COVID-19 UPDATES
Even though we’re hearing we may be finally seeing a slowdown, the numbers being reported today are still alarming. As of today, Public Health -- Seattle & King County (Public Health) is reporting these numbers for the last seven and last fourteen days:
- 34,996 new positive cases of COVID-19 in the last seven days (includes 31,994 confirmed cases and 3,002 probable cases. Total number of cases to date is 298,788). These numbers include 5,537 new cases since yesterday, January 19th.
- 474 new hospitalizations in the last seven days (10,351 to date). That number includes 68 new hospitalizations since yesterday, January 19th.
- 72 new COVID-19-related deaths in the last two weeks (2,273 to date). That number includes 5 new deaths since yesterday, January 19th.
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, 94.2% have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and 86.8% have received both doses. Among residents 5 years and older, as of today, 90.6% have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and 82.9% 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 997,703; the number of probable cases is 138,075, for a total of 1,135,778 cases.
- The total number of deaths statewide is 10,339
- The total number of hospitalizations is 50,556
The graphs below show the cases, hospitalizations and deaths in King County.
  
COVID AND OTHER UPDATES
Quote of the Day: “Love shows itself more in adversity than in prosperity; as light does, which shines most where the place is darkest.” – Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Two years...and counting: Remembering how it all began
On January 20, 2020 a 35-year-old man who had recently returned from Wuhan China, was confirmed as the nation’s first case of the newly identified coronavirus. He was cared for at Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett in an isolated setting, then finished recovering in quarantine at his home.
In the next days and weeks it became clear that there were many other cases in the country and the world. As travel restrictions and other measures were enacted, the virus continued to spread.
Here in Washington, most of the initial deaths from the virus occurred at the Life Care Center nursing home in Kirkland. Our first death from the disease was announced on February 29, 2020.
On March 23, 2020, the Governor issued a statewide stay-at-home order to last “at least two weeks.” Little did we know...
For more, see this statement released today by our state’s Department of Health (DOH). You may also be interested in this article from The Seattle Times: Much of nation isn’t active enough — but WA residents are exception, CDC says.
DOH COVID-19 press conference this morning
 Washington State Department of Health (DOH) held a virtual media briefing this morning to discuss the latest developments in the state's battle against COVID. Participants included Secretary of Health Umair A. Shah, Chief Science Officer Tao Sheng Kwan-Gett, State Epidemiologist for Communicable Diseases Scott Lindquist, Deputy Secretary for COVID-19 Response Lacy Fehrenbach, Acting Assistant Secretary Michele Roberts, and COVID-19 Incident Commander Andrew M. Rose. You can view the briefing here.
Which mask?
 As we mentioned on Monday, the CDC changed its guidance on masks, encouraging the use of N-95s or KN-95s to prevent infection (getting it or spreading it) from the highly transmissible Omicron variant.
The federal government will soon be providing N-95 masks, as discussed in this article from The Seattle Times: Biden to give away 400 million N95 masks starting next week.
For more on mask usage, finding the best masks and avoiding counterfeits, see the following article and links:
- Up your mask game: Omicron is here – Public Health Insider blog
- ProjectN95.org
- Masking Guidance – King County webpage
- Exactly how to identify fake N95, KN95, and KF94 masks, according to experts – Yahoo News
- Counterfeit respirators / misrepresentation of NIOSH-approval – CDC webpage
The latest information on self-testing -- Order your free tests now
 As you may have heard, every home in the U.S. is eligible to order four free at-home COVID-19 tests per household. The tests are completely free. Orders are anticipated to be shipped in 7-12 days. You can order the tests here at COVIDtests.gov.
A COVID-19 self-test is a rapid test that you can do at home and get results within 15-30 minutes. Self-tests are also known as home tests, self-collected tests, or antigen tests. You can purchase self-tests in stores or pharmacies and online.
See this County webpage for guidance on what to do if your test is positive or negative, as well as information on how and when to use the tests, how to report a positive test to the state Department of Health, FAQs and more. You may also be interested in these articles:
- What to know about the new website to order free COVID tests – The Seattle Times
- US begins offering 1B free COVID tests, but many more needed – AP News
- COVID self-testing could impact accuracy of statewide case counts - KIMA
The latest Omicron-related questions facing scientists and public health officials on the pandemic
 As I mentioned above in my introduction, the behavior of the Omicron variant has challenged some of our earlier assumptions about the virus. One important reminder, however -- there is still no doubt as to the crucial importance of being fully vaccinated (including a booster shot). The vaccines may not be as effective in preventing the spread of Omicron, as it is so highly contagious; however, the vaccines are apparently highly effective in preventing serious illness and death.
Scientists and public health professionals are grappling with several questions as the surge of cases of the Omicron variant appears to be waning. Has the variant changed what we should expect with the next mutation, or COVID as a whole? Does the apparent relative ‘mildness’ of Omicron indicate that the virus is on the way to becoming ‘endemic’? Can Omicron cause ‘long COVID’?
These are still unanswered questions. You may find the articles below of interest.
- Omicron hasn’t peaked in U.S., surgeon general says, and ‘next few weeks will be tough’ – The Seattle Times
- Will Omicron bring the pandemic to an end? It’s too soon to know, Fauci says – The New York Times
- Want to get omicron and just get it over with? Here's why that's a bad idea – NPR
- EXPLAINER: What does it mean for COVID-19 to be endemic? – AP News
- After Omicron, we could use a break. We may just get it – Stat News
- Has omicron peaked in Washington? Possibly. The view from the COVID tunnel – KUOW
- Could a universal Covid-19 vaccine defeat every variant? – Vox
- Omicron flips ‘big switch’ at Seattle-area hospitals as ICUs are spared from COVID surge – The Seattle Times
Tomorrow at noon: Online forum on Omicron
 See the graphic above for details on joining representatives from Public Health and Mother Africa to discuss everything you need to know about Omicron.
Tomorrow, noon – 3 p.m.: Booster shot pop-up at the Starbucks on 23rd and Jackson
 POCAAN, in partnership with Othello Station Pharmacy, Public Health—Seattle and King County, and Starbucks, will be hosting free booster shots on the third Friday of the month through June, with the first pop-up being this Friday, January 21stat the Starbucks on 23rd and Jackson from noon to 3 p.m. Appointments are not required, all doses are available (first, second and boosters) and call POCAAN for more information at 206-322-7061.
King County Elections mails February special election ballots to 1.1 million registered voters
 King County Elections (KCE) mailed ballots to over 1,150,000 registered voters across the county for the February 8th special election. KCE projects a 32% turnout countywide in this election, expecting to receive approximately 380,000 ballots back from voters.
Ballots should arrive in voters’ mailboxes by Monday, January 24. If you believe you should have received a ballot but did not, you can call King County Elections at 206-296-VOTE (8683).
There are important school ballot measures up for a vote in the February 8th election. There is also an election for King Conservation District (KCD, not part of King County government) for a position on the Board of Supervisors, which is being administered by King County Elections. (There is current legislation before the Legislature to have KCD elections be held on the county elections.) For more information on these two elections see the links below:
- Full information on the February 8th election – King County webpage
- Information on the King Conservation District (KCD) election – KCD webpage
And see this page for complete information on voting and elections in King County.
Webinar tomorrow: Voting rights under attack
 The Washington Institute for the Study of Inequality and Race at the University of Washington will be hosting a webinar series on Race and Contemporary Issues. Tomorrow, January 21, from 10:30 - 11:30 a.m., the panel will discuss the current state of voting rights in the U.S, recent attacks on voting rights, and look ahead to the future. The webinar is free and open to the public. For details and to register see this page.
Apply for an internship to help with the County’s Strategic Climate Action Plan
 In support of the County’s Strategic Climate Action Plan (SCAP), the County’s Climate Action team is recruiting three interns to assist in integrating climate change into all county operations, and working with King County cities, partners, communities, and residents.
The internships will be yearlong and will provide experience in the practical application of coursework and local government action in responding to climate change in a large-scale urban infrastructure system. For more information and to apply, see this page.
New year, new land conservation initiative tools for the County
 The County has been working hard to save our last, best places. Six years ago, the County kicked off a regional partnership called the Land Conservation Initiative (LCI) to protect 65,000 acres of the most important remaining green spaces and reaffirmed our commitment to ensuring equitable open space access for all. Finishing this by 2050 can save us $14 billion dollars, close critical gaps in equitable access to natural places, and help us prepare for more climate change impacts. Read the full story here.
January 29th: Living with Wildlife: Working with nature, not against it
 The County’s Department of Natural Resources is hosting a free online class focused on ways to co-exist with all forms of wildlife on your property. It will take place on January 29th from 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., and will focus on how to use your habitat to welcome local wildlife and avoid conflicts. For details and to register see this page. (Early registration is encouraged.)
Next Monday: A Conversation On Housing in King County
Join “We Are In” next Monday, January 24th from 4 – 5 p.m. for “A Conversation On Housing in King County” with Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, State Representative Nicole Macri, King County Executive Dow Constantine, and We Are In Founding Director Felicia Salcedo. Panelists will discuss funding for additional affordable housing units and how to ensure that the funding is spent swiftly, effectively, and equitably. For details and to register see this page.
County “Point in Time” count to be held in March
In December, the federal Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) granted the King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA) a methodological exception to the traditional “Point in Time” PIT Count. The KCRHA will conduct a sheltered count as usual, qualitative research in March 2022, and an unsheltered count built into the qualitiative engagement. To read the full details, see this page from the KCRHA.
You may also be interested in these articles:
- King County officials announce March unsheltered population count – MyNorthwest
- After a lackluster response, Regional Homeless Authority wants more money to shelter people during bad weather – The Stranger
Strong community effort disburses $74M in rent assistance in November and December to bring 2021 total payments to over $148M
Thanks to dedicated work on the part of local community-based agencies and King County staff, Eviction Prevention and Rent Assistance Program (EPRAP) payments for rent assistance to renters and landlords accelerated in November and December, preventing eviction and possible homelessness for thousands of individuals and families at risk due to COVID-related health and financial challenges. Read the full story here.
Queen Anne Helpline donates surplus hygiene items on King Day, thanks to students at McClure Middle School
 Donations arrive for sorting at NAAM’s Hygiene Drive on Monday.
We received an uplifting note from a constituent (and e-news reader) the other day. Lisa Barnes, the Program Manager at Queen Anne Helpline contacted us to let us know that, thanks to reading in my e-news about the King Day hygiene drive being organized by the Northwest African American Museum (NAAM), the Helpline was able to “share the wealth” and delivered over 6 large boxes of hygiene items including feminine products, razors, soap and toothpaste to the NAAM hygiene drive.
The Helpline had a “surplus” of hygiene items thanks to the efforts last fall of the students at McClure Middle School. The students hosted a hygiene drive for the Helpline and collected over 600 items – more than is needed by the Helpline. Barnes said, “We recognize that Queen Anne Helpline is in a relatively 'resource-rich' neighborhood and that not all neighborhoods are so lucky, so we redistribute whenever we can.” Thank you, McClure Middle School students and the Queen Anne Helpline!
Speaking of helping out...
See this article in Seattle’s Child, detailing the needs of the Ballard Food Bank and how best to donate.
DID YOU KNOW?
...that, on this day in 1857, President Franklin Pierce signed the executive order that officially established the Muckleshoot Reservation? According to HistoryLink, “The reservation [was] expanded when President Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885) sign[ed] a new executive order on April 9, 1874. Members of the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe are descendants of the Duwamish and Upper Puyallup people who lived in Central Puget Sound area prior to non-Native settlement. Their reservation is located along the White River near the city of Auburn in south King County.”
Additional helpful and informative links
- WA’s COVID-19 cases level off, hospitals brace for surge, more masks and tests available – South Seattle Emerald
- Seattle to expand COVID testing, adds rapid PCR tests – The Seattle Times
- WHO recommends two new drugs to treat COVID-19 – WHO News (the World Health Organization)
- Opinion: Pharmacies shouldn’t be the only place to get Paxlovid, the new COVID pill – Stat News
- This is what long-term immunity to COVID-19 might look like. Antibodies aren’t the whole story. – Vox
- ‘The scientists, they’re learning more’: A defiant Biden defends the CDC amid mounting criticism – Stat News
- Aiming to make CDC nimble, agency director has rankled many – AP News
- County’s COVID response system was ill-prepared for major homeless shelter outbreak – PubliCola
- They relied on rapid COVID tests to gather safely; now some wish they hadn’t – The Seattle Times
- WA Attorney General targets price gouging for at-home COVID tests – Patch
- In sewage, clues to omicron’s surge – The New York Times
- Some Washington schools are shifting back to remote learning. What's the plan? – KUOW
- Opinion: As WA students’ test scores crash, where’s the urgency to fix this? – The Seattle Times
- Parents and caregivers of young children say they've hit pandemic rock bottom – NPR
- Newest member of King County Council says she has no wish list. Not yet. – The Seattle Times
- County Council approves new leadership, committee structure, assignments – Queen Anne & Magnolia News
- Gun control, transportation, housing among Seattle leaders’ wish list for state Legislature – The Seattle Times
Today’s moment of inspiration
Click to edit this placeholder text.
 Photo: Good News Network/Courtesy of Bethel Park HS football coach
I love this story - - it’s about the kind of creative thinking that I believe may have become more common during the pandemic. When a high school in western Pennsylvania closed for a snow day on Monday, the football coach found a creative way to make sure his players still got their Monday workout.
The coach tweeted out the following: “Due to expected severe weather, Monday’s weightlifting workout has been cancelled. Find an elderly or disabled neighbor and shovel their driveway. Don’t accept any money - that’s our Monday workout.”
According to the Good News Network, “By mid-morning more than 27 of the athletes were texting photos to the coach, with some saying they were on their 6th driveway.”
Read the full story – and view video of local news coverage of the students – 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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