COVID-19 UPDATES
Since yesterday’s update, Public Health is reporting as of this afternoon:
- 804 new positive cases of COVID-19 (36,797 total). A horrible figure and reflective of a continuing alarming increase.
- 0 new COVID-19-related deaths (834 total)
- -2 new hospitalizations (data adjustment, 2,901 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, Wednesday, November 18th, Public Health reported 283 new positive cases of COVID-19 (35,993 total) and 1 new COVID-19-related death (834 total). The number of new hospitalizations was 13 (2,903 total). On Tuesday, November 17th, Public Health reported 501 new positive cases of COVID-19 (35,710 total) and 4 new COVID-19-related deaths (833 total). The number of new hospitalizations was 23 (2,890 total).
Statewide, according to the state Department of Health (DOH), as of yesterday, the total number of positive cases is 137,411. Total number of deaths statewide is 2,603, and total hospitalizations are 9,653.
   
COVID AND OTHER UPDATES
Media briefing tomorrow with Dr. Duchin on increasing COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations
As COVID cases spike sharply upward and hospitalizations increase, Dr. Jeff Duchin, Health Officer for Public Health – Seattle & King County, will share updates on COVID-19, review what the public needs to do to turn the outbreak around, and take questions from reporters during a media briefing tomorrow, Friday, November 20th at 11:30 a.m.
News media will be able to ask questions via Zoom during the Q and A, and a recording will be made available following the briefing. The briefing will be livestreamed for the public to access live on the Public Health – Seattle & King County Facebook page @KCPubHealth
As cases skyrocket, new free COVID-19 test site at Highline College expands testing capacity
 Public Health announced yesterday the opening of a new free COVID-19 test site at Highline College tomorrow, November 20th. This new site complements free test sites already in operation in Renton, Auburn, Tukwila and Federal Way, increasing access to testing across south King County as cases skyrocket. The sites are free and open to anyone, regardless of insurance or immigration status.
If you have COVID-like symptoms or have had close contact with someone with COVID-19, Public Health urges you to avoid contact with others and get tested immediately. Stay home and away from others while you are waiting for test results.
For full details on location, scheduling and registration (encouraged but not required), please see this page. The new testing site will be operated by CHI Franciscan and hosted by Highline College, with support from King County.
Where the COVID-19 outbreaks originate in Washington state
 Photo by Jarren Horrocks on Unsplash
According to the latest update of the state DOH’s Statewide COVID‐19 Outbreak Report, restaurants and food service are the largest sources of outbreaks since the pandemic began. Read the full report from DOH here.
You may also be interested in these articles:
- Here's where COVID-19 outbreaks are coming from in Washington state – KING 5
- Gov. Inslee says data show restaurants are 'risky environments' – KOMO News
- Washington Hospitality Association urges Inslee to reconsider ban on indoor dining in restaurants – The Seattle Times
County Council passes budget for next two years -- eighth budget passed in eight months! This is the big one.
 After months of public meetings, briefings and deliberations, and with input from residents across the County, the Council on Tuesday approved the final $12.59 billion 2021 -2022 biennial budget. As Budget Chair, I am enormously thankful for the collaboration between the Executive and the Council, as well as of the collaboration among my colleagues on the Council, especially in the face of economic constraints and at a time of immense political divisions.
Public input was a crucial part of this process. The Council included many public comment sessions, including one at night, and most Councilmembers, including myself, held virtual town halls and kept our constituents updated on the process through e-newsletters and social media.
With funding for anti-racist programs, the beginning of the transformation of the criminal legal system, investments in public health and in regional supportive housing, the County’s 2021-22 biennial budget responds to the immediate needs of residents across the County as well as to building back our economy for the future.
The budget benefits communities throughout the County, and I also worked diligently to ensure funding was secured for organizations in District 4. Many non-profit organizations, senior centers and arts, culture and science organizations are suffering from the economic fallout caused by COVID-19. This budget aims to support these critical institutions in their work of improving health outcomes, decreasing the impacts of systemic racism, addressing behavioral health and homelessness, supporting the arts and small businesses, and planning for expanded water taxi service from Shilshole to downtown Seattle.
Expected FEMA reimbursement and the $262 million of federal CARES Act funding has covered most COVID-related Public Health spending in 2020, including:
- $60 million for acquisition and development of isolation and quarantine facilities, PPE, and shelter de-intensification.
- $40 million for new and redeployed staff to respond to COVID and incremental COVID-related leave.
- $29 million for Public Health testing and contact tracing.
I believe the Council succeeded in passing a budget for the next two years that invests with purpose, makes responsible reductions, supports our BIPOC communities and vulnerable populations, and does so in a way that is fiscally prudent and sustainable. I applaud the Executive and his team for working with us in laying down an effective and systemic framework. And I commend my fellow Councilmembers for having stepped up to the vast and continually evolving challenges we have faced in working for the public good under extraordinarily difficult conditions for the entire county.
Additionally, the Council passed five COVID-related emergency budgets and two supplemental budgets for the current biennium over the past eight months, all passing unanimously. I served as Budget Chair throughout this year and on all eight budgets. Councilmembers set priorities for investing nearly $262 million in federal and state CARES Act funding over the past year.
For more detailed information on the 2021-2022 biennial budget, you can click the following link to visit the Council’s budget website: https://www.kingcounty.gov/council/budget.aspx. And I will include more detailed information on the budget in next Monday’s e-news.
You may also be interested in the following news coverage on the budget:
- King County passes two-year budget, about 7% lower than 2020; adds Juneteenth and Indigenous Peoples’ Day as paid county holidays – The Seattle Times
- King County Council OKs plan to let community groups decide some punishment -- not judges – KOMO News
Thanksgiving: Health officials urge people to stay home, scale back holiday plans
 With coronavirus cases rapidly rising throughout our region, state and nation, travel and gatherings are risky activities. We’re now in the midst of the season when most of us are accustomed to both of these activities. While it’s tough to curtail our usual holiday celebrations, safe and effective vaccines appear to be on the horizon, and I’m hopeful that our holidays next year will take place in person with our loved ones.
Please see the articles below for more on adapting Thanksgiving to the realities of COVID-19:
- CDC begs Americans not to travel for Thanksgiving – AP News
- The Latest: Medical associations urge scaled-back US holiday – AP News
- The Washington State DOH guide to safer holiday gatherings
- I'm going to visit family for Thanksgiving. Should I get a COVID test before I go? - USA Today
- Outdoor meals, virtual dinners: Washington families adapt Thanksgiving plans to new COVID-19 restrictions – The Seattle Times
- Ten Seattle-area restaurants reimagine outdoor dining, takeout for Thanksgiving dinner – Seattle PI
Gov. Inslee announces new state Department of Health (DOH) Secretary
If you missed the Governor’s press conference on Tuesday to announce the new DOH secretary, you can view the event here. The governor is joined by Dr. Umair A. Shah, the incoming secretary of health, and Dr. Kathy Lofy, state health officer.
DID YOU KNOW?
… that Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address on this day in 1863? In less than 300 words, President Lincoln captured the plight of the nation perfectly, and in re-reading the brief address, I am struck by its relevance to our present time.
Additional helpful and informative links
- Overwhelmed public health workers look for new strategies against rampaging coronavirus - OregonLive
- Hospitals can’t go on like this – The Atlantic
- Researchers: Covid-19 death toll could double this winter to World War 2 levels – NBC News
- ‘People are going to die’: Hospitals in half the states are facing a massive staffing shortage as Covid-19 surges – Stat News
- As U.S. reaches 250,000 deaths from COVID-19, a long winter is coming - NPR
- Most Washington counties are at their worst COVID rates so far. Are four weeks of restrictions enough? – Seattle PI
- Washington state wedding with 300 guests turns into a COVID-19 super-spreader event – The Seattle Times
- Opinion: Focus on health needs of those most in need, including Latinx communities– The Seattle Times
- Two COVID-19 positive airline passengers urge state, CDC to ‘inform everyone’ who flew with them – KIRO 7
- Higher viral load more deadly for COVID-19 hospital patients, UW analysis finds - The Seattle Times
- As a second shutdown sets in, tempers fray – KUOW
- Steep increase of visitors to Federal Way COVID-19 testing center – Federal Way Mirror
- State budget picture improves, but uncertainty looms as more COVID-19 restrictions return to Washington – The Seattle Times
Today’s moment of inspiration
A win for the environment, teachers, students and the budget
 Photo by MICHAEL WILSON on Unsplash
According to a story in the Good News Network, “An Arkansas school district saved so much money from switching to solar power for their buildings, they were able to bump up their teachers’ salaries and eliminate their budget deficits.”
A school district in Arkansas had an energy audit performed in 2017, at a time when the district was running an annual $250,000 budget deficit. They discovered they were spending $600,000 a year on electricity.
“Batesville superintendent Michael Hester, who knew faculty pay was low, causing a quick staff turnover, took out a bond to help finance a switch from conventional electric power to renewable energy in the form of 1,400 PV solar panels.” 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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