COVID-19 UPDATES
NOTE: As of August 10th, the state Department of Health continues to have a large backlog of lab results. Although positive results are up to date, there remain a large number of negative test results that have not yet been reported from July 28 - August 10th. The DOH anticipates receiving fewer test results and that the test positivity rate will be overestimated while the backlog is addressed.
As of today, Public Health -- Seattle & King County (Public Health) is reporting these discouraging numbers:
- 818 new positive cases of COVID-19 (includes 746 confirmed cases and 72 probable cases. Total number of cases to date is 132,705). See note above!
- 12 new COVID-19-related deaths (1,748 to date)
- 8 new hospitalizations (7,259 to date)
To see the progression of the virus in King County since our last newsletter, you can view screenshots of the Daily Dashboard here. Note the correct date appears when you click on the document (one day earlier than is listed). The data are not updated over the weekends.
Vaccination rates in King County: As of today, 84.1% of King County residents 16 and over have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and 78.1% have received both doses.
Among all eligible residents (those 12 years and older), as of today, 83.4% of King County residents 12 and over have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and 77.2% 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 today:
-The number of confirmed positive cases is 491,869; the number of probable cases is 54,852, for a total of 546,741 cases.
- The total number of deaths statewide is 6,471
- The total number of hospitalizations is 30,452
COVID AND OTHER UPDATES
Quote of the Day: “Cautious, careful people, always casting about to preserve their reputation and social standing, never can bring about a reform. Those who are really in earnest must be willing to be anything or nothing in the world's estimation.” – Susan B. Anthony, from “On the Campaign for Divorce Law Reform” (1860)
Tomorrow at 1 p.m.: Update from Dr. Duchin on continued increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations
Public Health – Seattle & King County Health Officer Dr. Jeff Duchin will brief the public and take questions from reporters tomorrow, Friday, August 27th at 1 p.m. He will discuss the continued increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations and share information on COVID-19 vaccination efforts.
The briefing will be livestreamed on the Public Health – Seattle & King County Facebook page @KCPubHealth.
State Department of Health pandemic update yesterday
The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) held a press conference yesterday morning, providing a sobering update on the status of the COVID-19 pandemic in in our state. Participants included Secretary of Health Umair A. Shah and other DOH staff, as well as Harborview Medical Center’s Medical Director Steve Mitchell and state COVID-19 Incident Commander Andrew Rose. You can watch the press conference on TVW here and can read more in this article from The Seattle Times: Driven by delta, COVID cases in Washington continue to rise, especially among the unvaccinated.
Also, see this KING 5 News story: Washington hospitals see 1,100 new COVID-19 patients in one month, health system approaches breaking point.
King County is the first large county in nation to reach 70 percent with one vaccine dose across all age and racial groups
 On Tuesday, County Executive Constantine announced that more than 70 percent of all age groups 12 and older and across all race and ethnic groups in King County have received at least one dose of COVID-19, the first large county in the nation to reach this milestone. More than 3 million doses have been administered countywide. To find out more about getting vaccinated in the County, see this page.
COVID testing a crucial tool, how to report positive at-home test results
 The state DOH is reminding all Washington residents that COVID tests remain an important tool in the fight against COVID-19. Over the counter COVID tests are now available and can also help the state track positive cases if the positive results are reported to the state.
You can report a positive test result from an at-home test through the state’s COVID-19 hotline. The state hotline, 1-800-525-0127, is available Monday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Tuesday to Sunday (and observed holidays) 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Language assistance is available.
According to the DOH, “These tests can be convenient and improve access to testing but it is important to ensure people are still using the right kind of test and taking steps to get care and isolate from others.” Read more from DOH here and see this article in The Seattle Times for more information on self-testing: Thinking about taking an at-home coronavirus test? Here’s what to know.
In addition, Public Health – Seattle & King County (Public Health) has a new tool for those who test positive, have had close contact with someone who has COVID-19, or have COVID-19 symptoms. The “IQ Calculator” tool can help you determine how long you need to isolate or quarantine. Check it out at http://redcap.link/IQCalculator.
Difficult Back-to-School questions
As I mentioned in my introduction, this is a stressful time for parents as they try to navigate the start of a new school year. Here are a few links to help you with decisions about this very unusual Back-to-School season and a few relevant articles:
- In this stressful back to school season, use “layers” of precautions to keep everyone safe – Public Health Insider blog
- Fall 2021 Health and Safety information from Seattle Public Schools
- Up-to-date COVID-19 guidance and resources for educators, students, and families from the state’s Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI).
- Seattle parents push for schools to move student lunches outdoors – MyNorthwest
- US outbreaks force early reversals on in-person learning – AP News
Child care resources during the pandemic
 The same tricky questions facing parents with school-age children are facing parents of young children or those who need help with child care. The following are a few links to finding help.
- Child care resources during the pandemic - DOH
- King County Child Care Financial Assistance Program – Communities of Opportunity / King County
- COVID-19 resources for schools and child care - King County
- Child Care Health – Public Health (Health promotion and disease prevention information for child care facilities throughout Seattle and King County)
The latest updates on COVID
- COVID-19 vaccines flirted with perfection at first. Reality is more complicated. – Stat News
- Vaccine protection wanes within six months, U.K. researchers find – The Washington Post
- As Delta spread, Covid-19 vaccine effectiveness against infection fell from 90% to 66% in one key study – Stat News (Note: The study did not look at effectiveness at preventing severe disease or death, just at risk of contracting the virus. According to Stat News, “Delta, it appears, can overwhelm the initial immune response and start an infection, but vaccinated individuals can fend it off before it causes serious damage.”)
- B.C. announces new COVID-19 vaccine card required for wide range of public activities – CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Company)
- Snohomish County Executive: It’s a ‘perilous situation’ as schools reopen – KIRO Radio / MyNorthwest
- The Latest: Mississippi child younger than five dies from COVID – AP News
- Coronavirus live updates: Pentagon orders all active and reserve military personnel to be vaccinated - The Washington Post
- Pfizer and BioNTech seek approval for a third booster shot - The Washington Post
- J&J says COVID-19 booster shot triggered an antibody surge – Bloomberg / The Seattle Times
- Israel's COVID-19 vaccine boosters show signs of taming Delta – Reuters
- Unvaccinated People are 29 times as likely to be hospitalized for COVID-19: CDC – Huffington Post
- Immunocompromised? Here’s how to get a third COVID vaccine dose in Washington state – The Seattle Times
- Most municipalities in Washington state aren’t pursuing vaccine mandates for their workers - The Seattle Times
- Auburn firefighters union opposes vaccine mandate – The Auburn Reporter
- As the delta variant surges, here’s what Seattle-area sports fans need to know when attending games – The Seattle Times
News on pregnancy and COVID
 A UW Medicine survey of more than 17,000 pregnant and lactating individuals who received the COVID-19 vaccine showed that the individuals did not experience symptoms any more severe than their non-pregnant counterparts.
The UW Medicine study showed “there were not any increased reactions in pregnant individuals beyond what is expected from a vaccine” said Dr. Linda Eckert, a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Washington School of Medicine and the study’s senior author. However, fewer than one in four pregnant women in the U.S. are vaccinated against COVID-19, according to recent data from the CDC. You may also be interested in the following articles and links.
- Pregnant, unvaccinated and intubated: Doctors alarmed by rise in virus cases among expectant mothers – The Seattle Times
- COVID-19 vaccines while pregnant or breastfeeding – The CDC
- Pregnancy and the COVID-19 vaccine – Public Health Insider blog
Reminder – deadline is tomorrow: COVID education funding opportunity for community organizations
HealthierHere and Public Health — Seattle & King County are funding COVID-related outreach and education work by King County community-based organizations. Community-based organizations that can provide culturally-relevant COVID-19 vaccination information in communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 and/or with lower vaccination rates are urged to apply for the COVID Outreach and Engagement Fund. For details, see this page.
National coverage on County partnership with Seattle Indian Health Board to improve Tribal data
The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office (PAO) and Abigail Echo-Hawk, Executive Vice President of the Seattle Indian Health Board, are featured in this important and fascinating article by NBC News: No one knows how many Indigenous women are murdered each year. That makes the deaths hard to stop.
The article discusses Echo-Hawk’s and the County PAO’s work to start collecting data on specific tribal affiliation and increase the sharing of information with tribes. Echo-Hawk states in the article, “It is true, community-led police reform. What we’ve done in the King County prosecutor’s office can be replicated in any county in the country, large or small."
Executive Constantine announces innovative loan program to boost commercial building sustainability and efficiency; new pilot for residential heat pump retrofits
 I joined County Executive Constantine this morning as he announced a proposal that would make low-interest financing for energy and seismic upgrades available for more than 4,000 existing buildings and new construction, addressing one of the biggest sources of greenhouse gas emissions in the region. See this page for details and a quote from me.
The new loan program, called C-PACER, or Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy + Resiliency, creates a mechanism for banks to offer low-interest financing for new construction and retrofits that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce water usage, or make a building more resilient to earthquakes and climate impacts. The upgrades would also increase the number of green construction jobs in King County at no additional costs to taxpayers. The Executive has transmitted the legislation to the Council for consideration; my colleague Councilmember Rod Dembowski is the prime sponsor and I am a co-sponsor.
Executive Constantine also announced a pilot program to switch out oil, gas, and old electric heating systems for energy efficient heat pumps in unincorporated King County to help get cool, healthy air in homes at low or no cost to low-and moderate-income households. This proposal will be included in the Executive's mid-biennial budget that will be transmitted to the Council next month.
King County joins West Coast states and cities to reduce food waste
According to the nonprofit ReFED, over a third of food products in the U.S. went to waste in 2019. From crops that are unharvested, to grocery stores that stock excess inventory, to shoppers who buy more than they can use, food waste propels climate change, adds to food insecurity and wastes money. This past May, King County signed onto a regional effort focused on the retail side of food waste. The Pacific Coast Collaborative (PCC) Food Waste Commitment is part of a broader effort to curb greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050 across the region.
Tips for reducing your personal food waste can be found at King County’s Food Too Good To Waste program here.
The latest news on homelessness, City Hall Park and the County Courthouse
I’ve discussed the issues surrounding the County Courthouse, public safety, and the now dismantled encampment at City Hall Park in past e-newsletters. The park, currently owned by the City of Seattle, has become a political flashpoint in the larger conversation about public safety, homelessness, and the need for additional affordable housing. That is one reason why I have introduced legislation requesting the County Executive to explore acquiring the park and provide options to the Council on its potential uses. If King County were to commit to keeping the park as a park, ownership could be easily transferred from the City. Although my motion does request that the Executive explore other options for the park, my priority would be to keep it as an open space for all to enjoy. For more information see the following articles and watch for my upcoming op-ed in The Seattle Times:
- Editorial: "In the region’s homelessness effort, helping RV campers is hardest lift, yet among the most urgent – The Seattle Times
- Fifty-seven people from one Seattle homeless encampment got hotel rooms last year. More than 1/3 likely went back to the streets. (I’m quoted) – The Seattle Times
- After City Hall Park homeless camp is emptied, debate over solutions intensifies – The Stranger
- Downtown Seattle courthouse safety issues are keeping jurors away, judges say – The Seattle Times
- How did one Seattle ‘unhoused to hotels’ program work? The results are mixed - KUOW
Join the Northwest African American Museum (NAAM) this weekend for Freedom Weekend
Join NAAM this weekend for several Freedom Weekend events, including book giveaways, a jazz block party tomorrow evening, a clean greens market on Saturday and a virtual Sunday afternoon with Arthur McFarlane, II, the great grandson of W.E.B. Dubois. For full details on all these events, see this page.
A visit to the Ballard Senior Center
 A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to stop by the Ballard Senior Center and chat with its Executive Director Carlye Teel and some of its Board members. I was able to secure $20,000 in funding for the Center from the Youth and Amateur Sports Grant for its active programming for seniors, including yoga. The Center is incredibly busy with all its programs, though dealing with many challenges pertaining to Covid-19, and I am very pleased that we've been able to provide support. Here, I'm pictured with Carlye Teel along with several board members and treasured volunteers. Pictured left to right is Chris Hoban, Mae Friedle, Rutha Thomas, Carlye Teel, Rusty Forster, Annie Davis, myself, and Jeffrey Mayo.
“Office Hours” at the Queen Anne Farmer’s Market
 I was just at the Queen Anne Farmers Market this afternoon, and had a wonderful time talking with constituents. Above, I’m shown with 36th Legislative District State Representative Liz Berry with two of our “shared” constituents. More on this next week...
RASKC Adoption promotion ends Tuesday: Half-off adoption fees for adult dogs and kittens
 The Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) in Kent is dropping some of its adoption fees until the end of the month to help more animals in King County find their forever homes. RASKC works to find a great match for every customer and to act as a resource for new adopters. Due to COVID, appointments are necessary. Click here for full details.
If you’re interested in adopting a new companion closer to Seattle, check out the City of Seattle’s animal shelter information page.
DID YOU KNOW?
... that on this day in 1920, the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which grants women the right to vote, became law? According to HistoryLink, “Washington women had won the vote in 1910, after which Washington suffragists helped with the national campaign to amend the constitution so that all American women could vote.” The amendment reads, “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.”
Its passage was a major step in our nation’s ongoing struggle for full enfranchisement for all citizens.
Additional helpful and informative links
- Group demands accountability following Seattle Children’s racism investigation – The Kent Reporter
- Opinion: Dear Seattle Children’s Hospital, please do not call yourself a leader in equity – South Seattle Emerald
- Three million dollar contract to research Seattle policing alternatives is legal, but lacking - Crosscut
- Washingtonians sickened in salmonella outbreaks – Patch
- Parents, don’t let routine childhood vaccinations slide – The Seattle Times
- With extreme heat increasingly common, UW expert calls for urgent planning to protect health in new Lancet series – UW News
- Crews struggle to stop fire bearing down on Lake Tahoe – AP News
- Nation's first hydrogen-powered ferry launches in Bellingham - KUOW
Today’s moment of inspiration
 Jeremiah Thoronka working on his piezoelectric device
Nearly three quarters of the population of Sierra Leone struggles to get access to electricity, but an innovative device that harnesses the power of vibrations is bringing light to communities, according to the BBC.
According to the article, in rural areas, only 6% of people have electricity and forests were being destroyed “... as people chopped down trees for firewood. Environmental degradation and deforestation have left Sierra Leone highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and extreme events such as flooding and landslides...”
The situation led Jeremiah Thoronka, who at 17 years old was studying at the African Leadership University in Rwanda, to found Optim Energy. The innovative start-up uses kinetic energy – the energy objects have when in motion – to generate clean electricity. He developed a piezoelectric device that harnesses energy from heat, movement and pressure.
"I wanted to develop a more sustainable energy system, educate people about energy efficiency and stop their overuse of natural resources," he said in the BBC article.
In March, Thoronka won the Commonwealth Youth Award, given every year to five young people who are transforming lives in their communities and helping achieve the United Nations' sustainable development goals. He plans to invest the £2,000 ($2,800) prize money into Optim Energy and start deploying devices in cities and coastal regions. By 2030, Optim Energy intends to provide power to 100,000 people. Read the full story of this remarkable innovation 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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