COVID-19 UPDATES
Since yesterday’s update, Public Health is reporting as of this afternoon:
- 1,393 new positive cases of COVID-19 (40,065 total). TRULY ALARMING!
- 0 new COVID-19-related deaths (835 total)
- 47 new hospitalizations (3,020 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 22nd, Public Health reported 660 new positive cases of COVID-19 (38,672 total) and 0 new COVID-19-related deaths (835 total). The number of new hospitalizations was 42 (2,973 total). On Saturday, November 21st, Public Health reported 577 new positive cases of COVID-19 (38,012 total) and 0 new COVID-19-related deaths (835 total). The number of new hospitalizations was 17 (2,931 total). On Friday, November 20th, Public Health reported 638 new positive cases of COVID-19 (37,435 total) and 1 new COVID-19-related death (835 total). The number of new hospitalizations was 13 (2,914 total).
Statewide, according to the state Department of Health (DOH), as of today, the total number of positive cases is 147,537. Total number of deaths statewide is 2,655, and total hospitalizations are 10,096.
   
COVID AND OTHER UPDATES
Department of Health urges people to limit Thanksgiving gatherings, not seek screening tests for Thanksgiving-related travel
The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) strongly urges everyone to limit their holiday celebrations to only members of their immediate households. The DOH is also urging anyone with symptoms or close contact with someone who is infected (or suspected to be infected) with COVID-19 to get tested now. And for now, DOH is discouraging those without symptoms from seeking tests.
Demand for COVID-19 testing has increased across the state of Washington as disease transmission continues to rise. To ensure testing access for Washingtonians with COVID-like symptoms or those who have had close contacts, DOH is asking the general public to not seek screening tests to attend Thanksgiving celebrations. See the article from KUOW below, or see this release from the DOH.
- Testing slots gobbled up by those wanting negative COVID tests for Thanksgiving – KUOW
In addition, Public Health -- Seattle & King County (Public Health) is reminding people that isolating at the first sign of symptoms AND until after you get a test result is essential to prevent the spread of COVID-19. If you interact with others during this time there is a high risk of them contracting the virus.
Public Health illustrates the dilemma of Thanksgiving 2020
A very COVID holiday.
Additional public health guidance for Thanksgiving
See these webpages and articles for further information:
- This Thanksgiving requires a new approach – and extra caution – Public Health Insider Blog
- The DOH Guide to Safer Gatherings
- As cases skyrocket, King County officials warn of potential COVID-19 'explosion' amid holidays - KUOW
COVID-19 relief available for Washington state immigrants: December 6th deadline
If you’re an immigrant experiencing hard times because of COVID-19, and you aren’t eligible for federal financial relief or unemployment insurance, this fund is for you. Apply for the Washington COVID-19 Immigrant Relief Fund – by December 6th - and receive a $1,000 one-time direct payment (up to $3,000 per household). If you need help, click here, or call 1-844-724-3737.
Immigrantreliefwa.org is supported and funded by the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS).
Gov. Inslee's temporary restrictions have been translated into 33 languages
Public Health has translated Information on Gov. Inslee's temporary restrictions into 33 languages, with details on which activities are allowed. See this page for translation links, and this page for the English language version.
New County budget supports Metro growth post-COVID; directs funds to support those in greatest need
 Last Tuesday the Council adopted the 2021-22 budget, including funding for King County Metro. The $12.4 billion countywide budget focuses funding on where our values are and invests in homelessness, anti-racism, transit, and the environment.
Metro currently delivers safe and essential service to more than 130,000 daily riders who rely on the region’s largest transit network. Metro remains prepared for when ridership demand and revenues recover to allow for the continued growth of this network.
Highlights of Metro funding provided in the County’s final 2020-2021 biennial budget include:
- Providing reliable Metro bus, Access paratransit, Water Taxi, and vanpool services;
- Purchasing battery electric buses and advancing Metro’s transition to a zero-emissions fleet;
- Continuing progress on RapidRide G, H, and I lines (serving Seattle, Burien, and south King County, respectively);
- Updating and improving service as three Link light rail stations (University District, Roosevelt, and Northgate) open in fall 2021; and
- Working with communities to reimagine our transit police, fare enforcement and security.
For more information on the Metro and the biennial budget, see this Metro Blog article.
Aid available for small businesses and other organizations impacted by COVID-19
 Photo by Dan Burton on Unsplash
Many hotels, restaurants and other small businesses are struggling to survive. And service workers are suffering as a result. Our most vulnerable communities are bearing the brunt of this economic pain.
The State, the County and the City of Seattle are providing help to businesses and residents impacted by COVID-19. Please see the following sites and articles for more information:
- COVID-19 Small Business Resources – StartUpWashington, from the Washington State Department of Commerce
- King County’s COVID-19 Resources For Small Business Owners
- King County’s SSTAR program - Free safety supplies available for bars and restaurants
- Inslee announces $135 million to help businesses, residents across Washington impacted by pandemic – Seattle PI
- City of Seattle’s 2020 Small Business Stabilization Fund for Businesses and Nonprofits Impacted by COVID-19
- Inslee announces cap on third-party delivery fees to help restaurants - Governor’s office release
- Seattle business group’s 6-point plan urges more strident response from Gov. Jay Inslee on coronavirus – The Seattle Times
- Businesses and King County push for COVID-19 relief, vaccine readiness – KIRO 7
- Three Seattle chefs on the challenges of opening a restaurant in 2020 - Crosscut
- How surviving businesses are drawing on hard-earned lessons as new COVID-19 restrictions bear down – The Seattle Times
Impacts of COVID-19 restrictions on cultural institutions and community-based non-profits
 Photo courtesy of the Nordic Museum
In addition to the hardship being experienced by small businesses, our arts and cultural institutions and other community non-profit organizations are suffering. Like fitness centers and other establishments, museum buildings are closed during this time. Such closures may not be viewed by some as worrisome, but I am very concerned about the health and vibrancy of our cultural institutions both from a fiscal perspective (they bring in tourists and visitors who provide sales tax revenue), as well as out of concern about losing the richness of our communities.
Other community-based organizations -- and their employees and clients -- are also severely impacted during the current restrictions. Community and faith-based organizations serve County residents most impacted in these difficult times. This County page offers resources and tools for organizations to engage with the communities they serve, including people who are unsheltered, those with limited English proficiency, people who are undocumented, LGBTQ and BIPOC communities, as well as frontline workers. See below for some resources and information.
- King County’s COVID-19 Relief Grant Programs – for arts, cultural and community-based organizations
- King County’s Information for Non-Profits: Eviction prevention and rent assistance
- City of Seattle’s 2020 Small Business Stabilization Fund for Businesses and Nonprofits Impacted by COVID-19
You may also be interested in these news articles:
- How the second COVID-19 shutdown affects Seattle-area museums and galleries – The Seattle Times
- Washington youth nonprofits, struggling to retain volunteers and funding, get $9.4 million in COVID-19 relief – The Seattle Times
Get out there and show the love - “Keep it local King County” campaign launches to support regional small businesses and arts organizations
County Executive Constantine today kicked off a new social media campaign to encourage people to discover offerings from arts organizations, gyms, restaurants, and retailers as the region embraces new public health instructions. This effort follows the successful awarding of financial and technical assistance to hundreds of King County businesses in the recently passed 2021 – 2022 County biennial budget.
Safe medication return program gets underway
The Washington State DOH has set up a new program for safely and easily returning unused medication. Washington’s Safe Medication Return Program is aimed at reducing medication misuse, abuse, and poisonings.
The program will give Washington residents free, convenient, and environmentally responsible options for disposing of unwanted medication. Physical drop boxes are available.
People may also request free mail-back envelopes so they don’t need to leave their homes to participate.
DID YOU KNOW?
…that the first recorded vote in Washington state included ballots cast by an African-American slave and a Native American woman? According to HistoryLink, “After the Lewis and Clark Expedition finally reached the Pacific Ocean, the weather worsened and the group had to make a decision. On November 24, 1805, in the first recorded vote in Washington… the Corps elected to winter in Oregon, returning eastward the following spring.”
For more information see the HistoryLink.org website or this entry in Wikipedia.
Additional helpful and informative links
- Self-interest nudged me to join Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine trial. Here’s how it’s going – Stat News
- States that imposed few restrictions now have the worst outbreaks – The New York Times
- How four COVID experts will keep their families safe on Thanksgiving - The New York Times
- As U.S. reaches 250,000 deaths from COVID-19, a long winter is coming - NPR
- The coronavirus is airborne indoors. Why are we still scrubbing surfaces? - The New York Times
- Third major COVID-19 vaccine shown to be effective and cheaper – The Seattle Times
- When Pfizer, Moderna vaccines could be available, and the genetic science behind how they work - The Seattle Times
- Bill Gates, the virus and the quest to vaccinate the world - The New York Times
- Ninety days on the frontline: How UW Medicine led the response to the nation’s first COVID-19 outbreak – UW News
- The year of the pandemic: a view from South Korea – Stat News
- A shortage of physicians with experience treating hospitalized patients could threaten the next surge response – Stat News
- People are proving to be the weakest link for apps tracking COVID exposure - Salon
Well-known Seattle homeless shelter, closed by the pandemic, might never reopen. Here’s what will replace it. – The Seattle Times
- King County Superior Court suspends all in-person jury trials – The Seattle Times
Today’s moment of inspiration
 NOTE: This event took place in the very early days of the pandemic, before mask and social distancing guidelines were in effect.
CNN has nominated workers at Braskem America for the CNN Most Inspiring Moment, and tells the story of the employees who stepped up in a big way at the beginning of the pandemic when PPE were in short supply.
According to the CNN story, workers at Braskem America – which manufactures material used in PPE products – realized that health care workers’ lives were at risk and decided to literally move in to the manufacturing plant in order to speed up production. “No one left for 28 days as they produced material needed for PPE… They ate, slept, worked and played together, and when they officially clocked out 28 days later, they'd produced enough material to make 1.5 billion surgical masks.”
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. As this week is Thanksgiving, I will not be sending out an e-newsletter this Thursday. 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.
|
