COVID-19 UPDATES
As of today, Public Health -- Seattle & King County (Public Health) is reporting these numbers (which are continuing in an overall downward trajectory):
- 72 new positive cases of COVID-19 (includes 68 confirmed cases and 4 probable cases. Total number of cases to date is 111,425).
- 1 new COVID-19-related death (1,611 total, data adjustment)
- 8 new hospitalizations (6,300 to date)
Vaccination rates in King County: As of today, 77.9% of King County residents 16 and over have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and 70.7% have received both doses. To view updated County vaccination data, see this page: https://kingcounty.gov/depts/health/covid-19/data/vaccination.aspx
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.
Statewide, according to the state Department of Health (DOH), as of today:
-Total number of confirmed positive cases is 410,195; the total number of probable cases is 35,929 for a total of 446,124 cases.
- The total number of deaths statewide is 5,810
- The total number of hospitalizations is 24,930
COVID AND OTHER UPDATES
Quote of the Day: “Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.” – Frederick Douglass, 1857
Dr. Jeff Duchin to provide update on COVID-19: Tomorrow at 1 p.m.
Health Officer Dr. Jeff Duchin will brief the public and take questions from reporters tomorrow, Friday, June 18 at 1 p.m. Dr. Duchin will share updates on local trends in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths, and on progress toward King County’s goals of ensuring at least 70% of people across all races, ethnicities and geographies are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. You can view the press conference live on Public Health’s Facebook page.
County to lift mask directive on June 29
 Well, we made it! Seventy percent of King County residents age 16 and older have completed their vaccine series. That means that in two weeks, on June 29th, the King County mask directive will end. (It takes two weeks after completing the vaccine series to be considered fully protected.)
Once the King County mask directive ends, the Washington state mask guidance will be in effect in King County. See the articles below for more information.
- Vaccination levels up, COVID-19 rates down: King County mask directive lifts on June 29 – Public Health Insider blog
- COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations drop as King County reaches 70% vaccination coverage - Public Health Insider blog
- King County will drop mask mandate, now that it’s reached COVID vaccination benchmark – The Seattle Times
- Being Vaccinated Doesn’t Mean You Must Go Maskless. Here’s Why. – Kaiser Health News
The latest on the Delta and Gamma variants
- ‘What keeps me up at night’: COVID gamma variant worries Washington state health official – The Seattle Times
- Delta variant doubles risk of COVID hospitalization - Scottish study – Reuters
- Highly transmissible strain causing COVID spreads in Washington state, say UW virologists - The Seattle Times
- CDC now calls coronavirus Delta variant a 'variant of concern' – CNN
- CDC’s Role in Tracking Variants (updated today) – CDC webpage
Next up: Reopening and recovery
 Photo by Kirill Sharkovski on Unsplash
As I’ve mentioned before, while we’re all excited at the prospect of reopening, this next phase includes some challenges and unanswered questions. What to wear? When to mask up? How do I know who has been vaccinated? See below for more on the issues facing us as we enter this next chapter.
- The great reopening: Seattle restaurants prepare to welcome guests back – Seattle P-I
- First essential, then 'devalued': Gig workers don't want to return to ebb and flow of wages – KUOW
- As COVID-19 crisis ebbs, some seeking 9/11-style commission – AP News
- Does asking your COVID vaccination status violate federal privacy laws, as some claim? – KOMO News
- Summer of Seattle? How local tourism can speed recovery efforts – The Seattle Times
- The New Office Look Is 'Power Casual.' But Save The Stiletto Crocs For Happy Hour - NPR
- Inslee statement on reopening numbers, staying the course (June 15) – Governor’s office
DOH Secretary Dr. Shah on reopening: Next Tuesday at 11 a.m.
 Governor Inslee says the state will reopen on June 30. But that declaration has been met with a lot of questions and anxiety from Washingtonians. Is it really safe to shed our masks, hug our friends and fill our restaurants? Could we see another surge? Supporting the Governor in his decision to reopen is the secretary of the state Department of Health, Dr. Umair Shah. Join Crosscut for a free virtual interview with Dr. Shah next Tuesday, June 22 at 11 a.m. More information is available here; to RSVP see this page.
Gov. Inslee press conference this morning
Gov. Jay Inslee held a press conference this morning to provide an update on the state's ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He was joined by Mike Kreidler, Washington State Insurance Commissioner, and Alfie Alvarado, Director, Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs, among others. You can view the press conference here on TVW. You may also be interested in this Seattle Times article: Inslee announces COVID-19 vaccine lottery for Washington’s military members, veterans.
Upcoming vaccination opportunities
The next pop-up vaccine clinic in Seattle will happen next Monday, June 21st, from 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. at St. James Cathedral, 804 9th Ave. To view the full schedule of pop-up clinics – including Seattle sites – see this page and keep checking for updates. You don’t need to wait for a pop-up clinic to get vaccinated. See these pages for more information:
https://kingcounty.gov/depts/health/covid-19/vaccine/distribution.aspx
https://www.seattle.gov/mayor/covid-19/vaccinations
King County also has a FAQ page that you might find helpful about the vaccine: https://kingcounty.gov/depts/health/covid-19/vaccine/FAQ.aspx
Urgent need for blood
 Right now, the American Red Cross is experiencing a severe blood shortage as the number of trauma cases, organ transplants and elective surgeries rise -- and deplete the nation’s blood inventory. Donors of all blood types – especially type O – are urged to make an appointment to give as soon as possible to prevent further impact to patients.
Download the Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to schedule your blood or platelet donation appointment.
Eviction moratoria end June 30; Rent Smart webinars; County Council tenant protection legislation update; Rental assistance
As many of you know, the state’s moratorium on evictions will end on June 30th. I’m including below some helpful information on assistance for renters, upcoming Rent Smart webinars, and an update on my just cause tenant protection legislation.
Rent Smart webinars: June 24 and 29th
If you are behind on your rent or worried that you may be at risk of eviction after the state’s moratorium expires, register for Solid Ground’s next Rent Smart webinars being held from 2 to 4 p.m. on June 24th and June 29th. This FREE program will give you the information you need about services and programs that can help keep you in your home, including rental assistance, legal aid, mediation and repayment plans. Space is limited and registration is required. If the event reaches capacity, Solid Ground will alert you about future opportunities. You can register at https://www.solid-ground.org/eviction-moratorium/. A Tenant Counselor will email you to confirm session date and send you a link after you register
Update on County Just Cause Tenant Protection legislation
At Tuesday’s Council meeting, Councilmembers continued consideration of legislation I sponsored along with Councilmembers Girmay Zahilay and Dave Upthegrove to implement “just cause” provisions and other tenant protections throughout Unincorporated King County only. Unfortunately, there has been a lot of misinformation swirling regarding our legislation. The meeting concluded with the Council deciding to refer the legislation to the Committee of the Whole so that we can take up amendments and answer outstanding questions.
The Special Committee of the Whole meeting will take place on June 23 at 1:00 p.m. You can access the agenda by clicking this link. The agenda and meeting materials will also be available on this page next week. The ordinance will then be before the council for final consideration and action at a special meeting of the Council on June 29 at 1:30 p.m.
Rental assistance resources
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. To apply for assistance, see this link: https://rent-help.kingcounty.gov. You may also be interested in this article from Crosscut: Relief slow to reach King County renters as evictions set to resume.
New investments to fight gun violence
 At next Tuesday’s Council meeting, Councilmembers will take up an amendment to the First Omnibus Supplemental Budget to add funds for gun violence prevention. The amendment, proposed by County Executive Dow Constantine and being offered by Councilmember Joe McDermott, will include $1.47 million in investments in data-driven identification of the groups and neighborhoods at the highest risk of being involved in a shooting, increased community engagement and community staffing. See the articles below for more information.
- After a deadly weekend, King County proposes 'urgent' funding for gun violence prevention – KING 5 News
- Constantine Introduces New Investments To Prevent Gun Violence – The Seattle Medium
Digital equity
One of many inequities that became apparent during the pandemic has been the digital inequity in terms of broadband access to wi-fi, the internet, mobile phones and laptops and other computers. Closing the so-called “digital divide” has been one of the priorities of the County throughout the pandemic. In 2020, the Council included $2 million to address this issue, and thus far in 2021 we have invested nearly $1.2 million to increase access to the internet and computers. You may be interested in this editorial from The Seattle Times: Making digital equity a reality.
Ranked choice voting
 The Committee of the Whole had its first briefing yesterday on legislation to place a charter amendment on the ballot on Ranked Choice Voting. I am a cosponsor of this legislation that has been introduced by Councilmember Girmay Zahilay. Stay tuned.
- Opinion: Why King County Needs Ranked-Choice Voting (My colleague, Councilmember Zahilay is one of the co-authors) – The Stranger
- A Guide to Ranked-Choice Voting – The New York Times
Request for Applications (RFA): Community Navigators – June 30th deadline
The County’s Community Mitigation and Recovery team created the Community Navigator program due to the rising COVID-19 cases within communities of color. Community navigators connect, empower, and share information with communities that have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, and many of these communities also have the lowest vaccination rates. For more information see this page or to access the full RFA, click here.
Saturday is Juneteenth: Jamboree at Judkins Park!
We’ve included mentions of several Juneteenth-focused celebrations in the last couple of e-newsletters (including one here at King County this morning, which you can watch here). The Northwest African American Museum (NAAM) has two more events coming up - - one virtual and the other live and in-person this Saturday, on Juneteenth (June 19th)!
Tomorrow evening, Friday, June 18th at 7 p.m. join NAAM and the Diversity, Equality, and Inclusivity Committee of the Space Needle and Chihuly Garden and Glass, along with One Vibe Africa, and Wa Na Wari, to celebrate Juneteenth by raising the voices of Black and African American artists in an Artist Collective broadcast. See this page for full details.
On Saturday, NAAM and Rec'N'The Streets (City of Seattle Parks & Rec) present the Juneteenth Jamboree! This will be an in-person celebration for the whole family from noon – 6 p.m. at Judkins Park, 2150 South Norman Street in Seattle. Full of family fun, recreation, and activity from local professional sports teams, this will be a Juneteenth celebration you won't forget!
Juneteenth and Indigenous Peoples’ Day to be observed holidays beginning in 2022
 Starting in 2022, King County government will observe two new paid holidays, Juneteenth and Indigenous Peoples’ Day, subject to available funding resources, bargaining, and potential impacts to existing county services. Read more here. Also, see this Seattle Times article: Biden signs bill making Juneteenth a federal holiday.
June proclaimed as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Pride Month
 In an earlier e-newsletter, I included information on the Council’s proclamation of June as Pride Month in King County. In recognition and support of the LGBTQIA+ community, County Executive Dow Constantine also issued a proclamation, proclaiming June as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Pride Month in King County.
A visit to Uplift NW
 Yesterday, I was very pleased to visit Uplift NW (previously the Millionair Club.) This year is Uplift NW’s 100th year serving community members living in poverty, which is incredible. Uplift NW connects individuals with employment and meets them where they are—whether that’s connecting them with day jobs or temporary jobs, providing digital literacy training, serving as a hygiene center, providing them with free eye care through their vision clinic, and much more. It was a treat to get to tour the facility and meet with Gina Hall, Uplift’s Executive Director, and longtime Uplift team members Angel Leaptrot and Chris Ryllko. Thank you for your work!
Join the Gates Foundation for a discussion about food justice
 Join local community leaders, the Gates Foundation Discovery Center, South Seattle Emerald and Civic Commons for a conversation about food justice and community impact. Learn how you can get involved and help nourish our communities. For more information and to RSVP, see this page.
DID YOU KNOW?
... that on this day in 1884, Northern Pacific Railroad ran the first train from Tacoma to Seattle? Read the full details hereon HistoryLink.
Additional helpful and informative links
- Fauci: US to spend $3.2B for antiviral pills for COVID-19 – AP News
- Can you mix and match COVID-19 vaccines? – AP News
- COVID Fades but Is Unlikely to Vanish – The Wall Street Journal
- The U.S. Has Hit 600,000 COVID Deaths, More Than Any Other Country – NPR
- In poorest countries, surges worsen shortages of vaccines – AP News
- Many Post-COVID Patients Are Experiencing New Medical Problems, Study Finds – The New York Times
- Sewage sleuths helped an Arizona town beat back Covid-19. For wastewater epidemiology, that’s just the start – Stat News
- As COVID recedes, colds and common viruses are back, especially among children – The Seattle Times
- Why nobody will ever agree on whether COVID lockdowns were worth it — The Conversation
- New 5-day smoke forecast could help protect Washingtonians' health – KUOW
- Expect disruptions through next Monday as Ballard Bridge undergoes inspection, repairs – The Seattle Times
- What tree rings reveal about America's mega drought – The Guardian
Today’s moment of inspiration
According to a story from USA Today and MSN, Harvard-bound high school senior Verda Tetteh could have added a surprise $40,000 scholarship from Fitchburg High School to her collection of scholarships and financial aid to pay for her Harvard education. Instead, she asked the school to give the scholarship money to someone who needed it more. Tetteh, a Ghanaian immigrant, delivered a powerful address on resilience at the beginning of the Massachusetts school's June 4 graduation ceremony. 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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