COVID-19 UPDATES
As of today, Public Health -- Seattle & King County (Public Health) is reporting these numbers (which are continuing to come down, fortunately):
- 60 new positive cases of COVID-19 (includes 60 confirmed cases and 0 probable cases. Total number of cases to date is 111,706).
- 0 new COVID-19-related deaths (1,616 to date)
- 3 new hospitalizations (6,317 to date)
Vaccination rates in King County: As of today, 78.2% of King County residents 16 and over have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and 71.2% 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 Saturday, June 19th:
-Total number of confirmed positive cases is 411,096; the total number of probable cases is 36,107 for a total of 447,203 cases.
- The total number of deaths statewide is 5,820
- The total number of hospitalizations is 25,002
COVID AND OTHER UPDATES
Quote of the Day: “If particular care and attention is not paid to the Ladies we are determined to foment a Rebellion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any Laws in which we have no voice, or Representation.” - Abigail Adams, letter to John Adams, March 31, 1776.
Video: Dr. Jeff Duchin’s June 18th COVID-19 press briefing
 On June 18th, in his weekly press briefing, Health Officer Dr. Jeff Duchin provided an update on COVID-19 trends and the latest on COVID-19 vaccination efforts. You can view the video here.
CDC study: Young adult vaccination rates low and declining
 The CDC just released a study that found, not surprisingly, that vaccination rates are highest among people 65 and older (80% rate) and lowest among people 18 – 29 (38% rate). This has ramifications for the growth of new variants, and of course rates of positive cases, hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19. Read the full report here.
A lab's whirlwind pace: COVID-19 testing and variant sequencing
 Researchers at the UW Medicine Virology Lab are handling an unprecedented demand for COVID-19 PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test results. (For information on the different types of COVID tests, see this page from the DOH.) They are performing between three and four thousand tests each day which, according to Dr. Alex Greninger, the laboratory’s Assistant Director, is “...about a hundred times the amount of respiratory virus PCRs we would typically do, if you went back two years.”
On top of the demand for COVID-19 test results, UW Medicine is also sequencing variant strains, including the growing delta and gamma variants. Read more and view the video here.
Reminder – tomorrow at 11 a.m.: DOH Secretary Dr. Shah on reopening
 The state is planning to reopen on June 30th, raising questions for many of us. 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 tomorrow, Tuesday, June 22 at 11 a.m. More information is available here; to RSVP see this page. And a reminder, King County is now planning on dropping its mask requirement on June 29th.
Getting a COVID vaccine in King County:
To view the full schedule of pop-up clinics – including Seattle sites – see this page and keep checking for updates. But you don’t need to wait for a pop-up clinic to get vaccinated. See this page for more information.
Preparing for wildfire season
 Last September, in the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic, we lived through an unprecedented wildfire smoke event throughout the Pacific Northwest that shattered air pollution records. Public Health and County Environmental Health Services staff are reminding residents to prepare for what is forecast to be a smoky season this year. Also, see helpful hints on this page.
Protect your head! Free and low-cost helmets in King County
 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends all people riding a bike should wear helmets so they can have a safer brain and stronger future. But the cost of bike helmets may be a barrier to some people who want them. The good news is that affordable bike helmets are available for King County residents.
On the subject of bike helmets...
At its June 17th meeting, The Board of Health heard from a panel on potentially changing the County’s bike helmet laws to reduce instances of biases in enforcing the law. We will be taking related issues at an upcoming meeting of the Board of Health (but not in August as there’s no meeting then). The video from the Board of Health’s June 17th meeting is not posted yet, but will be available soon on this page. You may be interested in this coverage from KING 5 News: King County considers whether to repeal bicycle helmet law.
Update on West Point Treatment Plant
 Capital improvement projects are underway at the County's West Point Treatment Plant. Projects focus on improving the power supply at the plant to prevent emergency bypasses of wastewater into the Sound, earthquake preparedness, upgrading a mile of aging sewer pipe in the Interbay neighborhood and more. Read the full update here.
Reminder: Join me Wednesday, June 23, for a County update and Q & A session
Please join me this Wednesday, June 23, for a virtual meeting hosted by the Queen Anne Community Council, a meeting on the “Initiative on Community Engagement.” The meeting will take place remotely at 7 p.m. June 23. I’ll provide an update on County legislation, followed by an open question and answer session. Questions can be submitted in advance to organizer Paula Mueller, paulamueller@comcast.net. To register for the meeting, sign up at https://signup.com/go/XTJJLSY. Zoom information will be sent to all people who register prior to the event.
This week at the Council
Note: All Council and Council Committee meetings are still being held remotely.
- Tomorrow at 9:30 a.m.: Discussion of possible lifting of property tax levy limitations for road maintenance in unincorporated King County
At tomorrow’s meeting of the Council’s Local Services Committee, Committee members will discuss an ordinance introduced by Councilmembers Dunn and Lambert regarding a proposal to allow a six-year permanent levy lid lift to support the maintenance and operations of the unincorporated King County road system. The levy is restricted to property owners in unincorporated 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.
- Tomorrow at 1 p.m.: COVID-19 update, Public Hearing and action to be taken on First Omnibus Supplemental Budget, Juneteenth proclamation
Councilmembers have a busy agenda for tomorrow’s meeting of the full Council. Councilmembers will meet tomorrow, June 22 at 1 p.m. and will receive an update on COVID-19 and take a final vote on the First Omnibus Supplemental Budget. My colleague, Councilmember Zahilay, will also introduce the Council’s Juneteenth proclamation.
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 at 9:30 a.m.: County Climate plan, fall transit service restorations, wastewater treatment and more
The Council’s Mobility and Environment Committee will meet this Wednesday, June 23, at 9:30 a.m. Committee members will discuss and take possible action on a number of items, including acceptance of the King County-Cities Climate Collaboration (K4C) workplan and budget, and will receive briefings on Metro’s plans for restoring service in the fall and on wastewater treatment actions and policy considerations.
The 2021 K4C budget and work plan priorities include: Supporting updates to countywide planning policies to strengthen shared GHG emission targets and update measurement policies, engagement by elected officials on state legislative issues, developing regional approaches to energy efficiency retrofit programs; and developing a climate change preparedness agenda.
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 at 1 p.m.: Discussion, possible action on Just Cause Tenant Protection legislation
This Wednesday, June 23rd at 1 p.m., the Council’s Committee of the Whole will take up legislation I sponsored along with Councilmembers Girmay Zahilay and Dave Upthegrove to implement “just cause” provisions and other tenant protections throughout unincorporated King County. The purpose of the legislation is to protect those facing eviction when the state’s eviction moratorium expires at the end of the month. The City of Seattle just announced that it will keep its eviction moratorium in place through September.
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.
Reminder: Rent Smart webinars this Thursday and next Tuesday
As you may know, the state’s eviction moratorium is set to expire at the end of the month, and, although Mayor Durkan has just extended the City’s eviction moratorium through September, the threat of eviction is still looming for many renters in King County.
And, this Wednesday, the Council’s Committee of the Whole will take up the Just Cause tenant protection legislation I sponsored along with Councilmembers Girmay Zahilay and Dave Upthegrove. See above (“This week at the Council”) for details on the Wednesday meeting.
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.
Executive Constantine transmits proposed 8th COVID budget to Council
County Executive Constantine sent his proposal for the 8th COVID budget to Councilmembers last week for consideration. It would appropriate $203 million in funding, including about $70 million from the American Rescue Plan for continued pandemic response, rental assistance, court backlog, and equitable recovery investments. Read thedetails here. The budget will have its first briefing at a special meeting of the Council’s Budget and Fiscal Management Committee, which I chair, on Tuesday, July 6th at 3 p.m.
Reminder: City charter amendment pro and con expert panel this Thursday
Belltown United is hosting and inviting the public to an online panel discussion on Charter Amendment Measure 29 on Thursday, June 24th at 6 p.m. The group Compassion Seattle (made up of members of the local business and non-profit community) has proposed a ballot initiative to amend the City of Seattle Charter. If ratified by voters, this amendment will mandate specific actions and policies related to encampments in public areas, provision for emergency or permanent housing, funding for human services, criminal justice diversion programs and other items. Moderated by Seattle Times columnist Danny Westneat, a balanced panel of subject matter experts will present arguments both supporting AND opposing the initiative. See this page for details. To register, click here.
An update on recovery of Seattle’s tourism industry
 According to Visit Seattle, “As travel and visitor volumes continue to grow our region is eagerly anticipating full reopening by month-end. Hotel occupancy rates for May demonstrated this continued momentum. Seattle (running 41.5%) finally showed stronger monthly performance than San Francisco (34.4%) and Portland (35.4%).”
You may also be interested in this Opinion piece in The Seattle Times: Summer of Seattle? How local tourism can speed recovery efforts.
DID YOU KNOW?
... that on this day in 1909, William Dubilier unveiled an astonishing new "wireless telephone" to fairgoers at Seattle's Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition? According to HistoryLink, “In hindsight his ingenious prototypical contraption was actually less a "cell-phone" than a critical stepping stone to a not-yet-existent device that would come to be known as the "radio." Read the full story here.
Additional helpful and informative links
- Coronavirus infections could surge this fall if COVID vaccination rates lag, expert says – The Washington Post / The Seattle Times
- Will your child be required to have a COVID vaccine for school? Here’s what you need to know in Washington state – The Seattle Times
- Desperate for COVID Care, undocumented immigrants resort to unproven drugs – The New York Times
- See how many people are fully vaccinated against COVID in your King County neighborhood - The Seattle Times
- COVID vaccine research continues with help of trial participants - Crosscut
- Is it better to get immunity from catching COVID-19 — or from vaccines? What science shows – McClatchy / The Seattle Times
- King County's Daily COVID Counts Fall To Double Digits – Patch
- ‘Protected them to death’: Elder-care COVID rules under fire - The Seattle Times
- How a new buddy system is helping health workers grapple with COVID’s toll – Stat News
- Distorted, Bizarre Food Smells Haunt COVID Survivors - The New York Times
- Vashon’s First-Dose Vaccination Rates climbs to nearly 90% - The Vashon Beachcomber
- Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan is extending the city’s COVID-19 eviction moratorium through September – The Seattle Times
- King County judge says enough is enough following fatal stabbing at City Hall park – KOMO News
- Today is about breaking the loop’: Celebration and calls for action at Seattle Juneteenth march - The Seattle Times
- Break up Amazon? Seattle Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal takes on tech giants - The Seattle Times
Today’s moment of inspiration
 For today’s Moment, I wanted to highlight some very impressive residents of King County’s District Four (my district). The UW just announced this year’s “Husky 100,” exceptional undergraduate and graduate students from the Bothell, Seattle and Tacoma campuses. Nominated by their peers, faculty, staff and mentors, these students actively apply what they are learning inside and outside the classroom to make a difference on campus, in their communities and for the future.
These winning students living in District 4 have been recognized as part of the 2021 Husky 100: Amanda Campbell, Amanda Tatum, Amanda Yang, Evalynn Fae Taganna Romano, Renée Codsi, Robert White, Roshan Selden, Snow Zhou, Tara Gorstein and Tiffany-Ashton Gatsby.
Congratulations to all, and well done! To read more about the Husky 100, see this story.
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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