 19 (2,791 total).
Statewide, according to the state Department of Health (DOH), as of yesterday, the total number of positive cases is 130,040. Total number of deaths statewide is 2,519, and total hospitalizations are 9,425.
The relatively steady increase is obvious.
   
COVID AND OTHER UPDATES
If you missed Gov. Inslee’s announcement yesterday on new COVID restrictions…
You can view the full press conference here. The governor was joined by infectious disease physician Dr. George Diaz, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan, King County Executive Dow Constantine, State Health Officer Kathy Lofy, and Spokane ICU nurse Clint Wallace.
Read Gov. Inslee’s announcement here, and you can view the full proclamation (pdf) here. County Executive Dow Constantine and Public Health’s Dr. Jeff Duchin both released statements in response to the Governor’s announcement:
- Statement by Executive Constantine
- Statement by Dr. Jeff Duchin
You may be interested in this article from The Seattle Times: What you can and can’t do under Washington’s newest coronavirus stay-home restrictions.
Public Health: More than 500 nurses urge King County to confront the surge
 Photo by Vladimir Fedotov on Unsplash
Public Health reports on its blog that, “In the midst of an unprecedented surge in COVID-19 cases, more than 500 King County nurses are issuing an urgent call to renew efforts to turn around this troubling trend.”
According to Public Health: “We are at a precarious moment in the outbreak. King County’s case counts are more than twice as high as our previous peaks in April and July. This comes just as we are moving into the cold months and winter holidays, when we expect the virus to spread more readily.” Stay home if you can. Mask up whenever you are out in public. Avoid gatherings of any size, even this holiday season. And, of course, wash and sanitize your hands frequently and don’t touch your face.
If you have symptoms, or think you’ve been exposed, get tested! Click here to find the testing site nearest you.
And, see this article from My Northwest: Seattle nurse: ‘We need to make sacrifices’ amid new lockdown restrictions.
VIDEO: Researchers tested 14 types of masks. Here's what they learned
 CNN's Brian Todd reports on a new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about masks and how they help prevent the spread of Covid-19.
More free flu vaccination clinics throughout King County
Public Health announced additional flu vaccine clinics coming up in the next few days:
- In Des Moines, November 19th, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Midway Elementary School, 22447 24th Ave S.
- In Seattle (Highline), November 21st, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Beverly Park Elementary School, 1201 S. 104th St.
Public Health also announced that additional flu vaccinations and health insurance enrollment events will be held in December and January in Seattle, Kent and Federal Way. You’ll be able to enroll in health insurance and get a free flu vaccine at the same time. Flu vaccine is free for everyone.
Check out this website as more free flu vaccination clinics will be added for late November and early December: kingcounty.gov/findaclinic.
Insurance enrollment assistance events: November 15th – January 15th
 Public Health is offering assistance with health insurance enrollment, and has a full list of locations and event dates to get free expert personal help with insurance plans (Healthplanfinder and Apple Health) and other public services.
Council votes on 2021- 2022 biennial budget tomorrow
 The full Council will hold a special virtual meeting tomorrow Tuesday November 16th at 1 p.m. to vote on the 2021 – 2022 biennial budget. The public is welcome to view the meeting and provide public comment. Instructions for participating, meeting materials and the agenda can be found here.
As you may know, the biennial budget process began in September when the Executive transmitted his proposal to the Council. It continued with public meetings, briefings and Roundtables as Councilmembers reviewed the proposal and its impacts and offered amendments to my “striking amendment” that passed last Thursday out of the Council Budget and Fiscal Management Committee which I chair.
As Budget Chair, I’m proud of the way the Council and Executive Constantine teamed up in working collaboratively on a budget that truly delivers for our region even in the midst of a worsening pandemic and with the need to make painful cuts. We have crafted a budget that supports those most in need, invests in our future and is fiscally responsible.
Digital Beyond Pink: Preventing violence against girls
You are invited to join the Justice for Girls Coalition of Washington State for their annual summit, this Wednesday, November 18th at 9 a.m. The Coalition is a member of the King County CSEC Task Force (CESC = commercially sexually exploited children). The keynote speaker will be Cherice Hopkins, an attorney at Rights4Girls, a human rights organization committed to ending gender-based violence in the U.S. To register click here.
Updates from Metro: Plan ahead for Thanksgiving and remember your mask
 A few updates from Metro. On Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26, Metro will operate on a Sunday schedule. On the day after Thanksgiving, Friday, November 27, Metro bus service will operate on a regular weekday schedule.
Metro reminds riders to wear a mask and appreciates passenger observance of all safety and health guidelines.
Seattle Channel - - City Inside/Out: Election 2020 Aftermath
 County Councilmembers Reagan Dunn and Girmay Zahilay were featured in a recent discussion about the elections on the Seattle Channel. View the program here. I love that even though they are generally on opposite ends of the political spectrum, they engaged in a civil, not an angry, discussion.
November suggestions from Seattle Children’s Theatre
 Photo by Ben White on Unsplash
Suggestions for books and activities for families this fall from the Seattle Children’s Theatre: SCT Recommends: Things to do and read this November.
DID YOU KNOW?
… that on this day in 2002, the first case of SARS, a zoonotic respiratory disease caused by a coronavirus, was recorded in Guangdong, China?
Additional helpful and informative links
- Wear masks to protect yourself from the coronavirus, not only others, CDC stresses - NPR
- With strong data on two Covid-19 vaccines, we have more answers about the road ahead — and questions too – Stat News
- Washington state hospitals begin to implement COVID-19 surge plans as cases skyrocket – The Seattle Times
- WE-REACH funds two COVID-19 rapid diagnostics projects as part of expanded initiatives – UW News
- Coronavirus FAQ: How do I clean my mask — Washing machine? Oven? Broccoli steamer? - NPR
- Hospitalized COVID-19 patients twice as likely to die than those with flu, UW study finds – The Seattle Times
- Holiday gatherings devastated Seattle during 1918 flu - Crosscut
- Why a coronavirus vaccine might not get things back to normal - The Seattle Times
- How COVID-19 has upended dating for singles - Vox
- How Seattle restaurants are pivoting to survive a second indoor dining ban- The Seattle Times
Today’s moment of inspiration
 Photo from CNN
According to CNN, “Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir dreamed of playing professional basketball ever since she was a child shooting hoops in Massachusetts…To this day, Abdul-Qaadir, 29, holds the high school career scoring record in the state among both boys and girls, according to the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association.”
Later in college, she became the first player to wear a hijab playing NCAA Division I basketball. But as she prepared for a professional basketball career in Europe, she found out that the International Basketball Federation, or FIBA, prohibits head coverings, including hijabs. Abdul-Qaadir petitioned for a rule change in 2014 and FIBA finally changed the rules three years later.
However, “…the victory was bitter sweet. While she helped change the rule, working alongside other athletes to raise awareness, most teams now considered her too old to play professionally.” She launched an initiative called “Muslim Girls Hoop Too,” got a master’s degree in coaching and is now focused on the next generation.
Her struggle to change FIBA’s rule has also benefitted players of other faiths, according to CNN. “Players of many faiths celebrated FIBA's decision, including Jewish players who wear kippahs and Sikhs who wear turbans.” Read the full story here.
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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