COVID-19 UPDATES
As of today, Public Health -- Seattle & King County (Public Health) is reporting these numbers (note that the hospitalization and death counts are high today, due to an earlier backlog that was adjusted yesterday by the DOH):
- 84 new positive cases of COVID-19 (includes 74 confirmed cases and 10 probable cases. Total number of cases to date is 112,248).
- 30 new COVID-19-related deaths – data adjustment due to backlog (1,648 to date)
- 164 new hospitalizations – data adjustment due to backlog (6,483 to date)
Vaccination rates in King County: As of today, 78.8% of King County residents 16 and over have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and 72.1% 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 413,046; the total number of probable cases is 36,445 for a total of 449,491 cases.
- The total number of deaths statewide is 5,898
- The total number of hospitalizations is 25,324
COVID AND OTHER UPDATES
Quote of the Day: “It isn't enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn't enough to believe in it. One must work at it.” – Eleanor Roosevelt, 1951
Protecting unvaccinated children as COVID-19 restrictions are lifted
 Public Health is reminding us that there are more than 300,000 children in King County who are not protected from COVID-19 infection. And, we do not know yet when children under 12 will be eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Read the full story here at the Public Health Insider blog.
COVID-19 and Kids: Symposium on June 30
 Johns Hopkins University and the University of Washington are hosting their second symposium, convening clinical, scientific, regulatory and private sector leaders to discuss the effect of COVID-19 on youth and the role pediatric vaccines may play in the COVID-19 response. “COVID-19 and Kids: Impacts, Uncertainties and the Role of Vaccines” will highlight COVID-19’s effect on school-age children, particularly those in the 5- to 12-year-old range, and discuss the biological and social strategies that can support youth in the collective fight against COVID-19. For details on the event see this page. Register in advance here.
Variant update: Delta, Delta Plus, Gamma...
Some of the latest news on the newest COVID-19 variants follows.
- State officials worried about Gamma variant ahead of summer events – My Northwest
- Delta variant gaining traction in U.S., gamma variant a threat in Washington – The Spokesman-Review / The Columbian
- What should I know about the delta variant? – AP News
- Delta Plus: As U.S. grapples with Delta variant, India raises alarm over a new COVID strain mutated from it – CBS News
- Delta plus: Scientists say too early to tell risk of COVID-19 variant – BBC/ Yahoo News
- It's not just Delta -- other coronavirus variants worry scientists, also – CNN
- Tracking SARS-CoV-2 variants – The World Health Organization (WHO)
Re-entry tips
 Photo by Alex Haney on Unsplash
Although Public Health is lifting its mask directive as of next Tuesday, Public Health is reminding all of us that “... it's important to remember that some businesses may continue to ask customers to wear a mask. Masks will also continue to be required in certain settings including schools, health care facilities and on public transportation.” Also, see the articles below for more.
- Washington state’s COVID numbers show promise, but don’t let your guard down, says health secretary – The Seattle Times
- How to reenter the post-COVID-19 world, sanely – UW News
Video: Governor’s press conference this morning
Gov. Jay Inslee addressed the media to give an update on the state's ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The governor was joined by the Week 3 winner of the "Shot of a Lifetime" $250,000 prize and Umair Shah, MD, MPH, Secretary, Department of Health. You can view the full press conference here on TVW, and may also be interested in these stories:
- Inslee announces eviction moratorium “bridge” – Governor’s Office news release
- Inslee extends eviction ban in Washington through Sept. 30 – The Seattle Times
Keeping yourself, family, neighbors and pets safe during the upcoming scorcher
 Photo by Etienne Girardet on Unsplash
- Worst heat wave in 12 years coming to the Pacific Northwest – NBC News
- High weekend temperatures, fire safety concerns prompt Stage 1 burn ban for unincorporated King County – The Seattle Times
- Excessive heat watch issued for Western Washington – KIRO 7 News
- Where are cooling spaces in Seattle? City announces options, limited by COVID-19 – The Seattle Times
- Western Washington's weekend heat wave could break records with potential 100-degree temps – Seattle P-I
- Hot weather: How to stay cool and safe – Public Health webpage
- Who is at risk for a heart attack in the heat? – Public Health Insider blog
- As drowning deaths doubled in King County in 2020, water safety is more important than ever - Public Health Insiderblog
- Heat and Pets – The CDC
- Pets in hot cars – The ASPCA
- King County’s Extreme Heat page – King County Emergency Management
- It’s going to be a doozy – King County Emergency News
- Hot Weather Safety – Washington state Department of Health (DOH)
- Tips for staying safe during Washington’s heat wave – The Seattle Weekly
- Eighty percent of Seattle park drinking fountains don’t work, heat wave ahead – KIRO 7 News
Heat-mapping project will guide County, City efforts to cool down neighborhoods
 Photo by Nick Page on Unsplash
The results of a heat mapping project that King County and the City of Seattle conducted last summer quantifies the harmful impact that hotter summers are having on the region, exacerbating inequities. The scientific study will inform both immediate and long-term actions, including targeted tree-plantings. Read more here, and see this Seattle Timesarticle: New maps of King County, Seattle show how some communities are harder hit by heat waves.
County Clean Water Plan to guide Wastewater Treatment Division
The Executive Branch has developed a comprehensive planning effort to guide the Wastewater Treatment Division over the next several decades. The planning effort, which includes regional leaders, will direct policies on treatment plants, pollution source control, stormwater and combined sewer overflows, wastewater conveyance systems, asset management, legacy pollution, resource recovery, and finances. Councilmembers were briefed in the Mobility and Environment Committee yesterday. Read more about this program here.
Update on Metro’s plans for this fall
 During yesterday’s meeting of the Council’s Mobility and Environment Committee, Committee members received an update on Metro’s plans for restoring some service this fall. Metro implemented emergency transit service reductions in March and April 2020, adjusted that reduced service in June and September 2020 and made additional adjustments and restored some service in March 2021.
Metro is currently operating at approximately 85 percent of its pre-COVID-19 service levels. The County’s adopted 2021-2022 biennial budget funds a return to pre-COVID transit service levels by the end of 2022, not including any changes to service funded by the City of Seattle through its Transportation Benefit District funding measure.
The committee also approved an ordinance approving the alignment and station locations for Metro’s new Rapid Ride J Line set to begin service in 2026. This new line will provide even more transit options for folks living in South Lake Union, Eastlake and the University District. You can find maps of the new route by clicking here and scrolling down for the staff report in the meeting materials.
Tenant protection legislation to be voted on next Tuesday
Next Tuesday, June 29th at 1 p.m., the full County Council 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. Although the state has just announced it will extend the eviction moratorium through September, these protections are still needed to help keep people in their homes in the future unless there is a “Just Cause” to evict them.
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.
King County announces second Health Through Housing hotel purchase in partnership with City of Renton
King County has purchased the former Extended Stay America hotel in Renton and will launch a partnership with the City of Renton to provide permanent supportive housing for more than 100 people experiencing chronic homelessness. This is the second hotel purchase in County Executive Dow Constantine’s Health through Housing initiative. For more information, see this page. You may also be interested in this Seattle Times article: King County buys Renton hotel for homeless shelter as local leaders unite on strategy.
Operation Sack Lunch delivers food security
 Last week, I was pleased to visit with Operation Sack Lunch (OSL), a 32-year-old organization that moved into District Four in March 2020. OSL provides breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day of the week, and during the height of the pandemic, when many places were shut down, was serving approximately 9,000 meals per day. Its meals are nutritionally dense and culturally conscious, avoiding pork, shellfish, and some other items to ensure as many people as possible are able to utilize their services. Not only does it serve clients from its Belltown location, OSL also contracts and delivers meals all over to tiny house villages, hotels that house those in need of housing, and other organizations, including Uplift NW (formerly known as The Millionair Club), its upstairs neighbors! Here, I'm pictured with OSL staff Taran Graham, Laurel Gray, Trent Garner, and Maggie LaPointe. I am very pleased that this outstanding organization now calls Belltown home.
Vax to the Max - - with music and the arts
 A performer for the Seattle Women’s Steel Pan Project plays for individuals getting vaccinated at the Vax to the Max event at the ShoWare Events Center in Kent on May 15, 2021. (Photo by Erin Murphy)
The South Seattle Emerald is telling the story of how Public Health is working with 4Culture to create Vax to the Max. Inspired in part by the Pierce County Vax to the Future program, Vax to the Max is incorporating music and art into vaccination sites.
For more information, see this May article from the Public Health Insider blog.
Reminder: Assistance with child care expenses through end of this month
 The City of Seattle is offering 50% off of child care co-payments to families living within Seattle city limits that have at least one parent working or attending school. The assistance can be used to pay for child care for children 1 month to 12 years of age. See this page for full details.
DID YOU KNOW?
... that the first flying saucers ever spotted were reported near Mount Rainier on this day in 1947? Read the full story here on HistoryLink.
Additional helpful and informative links
- Why More People Are Getting Two Different Coronavirus Vaccines – The New York Times
- As COVID-19 deaths hit record lows, those dying are younger and more disproportionately Black than before – CNN
- No, drinking water won't lessen COVID-19 vaccine side effects – KING 5 News
- How to Have the Hard Vaccination Conversations - The New York Times
- King County is first large county in US to hit 70% vaccine milestone – KING 5 News
- COVID-19: Has the pandemic harmed our memories? - BBC
- Focused approach will help Washington state’s COVID-19 vaccine uptake, Inslee says – The Seattle Times
- Opinion: Next steps for wastewater testing to help end this pandemic — and prevent the next one – Stat News
- COMIC: Adopted Pandemic Dogs Got Us Through. Now They Need Our Help - NPR
- CDC extends eviction moratorium a month, says it's last time – AP News
- As reopening approaches, efforts continue to get vaccines to people without shelter – KNKX
- Biden administration announces strategy, funding to combat gun violence – The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
- King County Board of Health considering repeal of bike helmet law due to biased enforcement – KNKX
- AIDS memorial rises in Seattle 40 years after start of epidemic – Crosscut
- America’s Widespread Police Brutality Problem Results In Tens Of Thousands Taken To Emergency Rooms – The Seattle Medium
- Opinion: Once Again, the Earth Is Being Wrung Dry – The New York Times
- Wildfires Threaten Urban Water Supplies, Long After the Flames Are Out - The New York Times
Today’s moment of inspiration
 Two young moose were found wandering around the garden section of the Lowe’s in Wenatchee. They were soon escorted out and into a nearby nature area. Read the full story here. I love this!
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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