COVID-19 UPDATES
As of today, Public Health -- Seattle & King County (Public Health) is reporting these daily numbers:
- 623 new positive cases of COVID-19 (includes 539 confirmed cases and 84 probable cases. Total number of cases to date is 145,046).
- 2 new COVID-19-related deaths (1,829 to date)
- 23 new hospitalizations (7,786 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:
UPDATE: On 9/14/2021, population estimates used to determine the percentage of the population vaccinated were updated from 2019 estimates to recently released 2020 estimates for sub-county geographic divisions (i.e. zip codes, health reporting areas, and regions). Due to population growth, some percentages for sub-county geographies are now slightly lower than previously reported. Countywide percentages were already using 2020 population estimates, so they are unchanged by this update. Given that caveat, here are the latest vaccination rates:
As of today, 85.9% of King County residents 16 and over have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and 79.9% have received both doses.
Among all eligible residents (those 12 years and older), as of today, 85.3% of King County residents 12 and over have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and 79.2% 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 COVID outcomes according to vaccination status, see this new data dashboard: https://kingcounty.gov/depts/health/covid-19/data/vaccination-outcomes.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 550,093; the number of probable cases is 66,778, for a total of 616,871 cases.
- The total number of deaths statewide is 7,145
COVID AND OTHER UPDATES
Quote of the Day: “Develop enough courage so that you can stand up for yourself and then stand up for somebody else.” – Maya Angelou, in Rainbow in the Cloud: The Wisdom and Spirit of Maya Angelou (2014)
King County will require proof of vaccination or negative test for many outdoor and indoor events and establishments
 County Health Officer Dr. Jeff Duchin, Executive Constantine and Mayor Durkan just announced this afternoon that in order to protect customers and workers, preserve hospital capacity and help prevent business closures, King County will require verification of full vaccination status or a negative test to enter outdoor public events of 500 or more people and indoor entertainment, recreational establishments and events such as live music, performing arts, gyms, restaurants, and bars.
The Health Order, issued today by Public Health – Seattle & King County Health Officer Dr. Jeff Duchin, goes into effect on October 25th. The decision to issue the order was based on the continued high levels of preventable COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations and increased deaths driven by the Delta variant, serious stress on our regional health care system, and concern for a significant outbreak resurgence this fall and winter.
More details are available here, and see this new blog post from the Public Health Insider: Confirm your vaccination: a new requirement for many activities in King County.
Also, see this article in The Seattle Times: King County customers of restaurants, theaters, gyms must show proof of COVID vaccination or negative test.
A tool for digital proof of vaccination
Public Health - - Seattle & King County is encouraging vaccinated residents to register with MyIRMobile.com, which provides digital proof of vaccination in addition to your paper vaccine card. You can view your family’s full immunization records through this confidential and HIPAA-compliant portal. For language or general assistance with MyIRMobile.com, call 1–800–525–0127, then press #.
FDA meeting tomorrow to decide on necessity of widespread booster shots
 As you may have heard, the FDA’s advisory panel that has been looking at the need for booster shots will be meeting tomorrow to take up the issue. According to Stat News (article below), “The advice of the FDA’s advisory panel on the matter will not be binding, but the agency is likely to consider it. If the FDA authorizes a booster dose, the decision on whether to give them broadly will be taken up by a separate advisory committee convened by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Late Wednesday, the CDC revealed that a special two-day meeting of that group, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, will be held September 22nd – 23rd.” See the following articles for more information:
- FDA scientists strike skeptical tone on need for COVID-19 vaccine booster at this time, likely fueling debate – Stat News
- FDA review remains neutral on boosters ahead of critical Friday vote even as Pfizer pushes added shots – The Washington Post / The Seattle Times
- Booster Shots & Third Doses: What you should know – Washington State Department of Health blogpost
- Fred Hutch doctor wants COVID-19 booster approved for adults – KIRO 7 News
- At the besieged FDA, ‘it never stops!’ as decisions loom on boosters, pediatric shots and more - The Washington Post / MSN
More of the latest news on the pandemic
 Photo by Jacek Pobłocki on Unsplash
Note: For the latest on children and COVID, see the blurb below this one.
- Washington state’s COVID hospitalizations, cases begin to level off — though at dangerous levels, health officials say– The Seattle Times
- Overwhelmed with COVID patients, Oregon hospitals postpone surgeries and cancer care - NPR
- Idaho under statewide ‘crisis standards’ for rationing care – The Washington Post
- COVID-19 kills Moses Lake couple, orphans their 8-year-old after visit to the fair - The Seattle Times
- Over 7,000 people have died from COVID in Washington state – The Seattle Times
- Is the mu variant worse than delta? The two forms of COVID compared – Newsweek
- Leaders from WHO, other international groups meet with vaccine manufacturers to seek ‘urgent’ action – The Washington Post
- The pandemic marks another grim milestone: 1 in 500 Americans have died of COVID-19 - The Washington Post
- Why it’s so hard to predict where the COVID-19 pandemic is headed next – Wired
- Los Angeles County to require vaccines in indoor bars – AP News
- As COVID-19 vaccine mandates rise, religious exemptions grow – AP news
- Thousands of Washington state workers seek exemptions from COVID-19 vaccine mandate – The Seattle Times
- Hesitancy in the age of COVID-19 – NW Asian Weekly
- Largest colleges push student vaccines with mandates, prizes – AP News
- Seattle Hispanic Heritage Month events focus on boosting COVID-19 vaccination rates – KING 5 News
- Analysis: Some striking numbers on the unvaccinated among us – The Washington Post
- Biden administration moves to stave off shortages of monoclonal antibodies - The Washington Post
- Opinion: Beyond ‘vaccinopia’: Rapid tests should play a larger role in Biden’s COVID-19 plan – Stat News
- City of Seattle testing locations administer one million COVID-19 tests – Mayor’s office press release
- After more than 500 days, Denmark has ended its COVID restrictions – The Associated Press (AP) / NPR
- Six tips for coping with COVID anxiety this fall and winter – NPR
The latest news on kids, COVID and schools
 Photo by Ben Wicks on Unsplash
- Outbreaks strand some students at home with minimal learning – AP News
- Students who attended Issaquah HS football game may have been exposed to COVID-19 – KING 5 News
- School district closes Covington Elementary classroom due to COVID-19: Second classroom closure in Kent School District – Kent Reporter
- Will the bus driver ever come? Or the substitute teacher or cafeteria worker? – The New York Times
- Seattle Public Schools’ delta dysfunction - Crosscut
- Parenting a child under 12 in the age of delta: ‘It’s like a fire alarm every day’ – The Washington Post
- Can kids be harmed wearing masks to protect against COVID? – The Seattle Times
- Child COVID-19 cases increased nearly 240% since July, pediatricians' group says – CNN
New County data: Increase in 2-1-1 crisis calls during early 2021
In the September 13th update of the County’s COVID-19 Economic, Social & Overall Health Impacts Dashboard, data from the early months of 2021 show an increase in 2-1-1 crisis calls during the first part of 2021. The 2-1-1 number is a referral and information hotline connecting individuals to health and human services resources. Once the general population was eligible for COVID-19 vaccines in mid-January, there was a large spike in calls to 2-1-1 related to health care and COVID-19. Since the early months of the pandemic, at least 40% of calls to 2-1-1 have been related to housing.
Board of Health discussion today on enforcement of bicycle helmet laws
As I mentioned on Monday, the Board of Health discussed potential policy options today in response to the briefing we had on the disparate enforcement of the bicycle helmet law at our June meeting. I had introduced an amendment to the Board’s 2021 Work Plan at our meeting last February as evidence came out showing that the way that the helmet law was enforced in King County disproportionately impacted unhoused and BIPOC individuals.
My amendment was adopted and we subsequently took up the issue at our June meeting resulting in the Board’s requesting Public Health staff prepare policy options to us at today’s meeting. After a very interesting discussion about balancing the importance of helmet safety with the recorded pattern of disproportionate enforcement, we decided to explore repealing the law on the books and passing a resolution on the importance of helmet wearing, paired with tangible efforts to make helmet-wearing even more accessible and affordable. These ideas will take better form over the next month and be discussed and potentially acted on at October’s Board of Health meeting. You can view the staff report that was discussed at today’s meeting here, on page eight. Stay tuned!
New CEO at Harborview
Harborview Medical Center has just announced it has hired its new CEO, Sommer Kleweno Walley, who has held the Interim position this year and who has served in both clinical and administrative roles during her 24 years with Harborview. Read the full announcement here.
County Auditor launches new website spotlighting systemic law enforcement issues
 King County’s Auditor has just launched a new website that spotlights five systemic issues that were identified in law enforcement audits over the last decade. Beyond providing greater transparency overall, the site will help inform County decision makers and the public as the county nears the transition to an appointed Sheriff. For more information, see this page.
New connections, more service: Metro improving service as Sound Transit Link light rail expands to Northgate
 Big changes are coming to transit service starting October 2nd as King County Metro launches updated connections to three new Sound Transit Link light rail stations in Seattle. Metro also will restore 36 previously suspended bus routes across King County, add hundreds of bus trips, and revise and improve other service in partnership with City of Seattle. Read more details here.
Working upstream: King County Metro vision, policy updates focus on equity and sustainability
The Council was briefed yesterday on groundbreaking transit legislation co-created with community advocates and proposed by County Executive Dow Constantine that directs future Metro investments upstream The result will be ensuring transit investments go where they are needed most. County policy direction on public transportation is updated periodically by the County Council and the County Executive to address the growing region’s needs. In 2020, the County Council adopted the Mobility Framework, which elevates the importance of equity and sustainability as Metro adapts to changes in how the public travels.
The legislation was discussed at yesterday’s joint meeting of the Council’s Mobility and Environment Committee and the Regional Transit Committee. Yesterday’s presentation and discussion can be viewed here. For more information on the legislation, see this page.
My legislation spotlights human trafficking in King County and statewide
 This morning I introduced legislation with Councilmember Dunn re-affirming the Council’s commitment to combatting human trafficking. The motion also requests that the King County Executive support and take part in the statewide public awareness campaign to prevent human trafficking.
As a region with a major international port and airport and being close to an international border, King County has experienced persistent challenges pertaining to human trafficking, and I believe we must continue raising awareness on how to recognize the signs of trafficking and how to report it. I have sponsored anti-trafficking legislation for nearly 20 years, including while I was a state senator.
The new statewide campaign will focus on raising awareness about the nature of human trafficking and how to prevent it, enabling victims and survivors of trafficking to self-identify and get connected with services, and promote the National Human Trafficking Hotline. If you know or suspect that someone has been a victim of human trafficking, please see this page for information and resources.
Upcoming human trafficking awareness webinars
The Wilmington University has a series of upcoming Human Trafficking Awareness Webinars. Dates and more information on the webinars are available here at the King County CSEC (Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children) Task Force page, just click on the “events” tab. You can also view full details here.
Applications for County Parks grants are now open; deadline is October 15th
 King County Parks is pleased to announce that applications for the Parks Capital and Open Space, and Aquatic Facilities grant programs are now open. Applications are due October 15, 2021.
See this webpage to access the grant portal and review program summaries. These grants cover a wide array of efforts to preserve and expand our parks and aquatic facilities from land acquisition to development of new or renovated indoor or outdoor recreation facilities or open space. For program questions, please contact Butch Lovelace, 206-477-4577 or butch.lovelace@kingcounty.gov
Council recognizes Behavioral Health Recovery Month
My colleague, Council Vice Chair Reagan Dunn, and I were joined by our fellow councilmembers Tuesday in recognizing September as Behavioral Health Recovery Month in King County. Behavioral health challenges, and especially mental health and substance use disorders, impact our lives daily in a myriad of ways. Everyone in need should have the opportunity to access services that support their overall health and provide them paths to recovery. Today’s proclamation re-affirms our collective commitment to supporting the health and de-stigmatizing the recovery of those in King County.
Tomorrow: Washingtonians invited to a White House special event
White House is inviting Washington state residents to join a special virtual event to discuss President Biden’s Build Back Better Agenda. The event, hosted by the White House Office of Public Engagement, will take place at 10 a.m. PT tomorrow, Friday, September 17th, and will feature a discussion of the concrete ways the Build Back Better Agenda will impact families and communities in Washington, including rural communities and communities of faith. For information and to RSVP, please see this page.
Save the Date! The 2021 Homelessness Debates
The public is invited to join The Seattle Times and “We Are In” for the 2021 Homelessness Debates. On the evenings of September 29th (7 p.m.) and 30th (5:30 p.m.), hear where candidates for Mayor of Seattle, Seattle City Council, Seattle City Attorney, and King County Council stack up on issues of homelessness and affordable housing in our region. Candidates will be going head-to-head in a debate format moderated by The Seattle Times' Project Homeless reporting team. For more information and to register see this page.
Save the date! Webinar on extreme weather events of 2021: October 1st
 Yale Climate Connections meteorologist Jeff Masters, PhD, a co-founder of Weather Underground and YCC “Eye on the Storm” blogger, will speak and answer questions in a 60-minute online webinar focusing on 2021 weather extremes: A one-off or a harbinger of atmospheric warming-driven times to come? Join Masters on October 1, 2021, from 9 – 10 a.m. PT / 12-1:00 p.m. ET. You can pre-register here on this page.
Welcome Back Weeks events featured this weekend in Seattle
The City of Seattle has been organizing Welcome Back Weeks, to help with the downtown Seattle recovery.
Two events for this weekend were highlighted in this article in The Seattle Times: A light show, outdoor festival and Seattle Center concert aim to draw people back to downtown Seattle.
According to the article, Saturday will feature a Celebrate Black Lives Matter festival at City Hall Plaza, and on Sunday, beginning at 2 p.m. at Seattle Center’s Mural Amphitheatre, is an outdoor concert featuring Seattle artists Sango, Fly Moon Royalty and Essam. More information is available at the links above.
Reminder: Belltown Rock the Block is this Saturday!
 Celebrate Belltown this Saturday, September 18th, from 1 – 9 p.m. “Belltown Rock the Block” will bring together residents from the neighborhood’s 80 apartment buildings and 35 condominiums. It is open to the public and features live music, food, beverages, games and informational booths. Participating Belltown multi-family residential properties will also compete for fabulous prizes and glory in the "Amazing Race." Read more here, and full event details can be found here.
Music & Culture on the Eastrail: This Sunday, September 19th
Local community groups welcome you to a free, family-friendly celebration for the City of Redmond’s Welcoming Weekthis Sunday, Sept. 19 in Redmond from 2 - 4 p.m. The event will include live music, dancing horses, prizes and COVID-19 vaccinations. Activities start at 2 p.m. with music at the Redmond Central Connector Park (Signals Stage), and continue about one mile along the Eastrail and the Sammamish River Trail to Redmond City Hall Campus Great Lawn: 15650 NE 85th St. More event details are available here on Facebook.
County helps fund youth programming at new Kraken Iceplex
 While Councilmember Dembowski and I attended the dedication of the Kraken Community Iceplex opening last week, we also presented the Kraken/One Roof Foundation with this “big check” for $50,000 for youth programming that will be taking place at the Iceplex. Students from selected nearby schools, which will be located in both my and Councilmember Dembowski’s districts, will be able to participate in youth ice hockey programs at the Iceplex. The funds from the County’s Youth and Amateur Sports Grant program will support this programming. Here, we are pictured with Mari Horita, Executive Director of the One Roof Foundation. I am very excited about this opportunity for kids who otherwise may not have it.
Correction: In our September 2nd edition of this e-newsletter, we neglected to include the Magnolia neighborhood as one of the service areas for the Queen Anne Helpline (in addition to the Uptown, Queen Anne, Interbay and South Lake Union neighborhoods). Apologies for this omission!
DID YOU KNOW?
... that the first-ever Salmon Homecoming Celebration was held in Seattle on this date in 1993? According to HistoryLink, “The Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission and the Seattle Aquarium, with the support of local tribes, [organized] the event to attract attention to salmon-conservation issues and to local tribes' cultural connection to salmon and to the Seattle waterfront.” The annual celebration now attracts thousands of participants every year.
Additional helpful and informative links
- States learning how many Afghan evacuees coming their way – AP News
- Housing group levels empty Seattle motel, where homeless people slept, for tiny village – The Seattle Times
- More fallout from how we’re defunding Seattle police backward, this time in Pioneer Square – The Seattle Times
- King County could take control of troubled City Hall Park – KIRO 7 News
- U.N. report: World is ‘significantly off-schedule’ on climate goals despite COVID-related dip in emissions – The Washington Post
- How can Seattle build climate resilience? Look to its schools – Crosscut
- House panel expands inquiry into climate disinformation by oil giants – The New York Times
- Sequoia National Park’s giant trees at risk as fires grow – AP News
- Drought haves, have-nots test how to share water in the West – AP News
- Americans have little trust in online security: AP-NORC poll – AP News
- King County to run increased Water Taxi service to West Seattle amid bridge repairs – KING 5 News
Today’s moment of inspiration
 AP Photo by Sakchai Lalit
I’ve mentioned before how inspired I’ve been by the resourcefulness and creativity people have displayed throughout the pandemic. This is another of those stories, about how taxi drivers in Thailand, their fleets idled by the pandemic, decided to put all those unused cars to use. I’ve heard of “green roofs” before, but never on top of vehicles.
According to the story from the Associated Press, “The Ratchapruk and Bovorn Taxi cooperatives now have just 500 cars left plying Bangkok’s streets, with 2,500 sitting idle at a number of city sites, according to 54-year-old executive Thapakorn Assawalertkul... The taxi-top gardens don’t offer an alternative revenue stream. The cooperatives staff, who were asked to take salary cuts, are now taking turns tending the newly-made gardens.”
They are growing a variety of crops, including tomatoes, cucumbers and string beans. As Thapakorn Assawalertkul told the AP, “The vegetable garden is both an act of protest and a way to feed my staff during this tough time.” Read this inspiring story in full here.
 AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit
Keep in touch
Thank you again for taking the time to read my updates, which I am now sending out on Mondays and Thursdays. (And, again, I will send one out next Monday on Labor Day.) 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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