  Photo from the Port of Seattle
COVID-19 Data Updates
For up-to-date information on cases, hospitalizations and deaths in the County, see the Daily COVID-19 outbreak summary dashboard. The links to the data by demographics and geography are on the same page.
View all County COVID-related Data Dashboards here, including vaccination rates and outcomes according to vaccination status
View the most recent statewide COVID-19 data from the state Department of Health (DOH).
The graphs below show today’s reported cases, hospitalizations and deaths in King County. So relieved to see the downward trends continuing.
  
Quote of the Day:
“I am with the uprising of women in the Arab world because I can think and fully practice my religion (like men). Also, I’m in debt to my daughter to offer her an honorable life.” – Saudi women’s rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul, 2012
COVID News
King County’s local indoor mask mandate to end after March 11
 Based on the County’s current downward hospitalization and case rates, Public Health’s review of CDC’s guidance, and the state’s action (see below), King County’s local indoor mask order will end concurrently with the state’s order – after March 11th. In addition, King County will not be extending a local mask order for schools and child care facilities beyond the state’s order.
Governors Newsom, Brown and Inslee announce updated health guidance
With declining case rates and hospitalizations across the west, California, Oregon and Washington worked together to update their masking guidance. After 11:59 p.m. on March 11th, California, Oregon and Washington will adopt new indoor mask policies and move from mask requirements to mask recommendations in schools. State policies do not change federal requirements, which still include masks on public transit (although apparently a change in that is now under consideration, including for airline flights and train travel). As I mentioned above, I for one will continue to wear a mask when in public. Read the full story here.
Dr. Ben Danielson answers parents’ questions about vaccines for kids
Are you still hesitant to get the COVID-19 vaccine for your child? Maybe you have some questions or concerns that still haven’t been answered. Beloved local pediatrician Dr. Ben Danielson and Public Health can help. In these videos, he answers some common questions from parents about the vaccines for kids. You may also be interested in this article:
- Pfizer shots protect kids from severe COVID even in omicron – AP News
State’s free at-home COVID test program expanded
 Yesterday the state Department of Health (DOH) announced an expansion of the free COVID test program that was rolled out in January. Now, residents can place up to two orders of home COVID test kits per household every month while supplies last.
Rapid tests are a quick, accessible, and now affordable way to ensure that we are protecting our community, and especially our immunocompromised and otherwise vulnerable neighbors, as mandated restrictions ease. You can order them here: https://www.sayyescovidhometest.org/ I submitted my orders yesterday.
- WA households can now order 2 free COVID test kits monthly — while supplies last – The Seattle Times
Booster dose data added to DOH’s COVID-19 Data Dashboard
Vaccine booster dose data are now available on the Washington State Department of Health’s (DOH) COVID-19 Data Dashboard, the state DOH announced yesterday. The added data include “People who Received a Booster Dose” and “People Eligible for a Booster Dose” broken down at the state and county-levels by sex, age, and race/ethnicity.
Everyone 12 and older should receive a booster dose as soon as eligible. As of February 28th, a total of 2,648,723 people across the state have received a booster dose. A booster dose is an additional dose of any COVID-19 vaccine administered to someone age 12 or older, including certain immunocompromised people who received a third dose and may now be eligible for a fourth dose. The newly added booster dose data can be found by selecting the “Vaccinations” tab and navigating to the sections titled “How many people are getting vaccinated?” and “Who is getting vaccinated?”
You may also find this article from the NW Asian Weekly of interest: Unvaccinated face greater risk of financial ruin.
King County marks two years of COVID outbreak, looks ahead to next phase of pandemic response
Two years since the outbreak in America began right here in King County, our community has been tested and responded with resiliency. From providing vaccines to rapid tests to rental assistance, King County has supported our residents throughout the pandemic.
February 29 marked the two-year anniversary of County Executive Dow Constantine’s emergency declaration in response to the first novel coronavirus outbreak in the nation, shortly after the nation’s first confirmed case was discovered in Snohomish County. Relying on trusted health leaders to chart the course forward and keep the community safe, King County has gone from the epicenter of the outbreak, to now one of the nation’s highest vaccinated communities with the some of the lowest cases and death rates two years later. Read the full story here.
Updates from the COVID-19 Economic, Social & Overall Health Impacts Dashboard
Public Health — Seattle & King County is monitoring changes in key economic, social, and other health indicators resulting from strategies to slow the spread of COVID-19. Here are some highlights from the latest update, focused on the finding that motor vehicle crashes have been more serious and more often fatal in 2020 and 2021 than they were prior to the pandemic:
- In 2021, there were 14.4% more fatal and serious injury motor vehicle collisions than 2019, even though traffic volume had not fully returned to 2019 levels.
- Overall King County saw similar numbers of fatal and serious injury motor vehicle collisions in 2020 (671) compared to 2019 (689), even though there were fewer vehicles on the roads.
- This trend is similar to the national trend where the number and rate of traffic fatalities increased significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite a reduction in traffic volume.
- According to a report by the Washington State Department of Transportation, alcohol sales and highway speeds have been on the rise during the COVID-19 pandemic. Both could be contributing to the increase in traffic fatalities.
County Business and Other News and Events
Highlights from this week at the Council
On Tuesday morning at the meeting of the Law, Justice, Health and Human Services Committee, we had a very interesting conversation while reviewing the implementation plan for Restorative Community Pathways, a juvenile diversion program that connects youth and community members who have experienced harm with community based supports and, if both parties want, restorative justice. These community partners offer youth an opportunity to process and resolve their case without going through the traditional court system, which can perpetuate harm, especially on BIPOC individuals. The program is relatively new, in fact it just started accepting referrals in November 2021, and this implementation report served as an opportunity to check in on the course of the program and ask questions. Councilmember Dunn introduced a motion to pause the program, but all LJHHS members except the sponsor voted against the motion. The program will keep building and referring young people, and I am excited to continue tracking how it develops. You can watch the conversation here and may be interested in these articles:
- King County to continue new juvenile restorative justice program, despite pushback – The Seattle Times
- Community testifies in support of restorative justice for youth in South King County cities – The Seattle Weekly
And, at the meeting of the Full Council on Tuesday, Councilmembers passed resolutions in support of Ukraine and the Ukrainian people and one acknowledging March as Women’s History Month in King County. I cosponsored and spoke on both.
At Wednesday’s meeting of the Committee of the Whole, Councilmembers discussed a motion on creating an Equitable Development Initiative, to prioritize the unincorporated areas of the county and establish a permanent advisory board. The proposal passed out of the committee on a 5 – 4 vote and will be reviewed by the Full Council at its March 15th meeting.
Next week at the Council
Note: Council meetings are still being held remotely.
Government Accountability and Oversight Committee: Tuesday, March 8th at 9:30 a.m. Update from the Director of the King County International Airport on COVID response and other issues. Discussion of an ordinance related to environment, health, climate and community impacts of activities at the County Airport/Boeing Field. Discussion and possible action on an ordinance adopting the revision of voting precincts of King County for the year 2022. The agenda, meeting materials and instructions on providing public comment are available on this page.
Full Council: Tuesday, March 8th at 1:00 p.m. Memorial recognition of former Councilmember Gary Grant and proclamation of School Breakfast Week. Discussion and possible action on an ordinance deferring the next scheduled update of the capacity charge as required by the Regional Wastewater Services Plan, consent items for the Hearing Examiner, possible action on motions regarding the civil and criminal case backlog and confirming appointments. The agenda, meeting materials and instructions on providing public comment are available on this page.
Budget and Fiscal Management Committee: Wednesday, March 9th at 9:30 a.m. Discussion and briefing on Council budget priorities. Discussion and possible action on and ordinance regarding solid waste fees and on an ordinance related to the Coal Creek sewer upgrade project. The agenda, meeting materials and instructions on providing public comment are available on this page.
County Forecast Council: Wednesday, March 9 at 1 p.m. The agenda is not yet finalized but will include briefings and discussion on the Forecast Council’s March 2022 economic and revenue forecast, discount rate values and a draft work plan for 2022. The agenda, meeting materials and instructions on providing public comment will be available on this page.
King County purchases Health Through Housing site in Kirkland -- second on eastside and tenth overall
 King County has purchased the former La Quinta Inn and & Suites in Kirkland. The hotel is the 10th Health Through Housing site and will provide permanent supportive housing for people experiencing or at-risk of chronic homelessness. This is the County’s first Health Through Housing purchase in 2022, and its second location on the Eastside.
With this latest addition, the tenth property acquired since last year, the County has secured nearly 1,000 units for chronically homeless residents to provide housing that is dignified, protective, and service enriched. Read more details here.
Youth and Family Homelessness Prevention Initiative RFP: Deadline is March 25th
 The Youth and Family Homelessness Prevention Initiative request for proposal (RFP) is now open. Applications must be submitted by March 25 at 2:00 pm.
The Best Starts for Kids’ Youth and Family Homelessness Prevention Initiative (YFHPI) provides critical resources to help youth and families who are at risk of homelessness stay housed. The County is looking to partner with approximately fifteen community-based organizations to provide intensive case management coupled with flexible funds for youth and households with youth ages birth-24 years that are at imminent risk of losing their housing; and one or two partners who will provide one-time rental assistance support to YFHPI households. For full details and to apply see this page.
Reminder: March 8 deadline for used (but still usable) County vans
 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 clients with special needs.
Contact my Chief of Staff, Adam Cooper by March 8th for more information. He can be reached at Adam.Cooper@kingcounty.gov or by phone at 206-477-3763.
Reminder: Next Tuesday, March 8th is the deadline for Conservation Futures 2023 Funding applications
 King County Conservation Futures (CFT) grants are used to buy or conserve parks and open spaces used for low-impact recreation such as urban greenspaces, natural areas, forests, community gardens, farms, and trails. CFT grants can be awarded to cities, the county, park districts, and eligible 501c3 nonprofit nature conservancies and historic preservation associations. Visit the Conservation Futures application webpage for details. For more information about Conservation Futures, see this page.
Request for Applications (RFA) -- Lead & Toxics Program Action Groups and Product Testing Events: Deadline is March 24th
The Lead and Toxics Program at Public Health – Seattle & King County seeks partnerships with community-based organizations to prevent childhood lead poisoning and increase Blood Lead testing with a focus on three areas of concern: housing, health care, and consumer products. While we have made significant progress raising awareness about the importance of lead poisoning prevention, King County still faces significant challenges to eliminating lead poisoning in our communities and to testing and serving children with elevated blood lead levels.
Visit www.kingcounty.gov/rfa/lead-toxics to access the full RFA document for details. The deadline to submit applications is March 24th by 2 p.m. A pre-application conference call online will be held next Thursday, March 10th at 1:30 p.m. Details for the March 10 conference:
Meeting URL: https://kingcounty.zoom.us/j/88223575635
Meeting Phone: +1 253 215 8782
Meeting ID: 882 2357 5635
Passcode: 121186
Restaurants address food insecurity in their communities
King County restaurants were some of the businesses most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Global supply chain disruptions and COVID restrictions temporarily shut down indoor dining, leaving many restaurants scrambling to survive. At the same time, food insecurity across the region was on the rise.
Seattle Good Business Network -- a coalition made up of residents, local businesses, and non-profits -- worked to address these issues during the pandemic. The network connects with and inspires people to buy, produce and invest locally. The Good Food Kitchens initiative was aimed at alleviating the economic impacts of the pandemic. Read the full story here.
Waterfront events: Birding and walking tours
Barrows Goldeneye by Kimberle Stark
- Waterfront birding for beginners: Saturday March 12th
Join Seattle Audubon on March 12 from 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. to learn birdwatching basics, as well as how to protect and help birds thrive on the waterfront. Attendees need to reserve tickets for the first half hour of the session and drop-ins are welcome for the second half.
- Walking tour -- The transformation of Seattle's landscape: Wednesday, March 16th
Join geologist and writer David B. Williams on a walking tour to explore the last vestiges of the former downtown bluffs, trace the lost island of Seattle, and examine how the subterranean fill still affects the modern landscape. These tours are the third Wednesday of each month through August, from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Reserve your free tickets here.
Farms following soil-friendly practices grow healthier food, study suggests
 Everyone knows eating fruits and vegetables is good for your health. But these days, stores offer a dizzying array of options: organic, conventional, CSAs, local agriculture. Which ones are best for your health? A new study by the UW, published in January in the journal PeerJ, looks at how regenerative farming practices — soil-building techniques that minimize plowing, use cover crops, and plant diverse crops — affect the nutritional content of the food. Read the full story here.
Gardening? Great. Make it toxic-free with these tips.
 Spring is just about here. For many of us, early spring is a time to get ahead of our garden and yard plans for the year. Dig into some natural and chemical-free yard care tips to help keep your garden and yard thriving and reduce your exposure to toxic chemicals. Plus, they’ll save you money and time, too.
Washington kicks off statewide expansion of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
 United Ways of the Pacific Northwest (UWPNW) and our state’s Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) announced the statewide expansion of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which delivers age-appropriate books to children five and under every month. Parton started the program in 1995 to distribute books in the impoverished Tennessee county where she grew up. The state of Tennessee quickly adopted the program statewide. Since then, the nonprofit program has expanded into five countries. Washington is the eleventh state to commit to achieving statewide coverage. Read the full story here.
Webinar: Challenges with statute of limitations in child sex abuse cases
Victim advocates may be interested in this upcoming webinar, presented by the National Crime Victims Bar Association (NCVBA). It will take place on March 16th at 8 a.m. PT.
Nearly every state has a basic suspension of the statute of limitation for civil actions while a person is a minor. Many states have also adopted additional extensions specifically for cases involving sexual abuse of children. Extensions for filing civil actions for child sexual abuse are most often based upon the discovery rule — by the time the victim discovers the sexual abuse or the relationship of the conduct to the injuries, the ordinary time limitation may have expired. This "delayed discovery" may be due to emotional and psychological trauma and is often accompanied by repression of the memory of abuse. This information is pertinent for Victim Advocates across the country to know and understand in their delivery of services to child victims of sexual assault. For more information on the webinar, see this page. To register, click here.
Power dynamics and global health: Can the global south lead for a change?
 The Studio at Harvard’s Chan School of Public Health is hosting an online discussion of the global health finance system next Wednesday, March 9th at 8 a.m. PT. The COVID pandemic underscored deep inequities and painful failures of the global health system. Development aid sent from wealthy nations saves lives across the developing world but perpetuates dependency and dysfunction. Panelists will examine the global health finance system and explore new paradigms to empower the developing countries. The conversation will be moderated by Raj Kumar, president of Devex. For information, see this page.
Did you know?
… that, on today’s date in 2008, King County passed an ordinance to allow farmers in Enumclaw Plateau Agricultural Production District to process harvests onsite? Read the story here from HistoryLink.
Today’s moment of inspiration
 Tom Littledyke, Photo from BBC
A 31-year old restaurant owner from Dorset, England named Tom Littledyke couldn’t watch the images on the news anymore without taking action. He left Dorset on Monday to drive over 1,000 miles to provide some help for Ukrainian refugees, including providing blankets, sleeping bags, pillows, toys, and other supplies.
According to this story from the BBC, Littledyke “…is on his way to the Ukraine-Poland border with a 16-seater minibus full of supplies…” He is also giving a lift to some other Brits in Kent who decided to fight in support of Ukraine and plans to help provide transport to refugees on his return trip.
According to the BBC story, “He said he wanted to show refugees they were not alone and bring them "a tinge of hope and warmth.” “He is expected to drive through France, Germany and Poland and drop the supplies off near the border with Ukraine, while his partner will continue to look after his two pubs and an Italian restaurant in Bridport.”
Additional helpful and informative links
- California, Oregon, Washington to drop school mask mandates – AP News
- Hospital leaders encourage indoor masking even after WA mandates end March 12 – The Seattle Times
- Should you unmask in WA? Check the COVID risk level where you live – The Seattle Times
- Should You Still Wear a Mask? Experts weigh in on where, and when, you can safely take one off. – The New York Times
- Video: Confused about COVID-19 masking guidelines? – UW Medicine
- How many Americans have had coronavirus? More than double the case counts, CDC estimates – The Seattle Times
- Surgeon general seeks COVID misinformation data – The Seattle Times
- What’s working — and not — in Washington state’s pioneering public-option health insurance plan – The Seattle Times
- Pallet, a For-Profit Provider of Utilitarian Shelters, Could Be a Contender for County Funding – PubliCola
- Downtown Seattle business continues remote work because of crime, not COVID – KING 5 News
- Staffing problems clash with COVID concerns as police hiring in Seattle suburb stirs debate – The Seattle Times
- Women who ran Seattle: Ruby Chow, restaurateur, civic activist and first Asian American elected to King County Council– The Seattle Times
- Heat wave a glimpse of climate change’s impact in N. America – AP News
Keep in touch
Thank you again for taking the time to read my updates, which I’m now sending out once a week, on 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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