COVID-19 UPDATES
As of today, Public Health -- Seattle & King County (Public Health) is reporting these numbers for the last seven and last fourteen days:
- 2,070 new positive cases of COVID-19 in the last seven days (includes 1,942 confirmed cases and 128 probable cases. Total number of cases to date is 175,158). These numbers include 610 new cases since Friday, December 3rd.
- 28 new COVID-19-related deaths in the last two weeks (2,113 to date). That number includes 13 new deaths since Friday, December 3rd.
- 55 new hospitalizations in the last seven days (8,851 to date). That number includes 23 new hospitalizations since Friday, December 3rd.
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 eligible King County residents 12 years and older, as of today, 90.8% have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and 84.9% have received both doses. Among residents 5 years and older, as of today, 86.2% have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and 78.2% 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 689,330; the number of probable cases is 94,799, for a total of 784,129 cases.
- The total number of deaths statewide is 9,436
- The total number of hospitalizations is 43,321
The graph below shows the cases in King County.
COVID AND OTHER UPDATES
Quote of the Day: “Legislation to apply the principle of equal pay for equal work without discrimination because of sex is a matter of simple justice.” – President Dwight D. Eisenhower, annual message to the Congress on the State of the Union, January 5, 1956.
Omicron COVID-19 variant discovered in King County and two other western Washington counties
 As you may have heard and is mentioned above, the Omicron variant has been identified in a resident in King County, as well as in Thurston and Pierce counties, the DOH announced on Saturday. Read more on this below.
- Update: Omicron case confirmed in King County and Q&A with health officer Dr. Jeff Duchin about what this means for County residents- Public Health Insider blog
- Statement by County Executive Constantine on Omicron
- Statement from Washington State Department of Health (DOH)
- Gov. Inslee statement on discovery Omicron variant cases in Washington
Additional latest news on Omicron
- Omicron is prompting new rules for international travel to the U.S. Here's what you need to know – CNBC
- Omicron variant found in Washington state – The Seattle Times
- Early data from South Africa hints Omicron variant may cause less severe COVID, but more research is needed – Stat News
- Grappling with an uncertain reality as Omicron and COVID’s third year approach - The Washington Post
- Fauci says early reports encouraging about omicron variant – AP News
- The mystery of where omicron came from — and why it matters – NPR
Top 3 COVID-19 FAQs answered by public health experts
As of December 1st, the top three COVID-related questions Public Health staff were hearing were:
- Who can get a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine?
- Are the vaccines effective against the Omicron variant?
- Is Omicron as serious a health risk as other variants? What can I do to protect myself and others?
For answers to these questions and more, see this page.
Vaccine verification requirements expand today to include smaller establishments
 As of today vaccine verification expands to restaurants and bars with seating capacity of 12 or fewer. Signage is required at all public entrances to establishments covered under the order. See the link above to download signage and other business resources.
Boosters appear to be in high demand
 With a confirmed case of the new Omicron variant here in King County, it is even more important to get your booster shot if you’re eligible. Anyone age 18 and older can now get a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine if enough time has passed since their initial vaccination: six months since their second dose of Pfizer or Moderna or two months since their single dose of Johnson & Johnson (J&J).
The COVID-19 vaccine is always free, no insurance is required. Everyone ages 5 and older can get a vaccine. Ages 5-17 can get Pfizer ONLY, ages 18+ can get Pfizer, Moderna, or J&J. Learn more about vaccination for youth at kingcounty.gov/vaccine/youth.
To find a COVID vaccine appointment near you see the state’s vaccine locator page or see this King County webpage. Based on the some of the news coverage below however, there could be a wait.
- Parts of King County seeing big demand for COVID booster, appointments hard to come by – Q13
- U.S. drugstores squeezed by vaccine demand, staff shortages - AP News
- Which booster shot is best? Study of 7 COVID vaccines pinpoints the effects of each – The Seattle Times
Why you should get both your flu and COVID-19 vaccines this season
 How do I know if it’s flu or COVID? Can I have both at the same time? Answers to these questions, resources and more are available here, from the state Department of Health.
Webinar - COVID-19 and the holidays: How to have safer gatherings
The state Department of Health (DOH) is inviting the public to a webinar on holding safer holiday gatherings. The online event will take place on December 16th at 5 p.m.
This webinar will provide answers to your questions from medical experts across Washington State and the Washington State Department of Health. The panel will answer as many questions submitted in advance by the audience as possible. For full details and to register see this page.
Talking with teens about fentanyl
 If you know a teen, I encourage you to read this article in the Public Health Insider blog about teens and fentanyl. According to Public Health, “This powerful synthetic drug has changed the landscape of drug use in our region. In 2015, just three people died from a fentanyl-related overdose in King County. In 2021, that number is expected to reach 350 or more people.” You may also be interested in this article:
- Fentanyl is a great drug for cartels. But those blue pills are killing King County – KUOW
This week at the Council
Note: Council meetings are still being held remotely.
Tomorrow, Tuesday, December 7th at 9:30 a.m. –Law, Justice, Health and Human Services Committee -- Agenda: Discussion and possible action on ordinances to formalize the Department of Judicial Administration (DJA) as a department within the Executive Branch and to authorize Superior Court to hire criminal court commissioners for the purpose of reducing the court backlog and addressing the increased workload. Also, action on several appointments.
For instructions on viewing the meeting and providing your input, and to view the agenda and meeting materials, see this page.
Tomorrow, Tuesday, December 7th at 1 p.m. – Full Council meeting -- Agenda: Public hearings and possible action on agreement regarding Eastrail connection to highway 520, adoption of Health through Housing implementation plan, and on updates to Metro’s service guidelines and strategic and long range plans, several appointments, distribution of retired vans and the County’s state legislative agenda.
For instructions on viewing the meeting and providing your input, and to view the agenda and meeting materials, see this page.
Wednesday, December 8th at 12:30 p.m. – Budget and Fiscal Management Committee -- Agenda: Discussion and possible action on property tax levies, City Hall Park land swap agreement, long-term financing for the County’s sewer system, and more; briefing on solid waste rate structure.
For instructions on viewing the meeting and providing your input, and to view the agenda and meeting materials, see this page.
Redistricting at the state and county levels
This Wednesday will be the final meeting of King County’s Districting Committee, the committee responsible for incorporating the information from the latest census numbers into updated County Council districts. The virtual meeting will take place this Wedensday, December 8th at 7 p.m. The Committee will review the Amended Final Draft Districting Master Plan from December 1st.
The district I represent, District 4, has to contract the most, shedding 21,000+ residents even though it’s the smallest geographically. Each district will end up with about 252,000 residents.
At the state level, the state’s Redistricting Commission thought it had missed its deadline for resolving the state’s new legislative districts, and assumed the state Supreme Court would take on the tricky decisions of redrawing the state legislative district maps. However, last week the state Supreme Court “declined to exercise its authority...,” finding that “... the plan adopted by the Washington State Redistricting Commission met the constitutional deadline and substantially complied with the statutory deadline to transmit the matter to the legislature.” For more on this, see this article from The Seattle Times: Washington Supreme Court won’t redraw political maps, will accept redistricting commission’s work.
Unfortunately, it appears I will no longer live in my longtime legislative district as where I live will not be included in a different district. You might want to check on what’s happened with yours.
Food lifeline Town Hall: Wednesday at noon
 Food Lifeline invites the public to join it for a virtual Town Hall, this Wednesday, December 8th at noon. Since the start of the pandemic, Food Lifeline has distributed 88.1 million pounds of food to more than 350 food pantries, meal programs, and shelters. The organization will share some of the lessons it has learned, including that communities of color have been impacted by the negative effects of the pandemic at twice the rate of the general population, and that it’s necessary to source a wider range of quality foods including fresh produce, dairy, proteins, and culturally relevant foods that reflect the diverse backgrounds of the organization’s clients. For more information, to RSVP and join Food Lifeline for the Town Hall, see this page.
Public art in Ballard
The Ballard Public Art Committee (BPAC), a committee of the Ballard Alliance, includes local artisans, residents, and people who work in the area – all with a passion for public art. The committee is dedicated to facilitating public art projects in the Ballard neighborhood while ensuring that the needs and values of the community are upheld throughout the process. View some of the amazing murals and other projects here – such as the “utility box beautification” project shown above.
“Maid" Discussion Night with New Beginnings
 New Beginnings invites you to a discussion of the Netflix show "Maid." The organization is offering two sessions - one online and one in person. Based on a true story, "Maid" shows a young woman leaving her abusive partner and becoming a maid as she builds a new life with her daughter. The show is set in our state!
The two sessions will be held:- Tuesday, December 14th, 6 p.m. on ZoomOR - Thursday December 16th, 6:30 p.m. at Chocolati in Greenwood, 8319 Greenwood Ave North. In person space is limited, so submit your interest ASAP at the link here.
DID YOU KNOW?
... that on this day in 1999, Seattle Police Chief Norm Stamper announced his resignation in the wake of the WTO (World Trade Organization) protests? Stamper said he took full responsibility for the unrest that closed the Central Business District and disrupted WTO talks that took place in Seattle from November 29 to December 3, 1999. Compiled from HistoryLink.
Additional helpful and informative links
- Is it time to change the definition of ‘fully vaccinated’? - The Seattle Times
- How can scientists update coronavirus vaccines for omicron? A microbiologist answers five questions about how Moderna and Pfizer could rapidly adjust mRNA vaccines – The Conversation
- Opinion: COVID-19 is fueling a pandemic of violence against women and girls – Stat News
- Pandemic stress weighs heavily on Gen Z: AP-NORC, MTV poll – AP News
- Millennium Elementary School classroom in Kent closed due to COVID-19 – Kent Reporter
- Seattle’s final budget shows tough road ahead for new Regional Homelessness Authority - The Seattle Times
- Editorial: Seattle and King County have deserted Little Saigon - The Seattle Times
- Fixing septic systems is key to protecting Puget Sound shellfish - Crosscut
- Editorial: Even a day to remember slavery divides us - The Seattle Times
- Both sides planning for new state-by-state abortion fight – AP News
- How to solve the rural-urban digital divide – High Country News
Today’s moment of inspiration
 Donations from the Good Food Project-by Patrick Hogan / 412 Food Rescue
This is an inspiring story of ingenuity being put to work to feed people and save the planet at the same time. One woman in Pittsburgh created a Food Rescue App that diverts 20 million pounds of food that would otherwise go to waste into meals and provisions for those in need. According to the article on Good News Network, “Food waste makes up about 25% of all material in landfills—more than any other single source of waste—and when it rots, it’s a leading cause of greenhouse gas emissions.” In fact, food waste releases methane, an extremely potent, though short-lived, greenhouse gas.
The article recounts the story of Leah Lizarondo who “...launched 412FoodRescue.org in 2015 to redirect food from the waste stream directly to households and nonprofits. She created an app that gives volunteers pick-up locations and delivery destinations, so they can jump in their car and close the gap between the food surplus and those who need it.” The app is named “FoodRescueHero” and is now used by more than 13,000+ volunteer drivers in 15 cities.
Read the full story here – and view more photos and a video - of this incredible effort, that has brought together thousands of volunteers with 800 food retailers, and uses a solar-powered kitchen to produce pre-made meals.
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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