COVID-19 UPDATES
Note: Public Health notes that due to several issues related to processing laboratory results, it anticipates overestimated test positivity as the backlog is addressed.
As of today, Public Health -- Seattle & King County (Public Health) is reporting these numbers, which include data from over the weekend:
- 1,174 new positive cases of COVID-19 (includes 1,149 confirmed cases and 25 probable cases. Total number of cases to date is 146,836). (Wow -- but since last Friday.)
- 5 new COVID-19-related deaths (1,840 to date)
- 55 new hospitalizations (7,865 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:
Among all eligible residents (those 12 years and older), as of today, 85.6% of King County residents 12 and over have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and 79.5% have received both doses.
- View updated County vaccination data here.
- View COVID outcomes according to vaccination status here.
To view a breakdown of COVID-19 cases by race and ethnicity, 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 560,224; the number of probable cases is 68,264, for a total of 628,488 cases.
- The total number of deaths statewide is 7,271
- The total number of hospitalizations is 35,216
COVID AND OTHER UPDATES
Quote of the Day: “Never, ‘for the sake of peace and quiet,’ deny your own experience or convictions.” – Dag Hammarskjöld, United Nations Secretary-General and Nobel Peace Prize recipient, 1964.
UW Medicine seeks volunteers for COVID vaccine booster trial
 UW Medicine has announced it is seeking volunteers for a vaccine trial of COVID-19 boosters. The study will test the safety and tolerability of different doses and whether they elicit an immune response. For more information see this page.
The latest news on the pandemic
 Note: For the latest on children and COVID, see the blurb below this one.
- COVID-19 hospitalizations down in Washington, but deaths are on the rise – The Seattle Times
- Biden easing foreign travel restrictions requiring vaccines – AP News
- The state of COVID in the U.S.: We offer an update on the pandemic with four charts. – The New York Times
- U.S. panel backs COVID-19 boosters only for seniors, high-risk - The Seattle Times
- The F.D.A.’s day of lively debate revealed key questions about the evidence on boosters. – The New York Times
- The FDA is set to make a booster recommendation this week following advisers' guidance – NPR
- Big gap between Pfizer, Moderna vaccines seen for preventing COVID hospitalizations - The Seattle Times
- Winter is coming, again: What to expect from COVID-19 as the season looms – Stat News
- The days of full COVID coverage are over. Insurers are restoring deductibles and copays, leaving patients with big bills - The Seattle Times
- States embrace vaccine mandates despite potential worker exodus – Pew Stateline
- I need surgery, and I don’t know when I am going to get it’: COVID’s impact on other vital health care - The Seattle Times
- Uncoupling vaccination from politics: a call to action – The Lancet
- Opinion: Seeing the butterfly effect in hospital transfers for COVID-19 patients – Stat News
- Here’s how the most- and least-vaccinated states fared against the Delta variant – The Los Angeles Times / The Seattle Times
- U.S. horse owners face ivermectin shortage as humans chase unproven COVID ‘cure’ – The Guardian
- The COVID crisis is now a garbage crisis, too – The New York Times / The Seattle Times
- As experts warn of brutal flu ‘twindemic,’ here are eight things to know about getting your flu shot - The Seattle Times
- Why this Seattle business owner is 'ecstatic' about King County's new vaccine rule - KUOW
The latest news on kids, COVID and schools
 - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says American children and teens have gained weight at an alarming rate during the pandemic. Here is its latest study.
- Pfizer says COVID-19 vaccine works in kids ages 5 to 11 – AP News
- Teens turn to COVID-19 vaccine advocacy as most state laws prohibit minors from being vaccinated without consent – ABC News
- Scientists examine kids’ unique immune systems as more fall victim to COVID – Kaiser Health News / The Seattle Times
- A new COVID testing model aims to spare students from quarantine – The New York Times
- Washington teachers take it slow, help kids learn basic social skills during the first weeks of in-person school - The Seattle Times
- The stakes feel higher than ever as the U.S. Education Secretary welcomes students back – NPR
- Pennsylvania school district asks National Guard, Amazon for bus drivers – The Philadelphia Inquirer
- Fall City farmer opens forest school – Snoqualmie Valley Record
Video from Public Health: Discussion on range of COVID-19 issues
Community navigators Vicky Navarro and Juan Fernando Luna talk with primary care physician Dr. Heather Flynn about COVID-19, masks, boosters, and return to school. View the video here.
Video: Last Thursday’s county vaccination requirement announcement
 As we reported in the last e-newsletter, last Thursday, September 16th, King County leaders announced a new Health Order that will require people attending recreational activities in most public places in King County to show proof that they have been vaccinated against COVID-19. You can view the video here.
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.
Public Health has put together an illustrated version of the Health Order on Instagram, which you can view here.
The next pandemic?
I hesitate to even put this in writing, but another virus – called Nipah – has broken out in India. According to reports, experts are closely monitoring the outbreak and there is cause for concern.
According to this story on NPR, “One scientist says that while it’s not as transmissible as some other viruses, a more contagious variant “could represent the worst pandemic humanity has ever faced.” Also, see this story from USA Today: What is the Nipah virus and why is it more deadly than COVID-19? A virus expert explains.
This week at the Council: Full Council meeting tomorrow
The full County Council will meet virtually tomorrow, September 21st at 1 p.m. The agenda includes reading of my Proclamation of September 15 to October 15, 2021 as Latinx Heritage Month in King County, taking action on a District Court judicial appointment, hate crime reporting legislation, structure of Communities of Opportunity and Best Starts for Kids Advisory Committee and more.
For instructions on viewing the meeting and providing your input, and to view the agenda and meeting materials, see this page.
Note: Other Council committees will not be meeting this week.
Afghan refugee resettlement updates, how you can help
 An update provided via email to Councilmembers by the County’s Immigrant and Refugee Commission demonstrated how our region is coming together to help resettle Afghan refugees. While there are several organizations helping the arriving refugees, here is one example from the update: “Afghan Health Initiative has connected with 998 potential host families across King County to serve as temporary safe host homes for newly arriving Afghan refugees, and has enrolled 30 new Afghan refugee families in its Community Champions Program (Immigrant-2-Immigrant), which provides newly arriving families with culturally familiar peer-to-peer social and navigation support.”
There are several additional organizations working to help newly arrived Afghan refugees in our region, and Washington state has created a place to sign-up if you can help provide housing or donate in some other way. See the Washington State Response to Afghanistan Crisis Sign-Up Form for more information and to offer assistance.
As I’ve mentioned before, the King County Council passed a Proclamation declaring our support for the new arrivals, and the County and the City of Federal Way reached an agreement to use one of the County-purchased hotels in Federal Way to house incoming Afghan refugees.
Here are two upcoming opportunities to learn more:
- This Thursday, September 23rd, 6 - 7:30 p.m.: Town Hall on the Crisis in Afghanistan: What Happened, Why, and What You Can Do. More info to come at www.facebook.com/AmericanMuslimEmpowermentNetwork.
- This Friday, September 24th, 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.: Statewide Refugee Advisory Council Public Forum. To attend, please RSVP by emailing Hamed Hakimkhel at hamed.hakimkhel@dshs.wa.gov, no later than this Thursday, September 23rd. If you need interpretation in a specific language, please indicate that in your email.
Executive Constantine announces Amazon contribution that will help King County Parks add iconic Wilburton Trestle to regional trail connecting to light rail
 Executive Constantine today announced that King County Parks will be able to complete two key segments of Eastrail in Bellevue – including the iconic Wilburton Trestle – thanks to a $7.5 million investment by Amazon. See the link above for details.
Proposed lease, development agreement marks progress for 232-unit affordable housing project at County’s Metro Northgate site
Development for a new 232-unit affordable housing project is moving forward! The development will be located near the Northgate light rail station that is set to open on October 2nd. Transit-oriented development reduces the need for cars and makes sure that folks are able to afford to live close to transit, which could be extraordinarily helpful to many. Read more here.
Metro and Sound Transit seek your feedback on service between Seattle and the Eastside
 By 2024, Sound Transit will open 12 new light rail stations connecting downtown Seattle and the Eastside. King County Metro and Sound Transit are working together on coordinating and integrating service as the new light rail stations come on line. They are seeking your feedback on potential route changes.
You can view full details on the project and proposed options – and submit comments - at an “online open house” here. You are also invited to join Metro and Sound Transit for an information session on the project next Wednesday, September 29th from 6 – 7 p.m. You will have an opportunity to preview potential route changes, talk with service planners, and provide feedback. Register for this free virtual event here.
The event will have Spanish translators and closed captioning/CART available. For questions, additional language translation, and/or accommodations please contact haveasay@kingcounty.gov or leave a message at 206-263-9768. Once you register, you will be provided with the Zoom meeting link to join by computer, tablet, or smart phone and the conference call line to join by phone.
Transit Talk on history and new age of light rail: Next Wednesday, September 29th
 Transportation Choices Coalition (TCC) is inviting you to participate in an online event, next Wednesday, September 29, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. "A Celebration of Progress: Looking Back as We Welcome the Golden Age of Light Rail" will focus on the history of light rail in the Puget Sound Region. Speakers include former Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, a founding member of the Sound Transit Board, University Place City Councilmember Kent Keel, current Sound Transit Board Chair, and Patience Malaba, TCC Board Member, for this dynamic and engaging conversation about the past, present and future of light rail. This interactive event will focus on rider questions about light rail, so come prepared! You can submit questions upon registration or use the Q&A feature during the webinar. Register here.
County grants available: Economic support for arts, culture and science organizations, and independent music venues and independent movie theaters
 Photo by Chris Bair on Unsplash
King County is providing one-time grants from a $19.5-million Arts and Culture Fund to provide relief to the cultural organizations and businesses adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. By investing recovery funds into the arts and cultural sector, independent live music venues, and independent movie theaters, King County intends to support putting people back to work, attract tourism, create local economic growth opportunities, and revitalize the region. The deadline for applying for these grants is October 18th. For more information see this page. You may also be interested in this coverage from Q13: Video: King County offers grants for the arts.
In addition, 4Culture arts and heritage project grants support the cultural life of King County – and arts and culture are sorely needed at this time! 4Culture is currently accepting applications for its Landmarks Capital grants. Full information is available on this page.
Reminder – this Wednesday, September 22nd: Community Conversations on Healing, Organizing, and Building the Future We Want
 Communities of Opportunity is planning a free, virtual gathering of community leaders, activists, artists, and others whose work is moving us towards the future we want. The event, Meeting the Moment, will elevate the work happening in communities across King County to support the work necessary to create a thriving future. The conversation will take place September 22nd from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. For details and to RSVP, see this page.
Latinx and Living with HIV: This Thursday evening, 5:30 – 7 p.m. PT
 The Gates Foundation invites you to a special virtual event commemorating Latinx Heritage Month. The event features powerful storytelling from artivists (artists + activists) Hugo Moro and C.L. Severson, and conversations with representatives from Entre Hermanos, The United States People Living with HIV Caucus, Center for MultiCultural Health, and Through Positive Eyes. Learn about the intersections between topics like decriminalization, stigma and immigration. For more information in Spanish and English, and to RSVP, see this page.
Ballard Food Bank meets capital campaign goal
 Congratulations to the Board, staff and volunteers at Ballard Food Bank. After a years-long campaign, the Food Bank reached its $13.9 million goal and the new facility will open in the middle of next month on Leary Way! In February 2020, 3,200 people visited Ballard Food Bank or received food deliveries; in April 2021, that number had more than doubled to nearly 6,800 in a single month. The Food Bank is vitally needed, and will now be able to better serve its clients during this rough time.
DID YOU KNOW?
... that, on this day in 1971, John Singer and Paul Barwick walked into the King County auditor's office and demanded a marriage license? According to HistoryLink, their request was denied, and they later filed one of the first same-sex marriage lawsuits in the United States. Decades later Washington became one of the first states to approve marriage equality by popular vote. Read the full story here.
Additional helpful and informative links
- Seattle, King County candidates to face off in homelessness debates - The Seattle Times
- 'There are many inequities that we need to focus on': Wisconsin health officials call attention to Black birth disparities – WPR (Wisconsin)
- A wave of Black art rises in Seattle’s Central District - Crosscut
- UN to world leaders: To curtail warming, you must do more – AP News
- U.S. unveils plan to address 'silent killer' extreme heat - AP News
- Bitcoin uses as much electricity as Washington state. How is that possible? – The New York Times / The Seattle Times
- Climate change lets mosquitoes flourish – and feast – in Los Angeles – The Washington Post / The Seattle Times
- Climate activists shut down Seattle's Fourth Avenue, two banks - KUOW
- Sixty thousand Seattle-area renters are behind on rent as eviction moratoriums near expiration - The Seattle Times
- King County Metro vision, policy updates focus on equity and sustainability – Mass Transit Magazine
- King County moves toward repealing bicycle helmet law - Crosscut
- Editorial: Reject zoo deal that removes public oversight – The Seattle Times
Today’s moment of inspiration
 Photo by El Mercadito Farmer's Market and Urban Fresh Food Collective
This is a story of neighbors who saw a need during the pandemic and took action to not only fill that need, but to create a new neighborhood tradition that has brought the already close-knit community even closer. Neighbors in the diverse, vibrant neighborhood of South Park decided to figure out how to provide free food to those dealing with food insecurity.
South Park has been officially designated a “food desert” by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. But now, every Thursday, El Mercadito Farmer’s Market provides free food to those who need it, offers produce and pantry staples for sale, and brings together local artists, artisans and small farmers.
The Seattle Times tells the full story of how this effort came to fruition, and I’d encourage you to read it - - it is a wonderful illustration of the power of collaboration. The local South Park organizers reached out to and worked with Food Lifeline, and also, according to the Times story, “... reached out to Marcus Henderson of the Black Star Farmers, who has now set up shop in El Mercadito, his first farmer’s market. He sets up alongside two other farmers from the Black Farmers Collective, Hannah Wilson and Masra Clamoungou.”
Another goal of El Mercadito Farmer’s Market is to support small farmers. As one of the organizers told The Seattle Times, “Small farmers can’t afford to take financial risks to grow and it’s hard for many to figure out how to be successful selling at farmers markets where there’s no guarantee everything will sell, he said. But organizers for El Mercadito have helped eliminate some of those barriers by helping vendors get their permits and paperwork, Henderson added.” Read the full story 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. (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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