COVID cases increasing again, health insurance, more on hand sanitizers, Sound Transit update...

View this in your browser.

afgadfgadg

March 29, 2021

Photo by Vladislav Babienko, Unsplash

Photo by Vladislav Babienko, Unsplash

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Experts are saying that the expected increasing availability of vaccines means we are getting closer to an end to the pandemic and a return to a more normal life.  At the same time, we stand at a perilous moment.  Dr. Rochelle Walensky, Director of the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), has issued warnings over the last few weeks on the need to continue mask wearing and physical distancing.  According to The New York Times, she is planning to speak tomorrow with the nation's governors “...about the risks of prematurely lifting restrictions.”  The Times also reports that President Biden is calling on all states to re-impose mask mandates.

This caution is warranted; local cases and hospitalizations are back on the rise again as COVID restrictions have been loosened.  See the video below of Dr. Duchin’s Friday press conference for more details on these very concerning trends. 

At the same time, there is some good news concerning vaccines.  The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have been shown to be over 90% effective in the real world, not just in studies, and the recent approval of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine means more doses will become available.  In addition, the state Department of Health (DOH) announced two important milestones last week: More than one million people fully vaccinated in Washington and three million COVID-19 doses administered.

And please note, the Council will not be holding its Tuesday meeting this week, but we will still be busy working remotely!   

As always, I would like to hear from you. You can call me at 206-477-1004 or you can reach me by email at jeanne.kohl-welles@kingcounty.gov. 

All the best and I hope you are staying safe.