COVID-19 UPDATES
As of today, Public Health -- Seattle & King County (Public Health) is reporting these numbers (which fortunately are continuing their downward trajectory):
- 39 new positive cases of COVID-19 (includes 35 confirmed cases and 4 probable cases. Total number of cases to date is 112,480).
- 0 new COVID-19-related deaths (1,657 to date)
- 5 new hospitalizations (6,496 to date)
Vaccination rates in King County: As of today, 79.0% of King County residents 16 and over have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and 72.4% 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 413,794; the total number of probable cases is 36,610 for a total of 450,404 cases.
- The total number of deaths statewide is 5,902
- The total number of hospitalizations is 25,383
COVID AND OTHER UPDATES
Quote of the Day: “In reality there are as many religions as there are individuals.... Religions are different roads converging to the same point. What does it matter that we take different roads, so long as we reach the same goal. Wherein is the cause for quarrelling?” - Mahatma Gandhi
Public Health Officer Dr. Duchin’s statement on extreme heat event
 Dr. Duchin has posted an important reminder for all of us. Dr. Duchin released a statement yesterday about the link between climate change impacts and public health. According to Duchin, “The record-shattering extreme heat we’re experiencing is just the latest example of our climate crisis and how it’s impacting human health now. Extreme heat is the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the United States and climate change is causing increasing frequency and intensity of heat waves and other extreme weather events. In fact, the health and economic consequences of climate change are only projected to worsen.” Read his full statement here.
To read more about how climate change is causing increased frequency and intensity of heat waves and droughts, see this page on RealCimate, a site written by climate scientists. You may also be interested in these articles:
- Unprecedented: Northwest heat wave builds, records fall – AP News
- As city grapples with extreme heat, homeless Seattleites face dangerous conditions – The Seattle Times
- Pacific Northwest Heat Wave Shatters Temperature Records – The New York Times
- King County’s 2020 Strategic Climate Action Plan (SCAP)
- Climate Change and Land – Report from the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change on terrestrial impacts (as opposed to ocean, air or other impacts)
Vaccine news
- A study finds that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines could offer protection for years – The New York Times
- Mixing Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines provides strong protection, according to a preliminary study - The New York Times
- See how vaccinations are going in your county and state - The New York Times
- As variant rises, vaccine plan targets ‘movable middle’ – AP News
The latest on COVID vaccines and kids
 - Younger kids: To vax or not to vax? That is the question – The Orange County Register
- Factcheck: The WHO Didn’t Reverse Its Position on Kids and COVID Vaccines – Kaiser Health News
- To fully vaccinate children against COVID-19 by the time school starts, many parents must act now - MSN
- COVID-19 Vaccines for Children and Teens – CDC
Reminder: COVID-19 and Kids: Symposium this Wednesday, June 30
This Wednesday, June 30th from 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. PT, Johns Hopkins University and the University of Washington are hosting a second symposium, with scientific, regulatory and private sector leaders to discuss the effect of COVID-19 on youth and the role of pediatric vaccines. “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, with panelists discussing 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.
Navigating two truths for “re-opening”
 Starting June 30, the State of Washington is removing most COVID-19 restrictions. However, Public Health is reminding us that, while we’ve made tremendous progress, we still have COVID-19 spreading through our communities. Read the article here on the Public Health Insider blog. Also, see the articles below for more on re-opening.
- Re-entry anxiety: How to manage COVID-19 anxiety after you’re vaccinated - UW Medicine
- Washington state is reopening this week. Here's what you need to know – Crosscut
- Safe Reopening – New webpage from King County, includes FAQs about reopening and specific guidance.
Live Q & A tomorrow at 9 a.m. PT: The Mental Health Impacts of Reopening Society
 After more than a year of measures such as mask mandates and social distancing, Americans are adjusting to a reopening society. But with ongoing concerns about the pandemic’s spread, disparate vaccine acceptance rates, and an uncertain future, the coronavirus pandemic continues to cast a long shadow on our mental health. In this live online Q&A, Karestan Koenen, Professor of Psychiatric Epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, talks with The World’s Elana Gordon about well-being and mental health during this transition. Join them tomorrow, Tuesday, June 29th at 9 a.m. PT (12 noon ET). There is no registration required to watch the event online. You can view the discussion live on Facebook, YouTube or on The Forum site.
Youth Healing Project awards grants to support youth mental health and well-being
 In the spring of 2020, young community leaders designed a survey to understand how youth were experiencing the pandemic. The findings, summarized in In Their Own Words: Young People Describe the Impact of COVID-19, show the huge toll the pandemic has taken on young people’s mental health. The Youth Healing Project was developed in direct response to the results of the survey in order to support young people in the Road Map Project region (South King County and South Seattle).
Urgent need for blood
Blood banks and hospitals are 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.
You can schedule a visit to donate blood through Bloodworks Northwest by visiting bloodworksnw.org or through the Red Cross at redcrossblood.org. You can also download the Blood Donor App or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to schedule your blood or platelet donation appointment. Also, see this article from The Seattle Times: Washington blood banks, hospitals issue urgent call for donors amid critical shortage.
Tomorrow at 1 p.m.: Council to vote on Just Cause tenant protection legislation
At tomorrow’s meeting of the full County Council at 1 p.m., Councilmembers 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 and the City of Seattle are extending the eviction moratoria through September (and the CDC just extended the federal moratorium for one month), 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 electronically or in Public Comment to the Council. For instructions on viewing the meeting and providing your input, and to view the agenda and meeting materials, see this page.
Video update on County’s Regional Homelessness Authority
 Photo by Reuters
In case you missed it, you can watch (and share) the video from June 22’s “We Are In” update on ending homelessness in King County, which includes a short overview of the King County Regional Homelessness Authority from the new CEO Marc Dones. Speakers include former Governor Christine Gregoire, King County Executive Dow Constantine, HUD Deputy Assistant Secretary Ben Winter and State Senator Patty Kuderer. You may be also interested in these articles:
- What King County’s first homelessness authority wants to do differently - KUOW
- All cities in King County need to help our homeless neighbors – The Seattle Times
- See how Seattle’s homelessness crisis stacks up across the country and region – The Seattle Times
- Opinion: Washington’s COVID-19 recovery hinges on addressing chronic homelessness – The Seattle Times
- King County’s Homeless Housing Program – Information and resources for finding housing and shelter
King County Metro to restore trips on six bus routes
Metro announced that it began on Saturday restoring and revising some service on Routes 208, 225, 226, 241, 250, and 255.
Metro currently operates more than 85% of its pre-pandemic bus service, providing about 11,000 bus trips carrying 150,000 riders each day. Further revisions and restored service are planned this fall across King County—including an additional 200,000 restored service hours as part of the Oct. 2 service change. The added trips on weekdays and Saturdays will give riders access to more frequent bus service and provide service earlier in the morning and later in the evening.
Reminder: June 30th deadline - Request for Applications for Community Navigators
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.
DID YOU KNOW?
... that on this day in 1846 Adolphe Sax patented his design of the saxophone? According to Wikipedia, Sax also invented the saxotromba, saxhorn and saxtuba.
Additional helpful and informative links
- Live: Heat wave daily news updates, June 28: What to know about the ‘heat dome’ across the Pacific Northwest – The Seattle Times
- Live: Coronavirus daily news updates, June 28: What to know today about COVID-19 in the Seattle area, Washington state and the world - The Seattle Times
- Why Young Adults Are Among the Biggest Barriers to Mass Immunity – The New York Times
- We’re Not Ready for Another Pandemic – The Atlantic
- Amish put faith in God's will and herd immunity over vaccine- AP News
- For many King County families, food aid ‘not nearly enough’ as need spikes in pandemic - The Seattle Times
- Offices after COVID: Wider hallways, fewer desks – AP News
- Vertical posts installed on center lane on Aurora Bridge - MyBallard
- No ET, no answers: Intel report is inconclusive about UFOs – AP News
Today’s moment of inspiration
 Photo: Christina Eickholdt via AP. Matthew Eickholt greets a horse, right, on June 22, two days after he and his wife rescued the horse from drowning.
While floating down Montana’s Bitterroot River on Father’s Day, Matthew and Christina Eickholdt managed to save a horse from drowning and may have made a new friend in the process. According to the AP story, “He was breathing super heavy,” Matthew Eickholt told the Ravalli Republic. “Its eyes were all bugged out. At times, all we could see was its teeth above water. It was snorting. I think it may have been 30 seconds to a minute from going under.” They realized the horse was struggling against the current near a steep bank and deep water.
The couple pulled up to shore at a shallow spot and, according to Matthew Eickholdt, “We were able to coax him to come downstream. When he saw us, I think he knew we were there to help him.”
According to the AP, “Two days later, the couple was floating the same stretch of river with Christina’s parents when they spotted the horse and pulled over to say hello.”
“The horse remembered us and came running up to us with his two friends,” Christina Eickholt said. Read the full details 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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