COVID-19 UPDATES
Since yesterday’s update, Public Health -- Seattle & King County is reporting as of this afternoon:
- 820 new positive cases of COVID-19 (51,671 total).
- 3 new COVID-19-related deaths (920 total)
- 57 new hospitalizations (3,543 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.
- On Wednesday, December 9th, Public Health reported 644 new positive cases of COVID-19 (50,970 total) and 15 new COVID-19-related deaths (920 total). The number of new hospitalizations was 37 (3,523 total).
- On Tuesday December 8th, Public Health reported 587 new positive cases of COVID-19 (50,326 total) and 2 new COVID-19-related deaths (905 total). The number of new hospitalizations was 37 (3,486 total).
Statewide, according to the state Department of Health (DOH), as of today, the total number of positive cases is 192,413. Total number of deaths statewide is 2,850 (data adjustment), and total hospitalizations are 12,084.
   
COVID AND OTHER UPDATES
Gov. Inslee extends COVID-19 restrictions through January 4th
On Tuesday December 8th the Governor announced an extension of the restrictions put in place last month. It includes a ban on indoor dining and gyms and limits on social gatherings. For more information see this article from The Seattle Times. You can also watch Tuesday’s media briefing on TVW here.
Coronavirus world map illustrates alarming U.S. spread
The New York Times has put together a “Coronavirus World Map,” showing clearly the impact of the virus in the United States as compared to other nations around the world. According to the Times, “The number of known coronavirus cases in the United States continues to grow. As of Thursday morning, at least 15,468,700 people across every state, plus Washington, D.C., and four U.S. territories, have tested positive for the virus, according to a New York Times database, and at least 289,500 patients with the virus have died.”
The latest on COVID-19 vaccines
 - F.D.A. Advisory Panel gives green light to Pfizer vaccine – The New York Times
- First doses of COVID vaccines expected next week in Seattle area – KUOW
- U.S. sets single-day death record; Britain issues vaccine allergy warning – The Seattle Times
- A gamble pays off in ‘spectacular success’: How the leading coronavirus vaccines made it to the finish line – The Washington Post
- Initial vaccine distribution plan has winners and losers among states – US News and World Report
- For more on COVID-19 vaccine planning in King County see this page.
- Also, see these FAQs from the state Department of Health (DOH) on COVID-19 vaccines.
Conversation on making sense of vaccines during COVID-19: December 15th in English, December 17th in Spanish
 Join the Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center and the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) in a live conversation that will go beyond the headlines to give you the vaccine answers you need, straight from the experts. The experts will discuss how vaccines work, how they’re usually developed, and what is the same or different about the proposed COVID-19 vaccines.
Click the links below for full information.
English: Tuesday, December 15 from 5 – 6 p.m.
Spanish: Thursday, December 17th from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Answers to your questions on facemasks
 The Mayo Clinic takes an in-depth look at face coverings, including proper use. I’d thought I knew about everything by now about masks, but I learned something new from this. Thanks to my constituent Terry Cook for forwarding it to me.
New free COVID-19 test site in Enumclaw opens today
A new free COVID-19 test site will open in Enumclaw today. This new site will be open three days a week and expands testing capacity in southeast King County. Recent rates of COVID-19 and hospitalizations are higher in Enumclaw compared to King County as a whole.
People are encouraged, but not required, to register for a testing appointment. Visit this link for scheduling and registration. Visit https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/covid-19/testing.aspx to see information on all free testing sites.
It’s not too late to get a free flu shot, as well as assistance with health insurance enrollment
 Numerous free or low-cost clinics throughout King County in December and January will connect children and adults with necessary flu and other recommended vaccinations as well as assistance enrolling in health insurance.
December 15th deadline to ensure health insurance coverage by January 1, 2021
Washington Healthplanfinder is reminding residents to visit WAhealthplanfinder.org to secure their health and dental coverage by December 15th to ensure a start date of January 1st, 2021. As of today, December 10th, over 200,000 Washingtonians have signed up for 2021 coverage, 5% more than last year at this time, and one person every 17 seconds.
Mask usage on Metro up to 88% and additional mask dispensers installed on 200 more buses
 Metro announced that mask usage among bus and shuttle passengers increased to 88% during the week of November 23rd. Metro is currently installing mask dispensers on another 200 buses. In total, Metro will have installed dispensers on more than 340 buses by December 14th.
These routes include the RapidRide A, B, D, E, and F lines, and the 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 10, 12, 13, 14, 36, 43, 44, 49, 70, and 120. These routes were prioritized for mask dispenser installation based on ridership, crowding concerns, and operator reports of mask non-compliance. The funds for the masks and dispensers were proposed and sponsored by my colleague Councilmember Rod Dembowski and me and were approved by the Council in an earlier COVID emergency budget.
Helping the Salvation Army
 I so enjoyed participating in the Salvation Army’s 2020 Celebrity Bell Ringing on Tuesday. They do this fundraiser every year, though the event was virtual this year. We helped raise money for critical work and had a great time.
DID YOU KNOW?
… that the Norwegian concept of friluftsliv (“outdoor life”) is the ideal attitude for getting through the coming cold pandemic months? The Norwegians embrace spending time outdoors, regardless of the season or weather. According to visitnorway.com, the term “… was invented by the famous Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen in the 1850s, who used the term to describe the value of spending time in remote locations for spiritual and physical wellbeing.” Read more here.
Additional helpful and informative links
- One-day US deaths top 3,000, more than D-Day or 9/11 - The Seattle Times
- A tale of two pandemics: COVID rates vary wildly across King County - KUOW
- Contact tracers face significant challenges as COVID-19 cases rise in King County and Seattle – Q13
- Coronavirus takes toll on Black, Latino child care providers - The Seattle Times
- Pandemic, economy, disaffection can amplify SAD feelings – UW News
- First signs of Thanksgiving COVID-19 wave emerge – The Hill
- Tracking the seasons of pandemic response in Seattle – High Country News
- Can taking vitamins help prevent COVID-19? – UW Medicine
- Editorial: Use your smartphone to help contain the pandemic – The Seattle Times
- How a police contact by middle school leads to different outcomes for Black, white youth – UW News
- An Everett company’s tiny homeless shelters pop up in Portland, more cities across U.S. - The Seattle Times
- Worlds align this winter solstice: Look for Jupiter, Saturn in December skies – USA Today
Today’s moment of inspiration
 Photo from CNN
CNN reports on a partnership between Marvel Comics and the Allegheny Health Network (AHN) to produce a new comic book celebrating real-life health care heroes: Nurses.
According to CNN, “The True Nurse Stories comic book focuses on nurses and their heroism. Each character and story stems from the experiences of real people who provide health care throughout AHN's 13 hospitals in Western Pennsylvania, serving as amalgams of the dozens of nurses who shared their stories, Marvel comics said in a news release.”
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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