COVID-19 UPDATES
Since yesterday’s update, Public Health -- Seattle & King County is reporting these numbers as of this afternoon:
- 182 new positive cases of COVID-19 (83,653 total).
- 0 new COVID-19-related deaths (1,429 total)
- 3 new hospitalizations (5,159 to date)
On Wednesday, March 10th, Public Health reported:
- 197 new positive cases of COVID-19 (83,471 total).
- 8 new COVID-19-related deaths (1,429 total)
- 6 new hospitalizations (5,156 to date)
On Tuesday, March 9th, Public Health reported:
- 78 new positive cases of COVID-19 (83,274 total).
- 5 new COVID-19-related deaths (1,421 total)
- 3 new hospitalizations (5,150 to date)
Statewide, according to the DOH, as of yesterday:
-Total number of confirmed positive cases is 327,000; the total number of probable cases is 20,131, for a total of 347,131 cases.
- The total number of deaths statewide is 5,063
- The total number of hospitalizations is 19,677
COVID AND OTHER UPDATES
Quote of the Day: “The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.” – Alice Walker
Another mutant strain of the coronavirus is in our community
 Public Health – Seattle & King County (Public Health) is reporting today that a third “variant of concern” has been confirmed in our state. According to Public Health, “Viruses mutate all the time, and numerous strains of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that cause COVID-19 have been identified around the world. When mutations change the virus in ways that matter to human health, it’s called a variant of concern (VOC). Three VOCs present in the United States have been singled out as worrisome, and now all three have turned up in our community.” Read the full story here.
May Day News! Breaking now...
- Biden directs states to make all adult Americans eligible for vaccine by May 1 – The New York Times
- Biden sets May 1 target to have all adults vaccine-eligible – The Seattle Times
Tomorrow at noon: Dr. Duchin to provide update on COVID-19 trends and vaccine distribution
Health Officer for Public Health – Seattle & King County Dr. Jeff Duchin will brief the public and take questions from reporters at noon tomorrow, Friday, March 12. He will provide updates on trends in COVID-19 cases and share the latest information on COVID vaccination efforts in King County. The briefing will be livestreamed on the Public Health – Seattle & King County Facebook page.
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA): More COVID emergency funding on the way
 Photo by Louis Velazquez on Unsplash
President Biden today signed the American Rescue Plan Act, freeing up federal funds to be used for COVID-19 assistance.
The final version includes $350 billion for state and local relief aid. That amounts to around $7.1 billion in relief aid for Washington (state, county, and city governments). King County is estimated to get around $440 million, half of which we’re to receive soon, with unfortunately the other half not coming till a year from now.
The National Association of Counties (NACo) has a comprehensive analysis of the state and local recovery funds here. You may also be interested in these articles:
- Washington state to get billions of dollars for schools, transit and cities as COVID-19 relief bill clears Congress – The Seattle Times
- Here's what's in the American Rescue Plan - NPR
Interview with Public Health’s Dr. Jeff Duchin about Johnson & Johnson vaccine
Public Health’s Dr. Duchin was interviewed last week about the Johnson & Johnson vaccine on Rainier Avenue Radio. You can tune in or watch the interview on Youtube here, or on Twitch TV.
Update on visiting nursing homes
 As the number of completed COVID-19 vaccinations is increasing, and transmission in long-term care facilities has slowed, providers are hopeful that visits from friends and family can resume before too long. See the information below:
- No nursing home visits yet in Washington state, but a new plan is coming – The Seattle Times
- Recommendations for long term care facilities during COVID-19 outbreak – Washington State Department of Health DOH
- King County’s long term care data dashboard: Updated weekly on Thursdays (although the site is currently in the process of being re-designed; please check back later for updates).
This Saturday at 3 p.m.: It Takes A Village: COVID-19 Vaccine
 Join the Northwest African American Museum and the Pacific Science Center this Saturday, March 13, from 3 – 4:30 p.m. for a family-focused discussion about the COVID-19 vaccine. The virtual program is free and open to the public. Public Health experts will focus on questions and concerns of the Black community related to getting the COVID-19 vaccine, and will delve into historical reasons for medical distrust, discussion of why getting a vaccine is so important, and the role that community can play. For more information and register, click here.
According to The New York Times...
An article in today’s New York Times states, “The Seattle area once had more coronavirus deaths than anywhere else in the United States. A year later, the region’s deaths per capita are lower than any other large metropolitan area.” Read the full story here: Seattle’s virus success shows what could have been.
Council approves hazard pay for grocery workers
I was pleased to support $4 hazard pay for workers at some large grocery stores in Unincorporated King County at Tuesday’s Council meeting. This pandemic has clearly demonstrated that frontline workers — including but not limited to grocery workers — are absolutely crucial in our community. They are taking risks every day and it’s time that their importance is reflected in their wages—especially at big corporate chains. Implementing this hazard pay for grocery workers is an important start. I appreciate Councilmembers Dembowski’s and Upthegrove’s leadership on this legislation and stand solidly alongside these workers in my support of this ordinance. And I look forward to discussing adding hazard pay for other essential workers when we take up our upcoming COVID Budgets using funds available through the just-passed American Rescue Plan Act. For additional information, see these news articles:
- King County Council passes hazard pay ordinance for grocery store workers in unincorporated areas – Seattle P-I
- Four dollar-per-hour hazard pay for grocery workers approved by King County Council – White Center Blog
- King County approves hazard pay for grocery workers in unincorporated areas – The Seattle Times
Webinar: A shot in the arm: the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine in Washington
Next Monday, March 15th at 5 p.m., join Seattle Times journalists and Dr. Helen Chu, a University of Washington infectious disease expert, for the latest on the coronavirus vaccine, and to answer your questions. How and where is it being rolled out locally? Why is it taking longer than hoped? Is it being fairly distributed? What will widespread vaccines mean for herd immunity? Click here for more information and to register.
Next Tuesday: Perspectives from the states on the vaccine rollout
 What are next steps on statewide vaccine rollouts, event as coronavirus variants spread? Hear firsthand insights from state health commissioners and health policy experts in this dynamic discussion presented by The Forum at the Harvard Chan School jointly with Reuters next Tuesday, March 16th at 9 a.m. Pacific Time. The event will be livestreamed on Facebook and at The Forum website. There is no registration required to watch the event online. Send questions for the panelists in advance or during the Q&A: theforum@hsph.harvard.edu or post them to @ForumHSPH
King Conservation District election
The King Conservation District (not part of King County) is holding an election for an open seat on the Board of Supervisors. Voting began on March 1st and runs through March 23rd.
King Conservation District (KCD) is a natural resources assistance agency authorized by Washington State and guided by the Washington State Conservation Commission. Its mission is to promote the sustainable use of natural resources through responsible stewardship. A five-member Board of Supervisors is responsible for overseeing all KCD programs and activities. To vote, see this page. And note that ballots are not sent to registered voters; rather, voters have to take the initiative to vote. It’s an odd system that King County Elections is looking to change.
For general information on voting and elections in King County, visit the King County Elections Department website.
A visit to the Ballard Boys and Girls Club
 Pictured with the Boys and Girls Clubs of King County Board Chair, Tom Herche, and CEO, Laurie Black.
As a former elementary school teacher, I was very excited to stop by the Boys and Girls Club in Ballard this afternoon to check in on the wonderful child care, preschool and K-12 educational programs they’ve been running. Last fall, I was very pleased to work with Council Chair Claudia Balducci in advocating for $1 million that the Council allocated in a COVID Budget to the Boys and Girls Clubs of King County, Boys and Girls Club of Bellevue, and the YMCA of King County for their child care programs. Ballard Director Meghan Sweet even let me peek into the Pre-K room during story time.
Next Wednesday: Equitable access for English Language Learner (ELL) students with disabilities and special needs care
Join the Equity in Education Coalition and The Racial Equity Team for a discussion of equitable access and resources for ELL Students with Disabilities and Special Needs Care. The “Lunch and Learn” will take place March 17th, from noon to 1:30 p.m. Please sign-up here for Zoom information: https://eec-wa.org/event/equitable-access-for-ell-students-with-disabilities-and-special-needs-care-lunch-and-learn/
Gov. Inslee statement on rising cases of anti-Asian hate crimes
Gov. Jay Inslee released this statement on Tuesday in response to increasing and escalating acts of violence targeting Asians and Asian-Americans. For additional information on hate crimes and resources available to victims, regardless of immigration status, see this page. Interpretation services are available.
Updates on this week’s Council meetings
- On Tuesday, March 9, Dr. Duchin updated the Council on the County’s COVID-19 response. A pdf version of his presentation is available here. The video of the Dr. Duchin’s presentation is not yet available, but will be found on this page once it has been posted: https://mkcclegisearch.kingcounty.gov/Calendar.aspx (Look for the video for the March 9, 2021 meeting of the Metropolitan King County Council.)
- On Wednesday morning, March 10, the Council’s Community, Health and Housing Services Committee was briefed on progress on affordable housing and on accessibility in the County’s family courts. You can view the video here. The panel on affordable housing begins at minute 3:00 and the briefing on accessibility issues in family courts begins at 1:11:55.
In addition, Leo Flor, Director of King County Department of Community and Human Services, sent the following information to Councilmembers following the briefing: “The Housing Repair Program keeps people housed across the County, and the feedback we get from clients on this program is among the most heartwarming that we receive.” View video about the program here.
- On Wednesday afternoon, March 10, the Council’s Budget and Fiscal Management Committee, which I chair, held a Special Meeting to consider among other items the Executive’s proposed COVID emergency budget, the first of four expected COVID emergency budgets this year. (It’s being referred to as “COVID 6” following five COVID budgets passed in 2020.) The video of the meeting can be found here. The discussion of “COVID 6” starts at minute 32:25.
- Later on Wednesday afternoon, Amazon and Microsoft briefed Councilmembers on their investments in affordable housing at the meeting of the Council’s Regional Policy Committee. In addition, the Committee discussed potential amendments to the Best Starts for Kids levy renewal which the Council will likely place on the primary ballot for voter approval in August. The video of the meeting can be viewed here and the briefing begins at minute 2:47.
DID YOU KNOW?
... that during an Emergency Alert System misactivation in 2005, everyone in Connecticut was ordered to flee the state, but the most common reaction was to change the channel?
Additional helpful and informative links
- Convalescent plasma strikes out as COVID-19 Treatment - NPR
- Health officials encouraged by positive COVID-19 trends in Puget Sound – KOMO News
- ‘Hoping for a flood’: States prepare for a surge in vaccine supply – The Seattle Times
- Even with mild cases, COVID-19 impact can persist - UW News
- Three medical innovations fueled by COVID-19 that will outlast the pandemic — The Conversation
- The Devastating Impact of Covid-19 on Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities in the United States – New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) Catalyst
- Guidelines for the vaccinated give us cautious optimism – The Seattle Times
- Airlines and travel groups urge U.S. to develop virus passport – Bloomberg News
- Women report worse side effects after a COVID vaccine – The New York Times
- Audio: How To Reduce COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy - WBUR
- COVID herd immunity may be unlikely—winter surges could “become the norm” – Ars Technica
- Seattle to open one of largest mass vaccination sites in US at Lumen Field Event Center – KING 5
- What childhood vaccine rates can, and can’t, teach us about COVID vaccines – Kaiser Health News
- Highline teachers approve March 11 return, Seattle begins limited in-class learning March 29 – The South Seattle Emerald
- Our year of mutual aid – The New York Times
- People of color across Cascadia speak up against climate change - Crosscut
Today’s moment of inspiration
 Here is yet another example of resourcefulness and resilience in the face of the pandemic, from right here in Seattle. The UW News describes how the University of Washington Chorale found a novel location for choir practice, which became necessary once it became clear that gathering indoors and singing constitutes a “super-spreader” event. “The practice location in Padelford Garage was approved by the UW’s Environmental Health and Safety team, which determined the location had sufficient air flow, and laid out a procedure for an eight-person, masked and physically distanced half-hour practice.” You can hear the Chorale and 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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