COVID-19 data 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. The first two graphs are especially encouraging!
  
COVID Updates
Quote of the Day: “The ideals that have lighted my way, and time after time have given me new courage to face life cheerfully, have been Kindness, Beauty, and Truth.” – Albert Einstein, 1931
The latest news on the new Omicron subvariant
 You may have heard about a new “subvariant” of the Omicron variant – called BA.2. To date, two cases of the new subvariant have been identified in Washington state. It has also been referred to as “stealth Omicron,” as it cannot be detected by some PCR tests. See below for the latest news coverage.
- EXPLAINER: What’s known about ‘stealth’ version of omicron? – AP News
- A second version of omicron is spreading. Here's why scientists are on alert - NPR
- New COVID-19 omicron subvariant BA.2 cases found in Washington state – KING 5 News
- Omicron's stealthy subvariant: Today So Far - KUOW
- Omicron subvariant appears more contagious, but not more severe, Denmark says – Reuters
- Omicron 'sub-variant' throws up new virus questions – Medicalxpress
What to know about Omicron: A conversation with DOH’s Chief Science Officer, Dr. Kwan-Gett
You may be interested in this interview with Dr. Tao Kwan-Gett, the new chief science officer at the Washington State Department of Health (DOH), for a deeper look into the omicron variant. The Omicron variant currently makes up over 90% of all sequenced specimens in our state.
Can’t find a COVID test? Don’t call 911
 Public Health is reminding King County residents to please not call 911 if you’re having trouble finding a COVID test. Instead, see the following articles and links for assistance:
- Can’t get a test right now? Here’s what to do – Public Health Insider blog
- COVID-19 testing locations and guidance – King County webpage
- Here’s how Washingtonians can get free at-home coronavirus tests and masks – The Seattle Times
Death at Kent COVID-19 isolation and quarantine facility
Public Health announced that a COVID-19 patient who was staying at the Kent isolation and quarantine facility was found deceased in his room the morning of January 25th. Since opening in March 2020, King County’s isolation and quarantine facilities have provided care for 3,686 unique patients. This is the second death to occur at a King County isolation and quarantine facility.
The Exhaustion Epidemic: Examining the Covid-19 burnout crisis in health care
 Join Stat News next Monday at 10 a.m. Pacific time for a discussion about the long-term impacts of health care workers leaving the industry due to pandemic-related fatigue and burnout. At this virtual event, Stat News’ Nicholas St. Fleur will discuss the emotional burden health care workers are facing with panelists who are working to uncover and implement the solutions needed to support and retain them. For more information and to register see this page.
County business and other news and events
Preparing for “the big one”
 Many of us remember the Nisqually quake that shook Seattle and western Washington in 2001. That quake measured only 6.8 on the Richter scale, yet caused major damage. Geologists have long warned western Washington residents that we are due for “the big one,” a major earthquake along the Cascadia subduction zone.
Well, now there’s an app for that, and it’s available to all Washington state residents. It will provide a few seconds warning, hopefully giving you time to drop, cover and hold on. See this news release from the state’s Military Department, or see this article from The Seattle Times: MyShake earthquake warning app now available in WA. For information and resources on preparing for emergencies see the following:
- King County’s Emergency Preparedness webpage
- Learn what to do: public health emergencies and dangers – King County
- Check out this fun and informative comic book by Public Health -- Survivor Tales: Aftershock.
- And, see the “Make it Through” website for more preparedness resources.
King County awards $2 million to build permanent home for Skyway Resource Center
King County’s Department of Local Services has awarded $2 million to build a new home for the Skyway Resource Center. The space will provide an array of social, health and wellness services and support for the neighborhood – much like the center’s regular mobile “pop-up” events it has held throughout the community the past year and a half.
Local Services awarded a $2 million grant to the Renton Innovation Zone Partnership (RIZP) and King County Housing Authority (KCHA) for development of a resource center at a former bank building in the heart of the unincorporated community of Skyway and West-Hill.
February 8 elections – mail or drop off your ballot now
 You may be aware that there are important school district measures on the ballot in the February special election. The deadline to submit your completed ballot is February 8th.
In addition to those ballot measures, King Conservation District (KCD, not part of King County government), a natural resource assistance agency authorized by Washington State and guided by the Washington State Conservation Commission, has an election for its five-member Board of Supervisors. Four candidates are currently running for the KCD Board. Candidate statements can be found at kingcd.org/elections. For full information on voting in the KCD election, see this page. King County Elections will tabulate all ballots and report all results. You may also be interested in this article:
- Why King County schools are asking voters to fund billions in levy and bond measures – The Seattle Times
County assistance available to “green” your home or business
 Do you have a commercial or multi-family property that could be made more resilient and sustainable? If so, King County wants to support you in doing that. The Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy + Resiliency (C-PACER) program will allow commercial and multi-family buildings to secure low-cost financing to make environmentally sustainable upgrades to their properties. Applications are being accepted now. See this page for more information.
Reminder: February 2nd deadline - - 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.
Monday, January 31st Eastrail leadership meeting
 The Eastrail will be an uninterrupted 42-mile trail that will connect the Eastside and provide the communities of Renton, Bellevue, Kirkland, Woodinville, Snohomish, and Redmond with new opportunities for non-motorized recreation and transportation. Currently 13 miles of the Eastrail are open, five of which are owned by King County. The Eastrail has numerous trail sections including the Cross Kirkland Corridor and the Redmond Central Connector. King County owns just over 16 miles of the Eastrail.
You are invited to attend the Eastrail Regional Advisory Council meeting next Monday, January 31st from 1 - 3 p.m. At this quarterly meeting, elected leaders from Eastrail jurisdictions and partners will hear project updates and discuss coordination. View the agenda for the January 31 meeting here. If you would like to make a public comment at the meeting please email Eastrail@kingcounty.gov. Registration is required for attendance.
King County High Schoolers: Apply for Youth for Parks Winter Workshop series
 The County Parks department is once again offering the Youth for Parks Winter Workshop Series. This program is for King County high school students interested in learning about careers and environmental topics related to parks and public lands. The program participants will also contribute to a group project to create a recruitment video for our Youth Conservation Corps. And I’m especially pleased that it was my amendment to the Comprehensive Plan a few years ago that brought back the YCC which had been eliminated long ago.
The program will take place each Saturday in March at two different locations in White Center. Participants will receive a $250 Visa gift card after completing the program. The application is due on Sunday, February 6th. Interviews will be held the week of February 13th. For details and to apply see this page.
Used – but still usable – County vans being donated
 Above, I am pictured with Monique Brown, Executive Director of FOB HOPE, a 2020 van recipient.
Each year, Metro retires vans from its vanpool fleet and the Council grants some of those vans to community organizations that serve people in need. The vans can be used only to transport customers with special needs (seniors, low-income, youth or people with disabilities). Understanding that it’s challenging to transport people safely during a pandemic, the Council amended the Code last year to allow that, during the declared COVID-19 emergency, organizations may use their van to transport goods and supplies to people with special needs. Once the Executive’s declaration of emergency is lifted, the rules revert back and organizations will need to use their van only to transport customers with special needs.
Contact my Chief of Staff, Adam Cooper for more information. He can be reached at Adam.Cooper@kingcounty.gov or by phone at 206-477-3763.
Did you know?
... that, according to HistoryLink, on today’s date in 1971 “...George T. Rockrise & Associates present[ed] a study of redevelopment options for Seattle's central waterfront for review by city officials. The plan, funded by the Forward Thrust parks bond measure, [was] the third in a series of plans to address the overall decline of the central business district and the central waterfront.”
Today’s moment of inspiration
 Young opera fan stands up during soprano Lisette Oropesa’s recital to sing tenor part. Picture: TikTok: Babatunde Hiphopera/YouTube: 359度
You have to watch the TikTok video on this page. It’s another example of what I’ve heard referred to as “COVID creativity,” or maybe, in this case, “COVID courage.” Last month, celebrated Cuban-American soprano Lisette Oropesa performed at the Verdi festival in Parma, Italy. Oropesa was singing the character Violetta’s ‘Sempre Libera’ from Verdi’s opera La Traviata.
Normally, ‘Sempre Libera’ is a duet. When the entire opera is staged, Violetta is accompanied by a tenor playing the character Alfredo, who sings with her from off-stage. But as this was a recital, Oropesa was singing solo.
Liu Jianwei, a student at the Conservatorio Giuseppe Nicolini di Piacenza in Parma, was attending the performance. He is a long-time fan of the Cuban-American soprano, and happens to be a tenor. When there was no tenor response after Oropesa sang the first bar, Liu stepped in. The singer’s surprise and gratitude – captured on the video – is well worth watching. She worked in the word ‘grazie’ as she continued singing. Read more and view the video here.
 Oropesa and Liu following the performance.
Additional helpful and informative links
- COVID cases decline in Seattle area, surge moves east – AP News
- Masks prevent COVID-19 outbreaks at child-care facilities, study says – United Press International (UPI)
- Oregon school district loses COVID funds for ditching masks – AP News
- Moderna COVID-19 vaccine aimed at Omicron variant starts trials – UPI
- With many areas of the country past the peak of omicron, what comes next? – NPR
- Yes, Omicron is loosening its hold. But the pandemic has not ended. – The New York Times
- Will virus be ‘over’? Most Americans think not: AP-NORC poll – AP News
- Patchwork system for rationing a COVID drug sends immunocompromised patients on a ‘Hunger Games hunt’ – Stat News
- Fast, cheap test can detect COVID-19 virus’ genome without need for PCR – UW News
- Positive for COVID? Seven tips for taking care of yourself at home with Omicron – Solvhealth
- Hospitals are denying transplants for patients who aren’t vaccinated against Covid, with backing from ethicists. – Stat News
- There's one population that gets overlooked by an 'everyone will get COVID' mentality – NPR
- Seattle City Council reverses decision to end hazard pay – The Stranger
- King County officials hope to curb carjackings in 2022 – KING 5 News
- King County paying sheriff's deputies $4,000 bonus to stay on through end of 2022 – Q13
- A California redwood forest has officially been returned to a group of Native tribes - NPR
- Study: Gas stoves worse for climate than previously thought – AP News
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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