COVID-19 UPDATES
To see the most up-to-date information on cases, hospitalizations and deaths in the County, see the Daily COVID-19 outbreak summary dashboard. You can also see the data broken down by demographics and geography on this page.
- 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.
To view the most recent statewide COVID-19 data from the state Department of Health (DOH), see this dashboard, which will now be updated three times per week rather than daily.
The graphs below show the cases, hospitalizations and deaths in King County. Downward trends mostly continuing!
  
COVID UPDATES
Quote of the Day: “You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’ …You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” - Eleanor Roosevelt, You Learn by Living (1960). I’ve loved this quote for a long time, but had never dreamed it would be so applicable in my lifetime.
King County hospitals issue urgent call to action - ‘We Need your Help.’
 Public Health – Seattle & King County (Public Health) is alerting residents to the critical state of affairs at our county’s hospitals. King County hospitals issued an urgent call to the public in the Sunday edition of The Seattle Times, asking for its help limiting the spread of COVID-19. The full-page ad, signed by health system and public health partners across King County, calls on the public to help reduce pressure on hospitals so they can provide essential care for those who need it.
According to Public Health, “In the previous month, COVID-19 hospitalizations increased over 700 percent from eight to 70 people hospitalized each day.” Read the full story here.
You may also be interested in this article in today’s The Seattle Times: Seattle-area event cancellations and delays follow coronavirus omicron surge.
Why should I get a booster if I might get COVID anyway?
 Most everyone knows someone who is sick or has recently had COVID since the extremely contagious Omicron variant started to spread. And it’s possible that people you know have had COVID even if they got a booster shot. So at this point, you might be thinking: “Why should I get a booster if I might get COVID anyway?” Public Health staff answer that question here.
For more on vaccines and boosters see these news articles and links:
- COVID-19 vaccine – King County webpage
- Vaccine booster doses – DOH webpage
- Booster shots needed against omicron, CDC studies show – The Seattle Times
- Booster longevity: Data reveals how long a third shot protects – NPR
Department of Health to make significant changes to COVID-19 data dashboard
 Today, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is making a number of changes to the way it presents information on its COVID-19 Data Dashboard. The goal is to display current trends and information that are most applicable to the current phase of the pandemic. DOH is also adjusting the frequency of COVID-19 dashboard updates from daily to three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. For more details see this press release from DOH.
Video on boosters and vaccines for children
Parents, does your child still need to get a vaccine or booster? Here's a great video to watch together before they go. Beloved local pediatrician Dr. Ben Danielson answers common questions from kids about the COVID-19 vaccines.
K-12 School Guidance
 Public Health is following the DOH’s K-12 School Guidance for isolation and quarantine and is working with school districts on implementation. Any changes to existing policies based on the new guidance will come from schools as they work to implement the changes. The following documents contain DOH’s updated K-12 School Guidance:
- K-12 Schools Requirements 2021-2022
- Supplemental Considerations to Mitigate COVID-19 Transmission in K-12 Schools
You may also be interested in these news articles:
- L.A. school district requires students to upgrade from cloth masks. – The Seattle Times
- Sports identified as cause of most school COVID-19 outbreaks, analysis shows – KING 5 News
The Lancet: COVID-19 will continue but is the end of the pandemic near?
An article published in the medical journal The Lancet claims that when the Omicron wave ends, “The era of extraordinary measures by government and societies to control SARS-CoV-2 transmission will be over. After the omicron wave, COVID-19 will return but the pandemic will not.” It was written by Dr. Christopher Murray, Director of the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation here in Seattle.
You may also be interested in the views in these articles from the Associated Press:
- Hope seen once the omicron wave increases global immunity
- WHO chief warns against talk of 'endgame' in pandemic
Inslee shares Washington’s pandemic story with U.S. House COVID committee
 Almost two years to the day after the first case of the novel coronavirus in the U.S. was confirmed in Washington state, Gov. Jay Inslee testified before the U.S. House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis about the state’s response and lessons learned.
Inslee was joined on the panel by Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Gov. Pedro Pierluisi and District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser. Read the full story here.
Public Health COVID presentation to Board of Health last week
 Dennis Worsham, Interim Director, Public Health, updated Board of Health (BOH) members at last week’s meeting. You may be interested in viewing his presentation on the status of COVID in the County, which begins at approximately minute 39:40. In addition, BOH members passed a resolution encouraging the Washington State Legislature to address racism as a public health crisis, including addressing gun violence, gender-based violence and the opioid crisis.
Free test kits available from state and federal governments
As we mentioned last week, the state and the federal governments are providing free COVID test kits for the public. The state site was quickly over-run and is out of tests but expects to restock soon. You can access the state site here. And you can order free test kits from the federal government here. You may be interested in the following articles:
- Washington state at-home coronavirus tests out of stock shortly after website launch – The Seattle Times
- COVID-19 tests: Different types and when to use them – The Seattle Times
County updates and other news and events
This week at the Council
Note: Council meetings are still being held remotely.
Tomorrow, Tuesday, January 25th at 9:30 a.m. – Local Services and Land Use Committee. Agenda: Briefings on local services, parks, emergency management, housing and regional planning and a discussion on building and construction standards.
To view the agenda and meeting materials and to offer public comment, see this page.
Tomorrow, Tuesday, January 25th at 1 p.m. – Full Council. Agenda: Discussion of land use permitting, Sound Transit Board appointments and home monitoring and community work program reports.
To view the agenda and meeting materials and to offer public comment, see this page.
Tomorrow, Tuesday, January 25th at 1:30 p.m. – Employment and Administration Committee. Agenda: Discussion and possible action on approval of a job description for the position of policy analysts within the office of law enforcement oversight, update on recruitment for Council Chief of Staff. Executive session on a personnel matter.
Note: Public comment will not be taken at this meeting. To view the agenda and meeting materials, see this page.
Wednesday, January 26th at 9:30 a.m. – Budget and Fiscal Management Committee. Agenda: Discussion and possible action on a 2022 property tax levy, revising County financial management, and ordinances relating to streamlining the capital budget process and a lease agreement with The Center for Wooden Boats.
The agenda and meeting materials - including instructions for public comment - can be downloaded on this page and will soon be available on this page.
Fighting human trafficking
- Council proclaims January, 2022 as Human Trafficking Awareness Month
 My colleague Councilmember Reagan Dunn and I are shown here reading the proclamation with Hao Nguyen from API Chaya and Rebekah Covington with BEST (Businesses Ending Slavery and Trafficking).
Last Tuesday the County Council proclaimed January 2022 to be Human Trafficking Awareness Month. I am very pleased we were joined by Hao Nguyen, the Human Trafficking Program Manager at API Chaya, and Rebekah Covington, the Corporate Relations Manager at Businesses Ending Slavery and Trafficking (BEST) to accept the proclamation.
Many thanks to Councilmember Reagan Dunn for co-sponsoring this proclamation, and a special thanks to the pioneers in our state who led the way in fighting human trafficking – former state Rep. Velma Veloria, Dr. Sutapa Basu, and Emma Catague, along with API Chaya, BEST, and the many other community organizations for your commitment to working to end human trafficking. I am thankful to work with you and be able to spotlight this work.
- Human Trafficking legislation under consideration in Olympia
In other news related to stopping human trafficking, the state House of Representatives is considering a bill, HB 2077, which would expand the program to place human trafficking information posters in rest areas. It would require posters to be permanently affixed, made of durable material, and would require WSDOT to install posters at every WSDOT-owned rest area and inspect them as part of their monthly maintenance activities. I sponsored the original legislation when I was in the State Senate.
- Stakeholder briefing on Thursday - “HHS' Integrative Response to Human Trafficking”
Human trafficking is a public health issue that impacts many of the individuals, families, and communities. The recently released National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking highlights the importance of prevention. Preventing and responding to human trafficking requires a coordinated effort across health and human service systems, and coordination among federal, state, and local partners.
Join the National Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Center for a stakeholder briefing on U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS’) integrative response to human trafficking. The briefing will be held this Thursday, January 27th from 10 – 11 a.m. To register, see this page.
Executive Constantine announces $23.4 million in affordable housing funding for construction and preservation throughout King County
County Executive Dow Constantine today announced $23.4 million in funding for seven projects that will generate 409 units of affordable housing throughout King County. The projects support the development of affordable housing options for individuals and families, including people experiencing homelessness or domestic violence. Read the full story here.
Two positions open for nominations on the County’s Citizens’ Election Oversight Committee (CEOC)
 Two positions on the County’s Citizens’ Election Oversight Committee (CEOC) are currently open for nominations and appointments. View the position description here for more details and for instructions on how to submit an application. The CEOC meets via Zoom until further notice. Regularly, the committee meets at the Elections headquarters building in Renton. The deadline for initial review is February 11, 2022. For more details and to download an application see this page.
Request for Proposals (RFP) for Diaper Delivery 2022
The County’s Department of Community and Human Services’ Developmental Disabilities and Early Childhood Supports Division announced an open Request for Proposals (RFP) for Diaper Delivery 2022. This project will serve families in need of diaper assistance due to the economic impact of COVID-19. In particular, the project will focus on historically disadvantaged communities in order to respond to the disproportionate health and economic impacts by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The funding for this project comes from King County’s COVID-7 budget. For more details, including information on a pre-proposal conference on February 2nd see this page. The deadline for applications is March 3rd.
Reminder - 4Culture recovery fund for individuals
 Are you a cultural producer who has been impacted by the pandemic? 4Culture is offering relief grants between $1,000 and $12,000 to cover COVID-19 related financial losses and help you move forward with your creative work. The deadline is February 2nd.
Reminder - Some Metro service disruptions continue
 King County Metro continues to recover from recent winter storms & ongoing reduced workforce availability. More than 90% of scheduled bus service is operating, however Metro continues to cancel some bus trips. See this page for rider tools to check before traveling.
Upcoming free events with Friends of the Waterfront
 Tyler Ung's work, one of many artworks in the virtual exhibit.
- Lunar new year lion dance, Sunday, January 30th from 2:30 – 3 p.m.: Celebrate the lunar new year with this visually stunning lion dance by the Mak Fai Kung Fu Club at Pier 62.
- Future / Pier 63 - A virtual exhibit, ongoing. Led by Artist-In-Residence Takiyah Ward, Future/Pier 63 features local youth artists' work in response to the question, "How do you envision the future?" Also, see more on this page.
Is there unclaimed money waiting for you?
Check out the state Department of Revenue’s Unclaimed Property site to see if you have a pleasant surprise waiting for you. To date, DOR has returned more than $1 million to Washington residents!
Reminder – This Saturday, 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 this Saturday, 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.
Reminder - Comment period begins this Friday! Comment on Sound Transit’s draft EIS for the West Seattle and Ballard Link extensions
 As of this Friday, January 28th, you will be able to review and comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the West Seattle and Ballard Link Extensions project. The Draft EIS will examine the project’s potential impacts and benefits to the natural, built environment and transportation system for each of the alternatives. The document also proposes mitigation measures. For details on the project and on participating in the draft EIS process see this page.
Did you know?
... that, according to HistoryLink, the “First modern container ship to sail from Puget Sound depart[ed] the Port of Seattle for Hawaii on January 24, 1964.”
Today’s moment of inspiration
 A vaccine clinic organized and run by the Black Doctors Covid-19 Consortium
This is about Dr. Ala Stanford, a CNN “Top Ten Hero of 2021.” Dr. Stanford is a pediatric surgeon in Philadelphia. When her workload slowed in March 2020 she decided to stay home with her family. Soon she began hearing news reports of high death rates among Black Philadelphia residents. Stanford heard a report on the fact that people in affluent white areas of the city were being tested six times more often than those in poor minority areas. The shortage of testing concerned her, especially among a population she knew was more likely to include essential workers.
So, according to CNN, “...she gathered up PPE from her office, got testing kits, rented a van and headed out to bring free testing to areas where positivity rates were the highest.”
"The first day we did a dozen tests. The second time we went out, we did about 150 tests. And the third time ... there were 500 people lined up before we started," she told CNN.
According to the story, “The volunteer effort that Stanford initially funded from her own pocket is now a large operation with 70 employees and more than 200 volunteers.” And the group she founded, “...the Black Doctors Covid-19 Consortium, has brought testing and vaccines to more than 75,000 residents of Philadelphia's minority neighborhoods.” Read the full story – and view an inspiring video – here.
Additional helpful and informative links
- As Omicron eases, health equity issues in Latino community persist – The Stranger
- FDA expected to sharply restrict use of two monoclonal antibodies – The Seattle Times
- Inslee: Washington has entered its fourth wave of COVID-19 – The Seattle Times
- U.S. pharmacies, health centers begin rollout of free N95 masks – CNN
- Changes in COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Among Black and White Individuals in the US – Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA)
- On two-year anniversary of discovery of local COVID case, top experts look ahead – KOMO News
- Washington confirmed the country’s first COVID patient 2 years ago. What have we learned? – The Seattle Times
- Where you’re most likely to catch COVID: New study highlights high-risk locations – The Seattle Times
- Showing or selling a fake COVID-19 vaccine card could become a crime in Washington – NW News Network
- Four King County libraries will host COVID vaccination clinics – KNKX
- To get to a ‘new normal,’ public health must focus on all respiratory viruses – Stat News
- What can vaccinated kids safely do? What about summer camp? Experts answer parenting pandemic questions – The Seattle Times
- King County, Snoqualmie Tribe, partners continue efforts to restore Kokanee population – KING 5
- King County land swap – The Seattle Medium
- King County Regional Homelessness Authority gives report on how Seattle shelters weathered snow and ice — Meanwhile, Melrose/Olive onramp reportedly planned for sweep – Capitol Hill Seattle
- Humans do a poor job of calculating risk. That's terrible for the climate crisis – CNN
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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