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 Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers, Snohomish County Emergency Management Director Jason Biermann, and Snohomish Health District Health Officer Chris Spitters gave an update on COVID-19 response efforts during a special Board of Health meeting Thursday evening. The meeting was held virtually to provide an update for public officials.
Executive Somers spoke about early decisions that helped shape the response to this pandemic, such as ensuring that essential workers had support and that supplies, groceries and other goods could be safely and reliably delivered. He also noted how past experiences with disasters, particularly the 2014 mudslide near Oso, have informed the county’s response to this, and how knowledge has improved throughout the last nine to ten months so the county can better address COVID-19.
“We’re now more resilient and prepared for this pandemic and any other disasters that may come our way in the future,” he said.
Board of Health Chair Stephanie Wright joined the presenters in recognizing the resilience of the community and the strength of fighting this pandemic together.
“Back in March, I said that I had confidence in the people of Snohomish County and in our ability to take care of one another, and I still strongly believe that,” she said.
Biermann provided a broad look at the multiple ways the county and its partners have pulled together to respond to the COVID crisis. He highlighted several initiatives, including how staff working out of the Emergency Coordination Center have acquired and distributed upwards of 23 million of pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE); stood up an Isolation and Quarantine Facility for people deemed at risk of spreading COVID-19 and used data and the skills of area farmers to launch Nourishing Neighborhoods, a program that’s brought fresh, local produce to places in the county where people sometimes struggle to access food.
The Nourishing Neighborhoods effort reflects a common thread that runs through the community’s response. It is “all done within the county, all with the intent of making us stronger and more self-reliant,” Biermann said.
Dr. Spitters focused on the data, going beyond the rising case rates to look at how the cases skew by age and by race and ethnicity. Some groups are disproportionately impacted by this virus, particularly the Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander population, but also other minority groups within Snohomish County. This appears to be due to the higher risk of exposure in essential or frontline jobs or at home, he said.
Though most of the current cases and most of the increase in rates has been in adults age 20 to 59, cases are increasing in all age groups, and Snohomish County has seen increases in cases at longterm care facilities, hospitalizations, and deaths over the last few weeks. While hospital capacity is not currently threatened, the numbers and trend are concerning. As the holiday season approaches, from Halloween through the end of the year, people should try to do things differently than in past years and avoid gatherings, even ones that seem harmless, Spitters said.
“I don’t want to be the guy that’s throwing water on the holiday fire, but here it goes. I mean, it’s going to have to be different this year. I just can’t see large groups of people getting together indoors, who are understandably tired of all this and want to celebrate the holidays. I think you’re going to have to make it look different this year,” he said.
Though the county passed 10,000 cumulative cases this week, most people here still have not had to experience COVID. This means, in terms of numbers, most people who choose to go out without a mask or who get together with friends and families indoors are going to “get away with it,” and that might give them positive feedback that it is OK to let the prevention measures slide. However, there are broader community impacts and cases will continue to increase if people don’t reduce their interactions.
“If it only happens a few percent of the time that you go to a gathering and get infected, that means that you’re probably going to get away with it most of the time,” Spitters said. “But the community’s not going to get away with it.”
Watch here: https://youtu.be/vPUcMJwEubo
Read a transcript: https://www.snohd.org/DocumentCenter/View/5589
Slides from briefing: http://www.snohd.org/DocumentCenter/View/5586/Oct-29-Special-BOH-Mtg
Read the full release here.
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COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan update
The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) continues to make progress with COVID-19 vaccine distribution planning efforts. DOH is encouraging healthcare providers to prepare to enroll as approved COVID-19 vaccine providers, and an official letter was sent to them with information on how to enroll. Provider enrollment is the first step in setting up approved COVID-19 vaccine provider locations.
Long-term care facilities can also enroll in a program that will provide COVID-19 vaccine for their residents and staff. On October 16, the White House announced a federal partnership with CVS and Walgreens to administer the COVID-19 vaccine to residents in long-term care facilities when available. These facilities should strongly consider registering for this program. Participation is critical to ensuring that their vulnerable residents are among the first to receive a vaccine when it becomes available.
The Health District continues working with the Department of Emergency Management, health care system partners, other local partners and DOH on plans for COVID-19 immunization in Snohomish County. Although no COVID-19 vaccine product has yet been reviewed and approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration, our goal is to be ready-to-go when a safe and effective vaccine becomes available.
For more information about the COVID-19 vaccine, visit the DOH coronavirus vaccine page.
Scammers posing as health officials in schemes targeting medical providers.
Warning to health care professionals with Washington licenses: Beware of scammers falsely claiming to represent the Washington State Department of Health – and don’t send money to anyone without being certain of the recipient’s identity. Read DOH’s full news release here.
Five key COVID-19 safety requirements for employers
Emergency law requires five key workplace safety practices for all employers. Employees must practice social distancing and mask up. Employees must wash their hands frequently and thoroughly. Workplaces must be routinely sanitized. A plan must be written and in place to address worker illness. Finally, employees must be educated about COVID-19 and how to work safely.
Drive-thru testing schedule
Drive-thru testing will continue to be available next week at 3900 Broadway. Online registration for appointments is open. Learn more at www.snohd.org/drive-thru-testing.
In addition to the Everett site, the Health District will also be offering testing at the Lynnwood Food Bank on Tuesday, November 3. Appointments will be available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 5320 176th St SW.
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The state Department of Health on Wednesday released the latest statewide situation report on COVID-19 transmission, which shows a general rise in the intensity of the epidemic in both western and eastern Washington.
Report findings include:
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Transmission is increasing in western and eastern Washington. The best estimates of the reproductive number (how many new people each COVID-19 patient will infect) were 1.34 in western Washington and 1.12 in eastern Washington as of October 10. The goal is a number well below one, which would mean COVID-19 transmission is declining.
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From mid-September to mid-October, case counts and hospitalizations have risen in both western and eastern Washington. Some of the increase in early October appears to be due to more testing. However, case counts increased during the week ending October 15 despite decreases in testing.
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Increases in western Washington are widely distributed geographically and across ages. Growth is particularly high in the 25 to 39 and 40 to 59 age groups and in the Puget Sound region (Snohomish, King and Pierce counties). This wide distribution suggests increases are due to broad community spread, not driven by a single type of activity or setting.
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Though cases have been rising at a slower rate in eastern Washington, other trends indicate a risk for faster growth in the future. The proportion of positive tests to total tests is considerably higher in eastern Washington than western Washington. Additionally, the case rate per person in eastern Washington remains twice as high as in western Washington.
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Recent growth in cases is widely distributed across the state. Several larger counties (Snohomish, Clark, Pierce, and Thurston) are seeing steady increases. After steady increases through October 7, case counts in King County began to decline—possibly due to decreased testing in that time period. Several smaller counties (Grant, Kittitas, Skagit and Walla Walla) are clearly experiencing increases, though the total number of recent cases remains low.
“Any spike in COVID-19 cases will jeopardize our progress toward reopening schools, strain our healthcare system and increase risks during holiday gatherings,” said Deputy Secretary of Health for COVID-19 Response Lacy Fehrenbach. “High rates in the community increase the chance that someone at your gathering—even people you know well and trust—could have COVID-19. If we act now, we can get these increases in control in time for the holidays.”
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Snohomish Police Chief Rob Palmer posted an open letter to his community on Tuesday. In the letter, Palmer acknowledged political and ideological divisions in Snohomish, and the potential for continued conflict. Palmer promised to do what he can to make sure his department protects everyone’s rights. He also made some requests:
“My first request is this; if you wish to protest an injustice, seek a redress of wrongs, get your message out to as wide an audience as possible – don’t break other people’s stuff while you’re at it. It doesn’t help anything or anyone and most likely harms the livelihoods of exactly the people you are trying to speak for. Please respect the rights of others, as you correctly expect your rights to be respected; assemble peaceably and responsibly and I will do everything within my lawful authority to facilitate you.
“Conversely, when well-intentioned citizens come to the city to provide community support or security in the face of a serious threat, while visibly armed with semi-automatic weapons and tactical gear, this automatically creates an uncomfortable distraction for my officers who are called to respond to the situation. Please consider how their safety is compromised by such distractions during a critical or rapidly evolving event. The more focus my professionally trained, and legally-authorized team of officers can apply to the complexities of a potential or active threat – without such distractions – the safer they and our community will be. The simple truth is that citizens have no legal authority to stop anyone from doing anything and direct intimidation of otherwise peaceful protesters could subject you to arrest.”
Read the full letter on Facebook.
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Athletes are looking forward to getting back to practicing with their teams again. The state has issued guidance on how to make the return safe by reducing the risk of spreading COVID-19. The Joint Information Center created this video to highlight some of those important guidelines. For more info, please go here.
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Connections are crucial for mental and emotional wellness. Feelings of isolation or loneliness can contribute to depression and anxiety. One of the best ways to take care of each other is to stay connected, even when we can't be together in person.
Watch this social media video for some ideas to help kids and teens stay connected. How are you connecting?
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If you’re an immigrant experiencing hard times because of COVID-19, and you aren’t eligible for federal financial relief or unemployment insurance, this fund is for you. Apply for the Washington COVID-19 Immigrant Relief Fund and receive a $1,000 one-time direct payment (up to $3,000 per household). If you need help, call 1-844-724-3737 (Mon-Fri, 9AM-9PM)
More information, in English and Spanish, and grant applications, can be found at: https://www.immigrantreliefwa.org/
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What should you do if you are exposed to COVID-19 through a close contact? The Joint Information Center has prepared a brief video with guidance on how best to keep yourself and others safe. More information also is available at http://bit.ly/CloseContacts
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The U.S. Small Business Administration on Wednesday announced Fiscal Year 2020 summary loan data of the financial assistance provided through traditional loan program lending as well as aid provided via the CARES Act. Loans guaranteed through traditional SBA lending programs exceeded $28 billion; however, enactment of the CARES Act dramatically increased loan volume guaranteed by the Agency: In FY20, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) provided an additional 5.2 million loans worth more than $525 billion; the Agency’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program added another 3.6 million small business loans valued at $191 billion, as well as an additional 5.7 million EIDL Advances worth $20 billion.
Highlights from the PPP include:
- 27% of the PPP loan dollars were made in low-and moderate-income communities which is in proportion to the percentage of population in these areas:
- More than $133 billion, or 25%, of PPP loans were approved for small businesses in historically underutilized business zones (HUBZones); and
- More than $80 billion, or 15%, of total PPP dollars were approved to small businesses in rural communities.
Learn more about coronavirus relief options on the Small Business Administration website.
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Unemployment claims drop 10% in Snohomish County
New unemployment claims in Snohomish decreased from 1,725 to 1,558 down 10% from the week before, the state Employment Security Department said Thursday.
During the week of October 18-24, there were 14,198 initial regular unemployment claims statewide, down nearly 16% from the week prior, the state reported.
While claims have been trending down in recent weeks, statewide they still remain 128% above where they were at the same time last year as the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis continue.
See the full press release for more information.
 New phone hours for the Employment Security Claims Center
Employment Security Department has changed the unemployment claims center phone hours so staff can process claims and get eligible claimants their payments faster. Read the full announcement.
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8 a.m. to noon, Monday – Friday, phones will be open for inbound calls. If we can’t answer your question right away, we will schedule a time to call you back.
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Noon to 5 p.m., Monday – Friday, we won’t be taking calls so claims agents can process claims, make outbound calls, and resolve issues that delay payments.
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Sunday – Tuesday are our busiest days both online and on the phones. If you can’t get through, try calling or logging on later in the week. Find more tips for contacting us on our help page.
- The fastest and easiest way to submit weekly claims is using eServices, but claimants can submit weekly claims using our automated phone system, 12:01 a.m. Sunday to 4 p.m. Friday.
Job search requirement remains suspended but work search resources are available
The job search requirement of unemployment claimants remains suspended through Nov. 9. Claimants may continue to answer “no” to the job search question on weekly claims for now. Employers in search of new talent and job seekers in search of new opportunities may turn to WorkSourceWA.com to find applicable resources.
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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, new business starts are up 8% overall this year, and a whopping 25% in the third quarter here in Washington state – 23,611 in 2020 compared to 17,963 in 2019 for the third quarter – which is especially significant given the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s true that small businesses are the engine of the U.S. economy, especially during downturns in the economy when there tends to be a corresponding increase in entrepreneurship (Journal of Economics and Management Strategy).
Gov. Jay Inslee this week proclaimed November Global Entrepreneurship Month in Washington, kicking off nearly 50 online webinars and on-demand training sessions throughout November to help people start new businesses and help current business owners pivot, rebuild or safely restart in the age of COVID-19.
Washington’s Global Entrepreneurship Month will cover a wide range of topics designed to address the significant challenges businesses face now and in the years to come.
As people seek new opportunities in the economy, Commerce reports a dramatic increase in the demand for training and education in entrepreneurship. November’s activities, along with a new Entrepreneur Academy launching Nov. 2 on MyStartup365.com, are designed to provide innovative programming that will teach potential entrepreneurs and existing small business owners the essential skills they need to be successful in the years to come.
Find a complete list of Global Entrepreneurship Month events here: http://bit.ly/wa-gem.
Small businesses seeking other assistance may also want to visit Commerce’s COVID-19 Resources page.
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For thousands of students enrolled in Washington’s community and technical colleges, it’s not just homework and studying they worry about. For them, it’s more basic: they need help paying for things like food, school supplies, books, child care and housing. Now, more help is here.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently approved Washington’s proposal to allow low-income students in a wider range of certificate, degree and industry-recognized programs to receive food assistance through the state’s Basic Food Employment and Training Program, or BFET, provided they meet all the other eligibility criteria. Previously, this support was available only to income-eligible students enrolled in vocational programs or basic skills classes, severely limiting the number of students potentially eligible for BFET.
Once students qualify for food assistance and enroll in the BFET program, they receive other benefits like tuition assistance, job-search services and financial help for basic needs like school supplies, books, child care, housing, utilities, medical bills and clothing.
The BFET program expansion support is even more important now as the coronavirus pandemic worsens hunger for college students across the country. Before the economic downturn, a February report by the Hope Center for College, Community and Justice at Temple University showed six in 10 Washington community and technical college students experienced hunger or housing insecurity in the previous year, even though most were working.
Read the rest of the story on the governor's Medium page.
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Supporting your family’s need to balance employment and child care is vital during this challenging time.
Snohomish County and its partner nonprofits, the YMCA – Snohomish County and Boys & Girls Clubs of Snohomish County, are here to help.
The County is offsetting a portion of the child care costs at its partner nonprofits through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
YMCA -- Snohomish County: 425-374-5779
Boys & Girls Clubs of Snohomish County: 425-315-7082
More information is available in Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Russian, and English here: bit.ly/2Srkwvf.
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Although many of us would like for this year to end right now, we still need to set our clocks back one hour on Sunday, Nov. 1 as Daylight Saving Time ends at 2 a.m.
It’s also a great time to check your emergency kit for expired items and test the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
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Case counts as of October 30, 2020
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ESSENTIAL LINKS AND PHONE NUMBERS FOR UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION
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