COVID-19 UPDATES
Note: Public Health has changed the way it is reporting these data, in order to better show the trends. As of today, Public Health -- Seattle & King County (Public Health) is reporting these numbers for the last seven and last fourteen days:
- 3,113 new positive cases of COVID-19 (includes 2,811 confirmed cases and 302 probable cases. Total number of cases to date is 154, 839). These numbers include 422 new cases since yesterday, and an 8% decrease in the reported number of daily positive cases in the last seven days, over the prior 7 days.
- 41 new COVID-19-related deaths in the last two weeks (1,913 to date)
- 97 new hospitalizations in the last seven days (8,142 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, 86.9% of King County residents 12 and over have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and 81.3% 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 596,461; the number of probable cases is 76,321, for a total of 672,782 cases.
- The total number of deaths statewide is 7,917
- The total number of hospitalizations is 37,362
COVID AND OTHER UPDATES
Quote of the Day: “We should be very jealous [protective] of who speaks for science, particularly in our age of rapidly expanding technology...The public will remain uninformed and uneducated in the sciences until the media professionals decide otherwise. Until they stop quoting charlatans and quacks and until respected scientists speak up.”-- Dixy Lee Ray, biologist and former Governor of Washington state (1977-1981), in 'Who Speaks For Science?’ Chemical Times and Trends, January, 1990.
Slideshow from Public Health on current state of young people and COVID in King County
 Public Health has a new slideshow that provides a current snapshot of what is known about COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations among youth. The slideshow provides an early snapshot of key takeaways from the initial analysis of the data.
New tools for schools
The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has produced new contract tracing and case investigation tools to help schools. The Symptom Decision Tree and Contact Tracing Checklist for K-12 Schools and the Contact Tracing Guide and FAQ for K-12 Schools can be found on DOH's COVID-19 Resources and Recommendations page under Schools and Child Care.
Tomorrow at noon: COVID press conference with Dr. Duchin
Health Officer Dr. Jeff Duchin will brief the public and take questions from reporters tomorrow, Friday, October 8th at noon. He will discuss COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations and share information about the recent approval of booster doses for some individuals and vaccine coverage in King County. The briefing will be livestreamed on the Public Health – Seattle & King County Facebook page @KCPubHealth.
Pfizer to Comirnaty: Why a vaccine got a new name
 In this very interesting article by our state Dept. of Health, DOH explains the naming protocols of vaccines. I just learned that prior to full FDA approval, vaccines are named for the company that created them. Once FDA approval is granted, the company chooses a brand name for use in the U.S. Read the full story here.
Help with managing pandemic stress and anxiety
 In yesterday’s edition, Stat News published this opinion piece: The AMA needs to declare a national mental health emergency, which includes the following: “More than 40% of Americans report symptoms of anxiety or depression, and emergency rooms are flooded with patients in psychiatric crises.”
Washington Listens helps people manage stress and anxiety they may be experiencing because of COVID-19. If you or anyone you know is having difficulties managing stress, call the Washington Listens support line at 1-833-681-0211. Hours are from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. TTY and language access services are available by using 7-1-1 or their preferred method.
Public Health statement on King County resident who died of rare vaccine-related blood clot
See this article from the Public Health Insider blog for more on blood clots and the Johnson and Johnson vaccine and the risks versus benefits of vaccination against COVID-19. You may also be interested in the following:
- Jessica Berg Wilson died of extremely rare side effect of J&J COVID-19 vaccine; only 4th such death in U.S. – The Oregonian
- Statement from the Washington State Department of Health – DOH news release
The latest news on COVID
 Photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash
Note: For the latest on children and COVID, see the blurb below this one.
- New research confirms hospitalization risk higher with four COVID-19 variants – DOH news release
- COVID-19 live updates: Immunity weakens faster in men than women after Pfizer vaccination, study finds - The Washington Post
- Pfizer vaccine provides 90 percent protection against hospitalization for six months, study finds. – The New York Times
- The stages of pandemic emotion: from horror to hope to rage — and now, an anxious optimism – Stat News
- AstraZeneca seeks U.S. approval for drug cocktail to prevent COVID - Reuters
- Ivermectin: How false science created a COVID 'miracle' drug – The BBC
- The White House will spend an additional $1 billion on rapid at-home COVID tests – NPR
- Some Washington workers prepare to leave jobs over COVID-19 vaccine mandate – KING 5 News
- Faced with losing their jobs, even the most hesitant are getting vaccinated – NPR
- Thousands of Washington home-care workers, represented by SEIU 775, remain exempt from Gov. Inslee’s vaccine mandate – The Seattle Times
- King County businesses begin preparations for new vaccine requirements - MyNorthwest
- King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) sergeant’s anti-vaccination email references ‘hint’ of ongoing vaccination exemption process in department – South Seattle Emerald
- Hospital system in Colorado says it will deny transplants to unvaccinated in ‘almost all situations’ – The Washington Post / The Seattle Times
- Hospital leaders cautiously optimistic as Washington's vaccine mandate deadline nears – KUOW
- Ghost towns: Nursing home staffing falls amid pandemic – AP News
- Signs of encouragement as U.S. sees drop in COVID cases and hospitalizations: CDC data shows 29% decrease in cases over two weeks in September but experts say virus remains a significant threat – The Guardian
The latest news on kids, COVID and schools
 Photo by Tina Floersch on Unsplash
- Pfizer asks U.S. to allow COVID shots for kids ages 5 to 11 – AP News
- A new vaccine strategy for children: Just one dose, for now – The New York Times
- ‘This is a crisis’: Tens of thousands of children affected by pandemic-related deaths of parents – The Washington Post
- Parents fret about desk distances. Expert says ventilation does more to keep kids safe – KUOW
- Vaccines are here. School’s open. Some parents still agonize – The Seattle Times
- Flush with COVID-19 aid, schools steer funding to sports – AP News
Giving the world a shot
 The White House held a Global COVID-19 Summit two weeks ago on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly to rally world leaders together to end the pandemic. A few takeaways:
- President Biden announced an additional 500 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine for low and middle-income countries, bringing the U.S. total to 1.1 billion doses.
- U.S. Secretary of State Blinken and USAID Administrator Power both called for a 70% global vaccination target by this time next year.
- The European Union committed an additional 500 million doses, Prime Minister Trudeau of Canada agreed to “focus on vaccine readiness and delivery,” and India will begin exporting vaccines again this month.
County Districting Committee releases three draft maps, upcoming public meetings
Today the Districting Committee released three draft maps that will be the subject of the public hearings occurring later this month and related to the setting of new county council districts beginning next year. The draft maps can be found here: https://kingcounty.gov/independent/districting/drafts.aspx
The Districting Committee will hold four town hall meetings this month to gather community input on the proposed draft maps. The dates are: Sunday, October 17 (2 p.m.); Tuesday, October 19 (2 p.m.); Wednesday, October 20 (2 p.m.); and Thursday, October 21 (7 p.m.). You can also take the community survey – available in several languages – on this page.
Cedar Hills Regional Landfill Online Meeting next Wednesday evening
 The 920-acre Cedar Hills Regional Landfill is located in Maple Valley, about 20 miles southeast of Seattle. Owned by King County and operated by SWD, the landfill receives over 800,000 tons of solid waste a year. King County’s Solid Waste Division is hosting an online meeting next Wednesday, October 13, from 6 - 8 p.m. via Zoom; you can register here.
This meeting is an opportunity to learn and ask questions about what’s going on at the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill, including current and planned construction projects, environmental monitoring activities, and operational activities. You will also receive updates on the Bio Energy Washington's renewable energy plant.
King County Eviction Prevention and Rent Assistance Program distributes $46.3 million so far; keeps more than 4,600 households safely housed
 King County has distributed more than $46 million in rental assistance, including $7.7 million last week, and is collaborating with local property owners and community-based partners to simplify and improve the County’s Eviction Prevention and Rent Assistance Program (EPRAP), bringing financial relief and stability to thousands of households across the region. Read the full story here.
Reminder: Applications for County Parks grants - deadline is October 15th
 A reminder that applications for the King County Parks' Parks Capital and Open Space, and Aquatic Facilities grant programs 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
Parks survey for County partner organizations: Deadline is October 17th
Has your organization partnered on a project with King County Parks? Scheduled your events on a County trail? Used County parks as the location of the programs you offer? Does County funding help your organization carry out its mission? If so, the County Parks Department wants your feedback.
Please take a few moments to fill out the Partner Survey for the Parks Department, which will be available until Sunday, Oct 17. This feedback will, in part, shape the County’s 2022 update to the King County Open Space Plan: Parks, Trails, and Natural Areas.
State Dept. of Agriculture accepting applications for Food Assistance program grants
 The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) has just announced that its Food Assistance Program is now accepting applications for Flexible Funding grants, a new grant program to support Washington’s diverse hunger relief network.
This grant program is funded by $4 million from an appropriation provided by the state Legislature during the 2021 session and the USDA. The grant is open to all food assistance organizations statewide, whether they currently contract with WSDA to distribute food or not. Applications are being accepted now through November 15. You can also view this pdf document for more information.
A visit to Operation Sack Lunch
 A few months ago, I shared with you that Operation Sack Lunch (located in the same building as Uplift NW in Belltown) has been working hard to provide nutritious, culturally-sensitive meals to those who need them. Beyond that, it has have partnered with many congregate-living facilities, one example being hotels providing temporary housing and services to unhoused individuals. Beyond that, it works to rescue food that may otherwise go unused, making sure to reduce waste and incorporate it into its nutrient-dense meal service.
In other words, it is doing really crucial work in our community and I was very pleased that I was able to allocate $50,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding to continue its work. I'm pictured here with Laurel Gray, its Administrative Director. Thank you for all this work, OSL!
Good news: Metro restores routes 15, 17 and 18 in Ballard
 Great news for transit riders in Ballard! On October 2nd, Metro updated its service schedule and restored service on several routes, including routes 15, 17 and 18 in Ballard. For more information, see this article in MyBallard, and this article from Metro Matters, Metro’s blog.
Sound Transit seeks community members for West Seattle and Ballard Link Project Advisory Group
Help shape the future of light rail in your community! Sound Transit is close to releasing the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the West Seattle and Ballard Link Project and is looking for people along the project corridor who bring diverse perspectives and lived experiences to join one of several community advisory groups.
Feedback from these groups, along with Draft EIS comments received from the public, will help inform Sound Transit Board action to confirm or modify the preferred alternative for the project. People who identify as Black, Indigenous, or as a person of color, women, LGBTQ+, immigrant or refugee, low-income, or people with diverse abilities are strongly encouraged to apply. Submissions will close on 5 p.m, Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2021. See the links above for details.
Region’s businesses, others back ultra-high-speed rail project
 Photo: © DAJF / Wikimedia Commons
More than 45 organizations, including business, labor, and environmental advocates, have asked members of U.S. Congress from Washington and Oregon to champion the Cascadia Ultra-High-Speed Ground Transportation project. The high-speed rail system would connect Seattle, Portland, and Vancouver, British Columbia. For example, a standard trip from Seattle to Portland would take less than one hour, down from the current average of three to four hours. You may find this article by The Seattle Times of interest: One hour between Seattle and Portland? It’s possible.
A link between affordable housing and toxic waste?
The organization Washington Conservation Voters raised an interesting point in a recent email. According to WCV, “There are over 13,000 sites contaminated by toxic waste in Washington. These contaminated sites are not only a threat to public health but lost opportunities for land use.”
Fortunately, our state Department of Ecology is developing a new state grant program to clean up these sites and use them for affordable housing – the Healthy Housing Grant Program. The Healthy Housing Grant Program is a tool to clean up contaminated properties and reclaim the land for affordable, community-driven housing projects. It is Ecology’s newest resource for local governments and communities to clean up Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) sites. The Healthy Housing Grant Program has supported over 10 cleanup projects for affordable housing development in communities including Wenatchee, Kennewick, Seattle, and Bellingham. See the links above for more information.
U.S. Global Leadership Coalition (USGLC) seeks applicants for its “Next Gen Global Leaders Network”
If you know young professionals (25 – 45 years old) interested in America’s global leadership, encourage them to apply for USGLC’s 2022 Class of Next Gen Global Leaders. It’s a fantastic program and applications close on October 24th. I’ve served on its State Advisory Committee for years.
The USGLC builds upon its existing networks across the country to recruit a diverse, bipartisan group of up-and-comers for an exciting year-long leadership training, cultivation and engagement program. Participants interact directly with policymakers and opinion leaders, launching their advocacy education with a seat on a USGLC State Advisory Committee at the culmination of the program. See the link above for full information.
DID YOU KNOW?
...that on this day in 1867, The Seattle Weekly Intelligencer announced that the first wagon road had been completed over Snoqualmie Pass, on current-day I-90? Read more here at HistoryLink.
Additional helpful and informative links
- Debates set for Seattle mayor’s race as Harrell and González prepare to face off – The Seattle Times
- Opinion: Did you even hear about this shooting in South Seattle? – The Seattle Times
- Washington state will welcome 1,670 Afghan evacuees in coming months - The Seattle Times
- The Latest: US health experts urge flu shots ahead of season – AP News
- King County seeks to gain control of Seattle's City Hall Park amid crime, homelessness concerns – KING 5 News
- King County a step closer to potentially taking over Seattle’s City Hall Park – KIRO 7 News
- King County presents strategy to run hotel for homeless in Redmond – KOMO News
- Podcast: Why the ancient stories of Mount Rainier matter now - Crosscut
- Beluga whale sighted off Seattle, Tacoma waterfronts - KUOW
- Program led by Dr. Ben Danielson to keep youth out of jail – UW Medicine News
- A mega-drought is hammering the US. In North Dakota, it's worse than the Dust Bowl – NPR
Today’s moment of inspiration
 Photo by Solar Water Solutions
Only 3% of the water on Earth is fresh. The rest is saline – and undrinkable – and many scientists have worked for years to figure out a non-polluting method of desalinating seawater.
The Good News Network tells the story of Solar Water Solutions (SWS), a Finnish water technology company that has developed a unique, zero-emissions, zero-running cost, and non-polluting desalination technology. According to the article, the new technology is now being deployed, thanks to backing from the Dutch group Climate Fund Managers, in Kitui County, Kenya as part of a long-term goal to provide water for 400,000 rural Kenyans by 2023.
“SWS has packed up their desalination plant into a shipping container, making it easy and efficient to ship 200 units to the shores of Kitui, where the technology will convert between 4,000 and 7,000 liters per hour from seawater, or 10,000 liters per hour from brackish water, powered entire by solar panels,” according to GNN. Read the full story at the link above, or view the video 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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