COVID-19 UPDATES
Data were not updated today in observance of Memorial Day. Note that some data adjustments are included in the following numbers. As of yesterday, Public Health -- Seattle & King County (Public Health) reported these exceptionally encouraging numbers relative to what we’ve been seeing:
- 67 new positive cases of COVID-19 (includes 68 confirmed cases and -1 probable case, for a total of 109,658).
- 0 new COVID-19-related deaths (1,592 total)
- -2 new hospitalizations (6,159 to date)
To view a breakdown of COVID-19 cases by race and ethnicity (usually updated on Mondays), click this link. Click here to view the “Key Indicators” data dashboard.
Statewide, according to the state Department of Health (DOH), as of Saturday, May 29th:
-Total number of confirmed positive cases is 401,526; the total number of probable cases is 34,323 for a total of 435,849 cases.
- The total number of deaths statewide is 5,765
- The total number of hospitalizations is 24,131
COVID AND OTHER UPDATES
Quote of the Day: “True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.”—Arthur Ashe
New County webpage: At home COVID-19 testing
Rapid, over-the-counter COVID-19 tests are now widely available in King County. See this page for full details.
Mask Directive resources and information for businesses
 As you may know, on May 20th Dr. Jeff Duchin, Health Officer of Public Health – Seattle & King County issued a directive strongly urging all King County residents to continue wearing masks in indoor public settings. See below for information on this directive for businesses.
- Poster: Mask up while we vaccinate – One page, ready to print
- Indoor Mask Directive FAQs for Businesses
Video: Dr. Jeff Duchin’s COVID-19 press briefing
 During his weekly press briefing on May 27, Dr. Duchin provided an update on local COVID-19 rates and vaccination efforts. You can view the press conference here.
The pandemic’s impact in BIPOC communities
 As we have reported over this past year, the health and economic impacts of the pandemic have hit people of color and other historically marginalized groups much harder than the public at large. See the following articles for more information, and see below for details on the UW’s virtual conference, “Quarantining While Black,” which starts tomorrow.
- Inside the pandemic: Two mental health workers and community volunteers discuss how cultural experiences and racial trauma affect mental health in BIPOC communities – Public Health Insider blog
- Shuttered hospitals, soaring Covid-19 deaths: Rural Black communities lose a lifeline in the century’s worst health crisis– Stat News Special Report
Tomorrow and Wednesday: Quarantining while Black
 The University of Washington’s Center for Communication, Difference and Equity 2021 conference will examine ‘Quarantining while Black.’ The two-day virtual event begins tomorrow morning, June 1 and continues the next day, the afternoon of June 2. The discussion will focus on the ways in which Black Americans in Seattle and beyond have experienced the dual pandemics: COVID-19, with its disproportionate impact on Black communities, and the worldwide racial reckoning that emerged after the murder of George Floyd. For details on the conference, see this page. To RSVP and receive the Zoom link to the conference, click here.
A century later: Remembering the Tulsa Race Massacre
- Tulsa race massacre at 100: an act of terrorism America tried to forget – The Guardian
- What the Tulsa Race Massacre Destroyed: View a 3-D model of Greenwood, home of “Black Wall Street,” as it was before a white mob set it on fire 100 years ago. – The New York Times
- President Biden, John Legend, Stacey Abrams Among Those Commemorating Tulsa Race Massacre – The Seattle Medium
Reminder: Solid Ground webinar on June 3, County eviction prevention assistance also available
If you’re behind on rent and worried that you could face eviction when the state’s moratorium expires at the end of June, register for Solid Ground’s next Rent Smart webinar on June 3 and find out what services and programs are available to help you stay in your home.
Also, King County's Eviction Prevention and Rental Assistance Program (EPRAP) is one of the ways the County is helping residents facing financial hardship and housing instability due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information see this article from the County’s Department of Community and Human Services blog. And to apply for assistance, see this link: https://rent-help.kingcounty.gov.
Fighting gun violence: Regional Peacekeepers Collective
 King County Executive Dow Constantine and the King County Board of Health have declared June 4th, 2021 as King County Regional Community Safety and Well-being Day in recognition of the rising rates of gun violence in this region and the launch of a pilot program called the King County Regional Peacekeepers Collective (RPKC). The RPKC is hosting two community events this Friday, June 4th to increase awareness and provide community-based solutions to stop gun violence:
- Skyway Community Lock Box Giveaway, 10 a.m. to noon, Grocery Outlet Parking Lot
- Kent Community Lock Box Giveaway, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m., City Hall Courtyard (walkway)
At both events RPKC Partners & Zero Youth Detention staff will provide 100 residents with a lock box and information to safely store firearms.
This week at the council
 Vote on Facial Recognition Technology: Tomorrow, June 1 at 1 p.m.
Tomorrow at 1 p.m. the full Council will vote on my legislation banning County government’s use of Facial Recognition Technology. Also, my colleague, Councilmember McDermott, will introduce a proclamation of June 2021 as LGBTQ Pride Month in King County.
The public is welcome to view the (virtual) meeting and submit public comments. For instructions on viewing the meeting and providing your input, and to view the agenda and meeting materials, see this page.
Updating the County charter: Wednesday, June 2 at 9:30 a.m.
This Wednesday morning at 9:30 a.m., the Council’s Committee of the Whole will take up some much-needed updates to language in our County charter.
The public is welcome to view the (virtual) meeting and submit public comments. For instructions on viewing the meeting and providing your input, and to view the agenda and meeting materials, see this page.
Updates on pollution abatement, clean water and more: Wednesday, June 2 at 3 p.m.
This Wednesday afternoon at 3 p.m. members of the Regional Water Quality Committee will be briefed on pollution abatement, wastewater treatment, clean water actions and more.
The public is welcome to view the (virtual) meeting and submit public comments. For instructions on viewing the meeting and providing your input, and to view the agenda and meeting materials, see this page.
Wednesday deadline: Apply for 2021 Summer HungerCorps
 United Way of King County is seeking 100 Summer Associate AmeriCorps members to be part of a team to address food instability in our region and help families and youth access nutritious food. United Way has increased the monthly pay and added a $500 bonus for the two-month commitment. Apply by Wednesday, June 2.
Reminder: This Wednesday, June 2nd Annual Supreme Court Symposium: The Increased Incarceration of Women and Girls of Color
The Washington State Minority and Justice Commission is proud to present the 2021 Annual Supreme Court Symposium, co-sponsored by the Washington State Gender and Justice Commission, this Wednesday, June 2 from 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. This year’s Symposium will study the increased incarceration of women and girls of color in Washington State. The event is open to the public, and everyone is welcome to register for the event or watch the livestream here on TVW.org.
DID YOU KNOW?
... that the one of the earliest observances of what later became Memorial Day was held by formerly enslaved African Americans in 1865? According to Wikipedia, in May of that year, in Charleston, S.C., “... formerly enslaved African Americans honored hundreds of Black soldiers who were killed in the Civil War but who were buried in a mass grave. They unearthed the bodies and gave each a proper burial and held a parade in the soldiers’ honor. This memorial honoring of Black fallen soldiers is believed to have been the first Memorial Day before it later became a recognized holiday.”
However, Wikipedia also emphasized the fact that “The history of Memorial Day in the United States is complex. The U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs recognizes that approximately 25 places claim to have originated the holiday... Soldiers' graves were decorated in the U.S. before and during the American Civil War.”
Additional helpful and informative links
- Almost all new COVID cases in King County are from unvaccinated people, experts say – KOMO News
- In Washington’s long-term care facilities, COVID cases and deaths have plummeted, but numbers are ticking up - The Seattle Times
- On the COVID Front Lines, When Not Getting Belly Rubs: In Thailand and around the world, dogs are being trained to sniff out the coronavirus in people. So far, the results have been impressive. – The New York Times
- CDC eases summer camp guidance, saying children do not always need masks - The Washington Post
- Audio: Learning How To Smell Again After COVID-19 – NPR One
- Women Left Their Jobs To Be Caregivers. A Business Coalition Wants Companies To Help – NPR
- We had a year to experiment with online learning. What did we learn? - The Seattle Times
- King County Council approves $631 million emergency COVID budget – The Bellevue Reporter
- Students, faculty at Seattle universities join national push for change at campus police departments – The Seattle Times
- Washington men’s crew wins national title, overall points crown - The Seattle Times
Today’s moment of inspiration
 Reuters and Ecowatch are reporting on the remarkable story of a young Kenyan engineer who figured out how to turn plastic garbage into bricks that are stronger than concrete. According to the Ecowatch story, ““Nzambi Matee is an entrepreneur with an incredible goal -- to turn plastic destined for the landfill into sustainable, strong building material. Her company, Gjenge Makers, uses the plastic waste of commercial facilities to create bricks that can withstand twice the weight threshold of concrete.”
“Nzambi Matee told reporters she was "tired of being on the sidelines," and decided to create a solution of her own for commercial plastic waste. With a career in materials engineering, she was able to design a brick made of recycled plastic and sand, compressed and heated to create a strong and sustainable alternative to concrete.”
According to the Reuters story, “Her factory produces 1,500 bricks each day, made from a mix of different kinds of plastic.” Read the full story at the links above, or view this video on Youtube: https://youtu.be/QbZKP4UAtL8
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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