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For the week starting January 11, Snohomish County will fall under Phase 1 of the new Healthy Washington - Roadmap to Recovery. This allows for some modest expansion of economic activity as detailed in the graphic below.
With Snohomish County now incorporated into the new Puget Sound Region with King and Pierce counties, movement will be based on meeting all four metrics for the region:
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A 10 percent or greater decrease in the rate of COVID cases per 100,000 population in most recent 14-day period compared to the prior 14-day period
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A 10 percent or greater decrease in the rate of new COVID hospital admission rates per 100,000 in most recent 14-day period compared to the prior 14-day period
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Test positivity of less than 10% for the most 7-day period measured
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Total ICU occupancy of less than 90% for the most recent 7-day period measured
The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) will compile updated data by region every Friday. Regions that meet all four criteria above are eligible to move to Phase 2 on the following Monday. Based on the first dashboard update, the Puget Sound Region is meeting three of the four criteria and is therefore not eligible to advance yet.
The region needs to see a 10 percent or greater decrease in hospital admission rates per 100,000 when comparing two-week periods. The period from December 20 to January 2 saw a 1 percent increase in hospital admission rates across the region compared to the period from December 9 to December 19.
“Hospital trends usually follow 2-3 weeks after the number of COVID-19 infections increase. While it may take a few weeks before the new hospital admission rates decrease enough, the other metrics are in everyone’s control today,” said Dr. Chris Spitters, Health Officer for the Snohomish Health District. “Please be patient, keep masking up and social distancing when around people you don’t live with, and keep those social bubbles as small as possible, and keep things outdoors or well ventilated.
Dr. Spitters adds that the seemingly favorable recent trends in reported case rates and test positivity may reflect multiple factors from the holidays and may not represent truly sustained improvements. These factors include, but aren’t limited to, decreased test-seeking through the holidays and delays in transmission of test results from laboratories to public health entities.
The DOH and coronavirus.wa.gov data dashboards will continue to be available online. Additional data regarding the new criteria for the Roadmap to Recovery will be provided separately for the near term. The risk assessment dashboards will be revised in the future, but there should be no break in the availability of COVID-19 data.
As a reminder, indoor gatherings with non-household members are still prohibited in our current phase. Those behaviors, along with good hand hygiene, are the key to getting test positivity and case rates down.
See the full press release for more details.
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The Joint Information Center has prepared a brief social media video outlining key information that people in Snohomish County need as the state’s new “Healthy Washington – Roadmap to Recovery” plan goes into effect Monday, Jan. 11.
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El nuevo plan COVID-19 "Healthy Washington - Roadmap to Recovery" del estado se pone en marcha el lunes 11 de enero. Esto es lo que necesita saber @SnoCounty. Más información:
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The Joint Information Center has prepared a brief social media video outlining the latest information on how COVID-19 vaccines will become available in Snohomish County.
We know there are a lot of people anxiously waiting for their turn to get the vaccine. While there are COVID-19 vaccines arriving, there is not enough to offer it to everyone just yet. This is why they will be rolled out in prioritized phases.
Like any new process, especially one of this scale and complexity, it takes time to ramp up to full capacity to permit more vaccinations to be completed quickly. We're only 3-4 weeks in what federal and state partners shared would be a 9-to-12-month endeavor.
We’re continuing to follow state and federal guidance to make the best use of vaccine supply and our collective capacity to administer it. We urge patience and cooperation with this gradual, phased process that we aim to complete in approximately 6-9 months.
Please continue to monitor www.snohd.org/covidvaccine for updates. Until your turn for the vaccine comes around, please keep masking up, social distancing, and limiting the number of people in your bubble.
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There are multiple options for getting vaccinated against COVID-19 in Snohomish County, and those options and access are expected to expand in the coming weeks and months.
There is a phased approach to vaccination and information about current and upcoming phases, as well as vaccination options and locations, will be updated online as it is available. Check www.snohd.org/covidvaccine and SnoCoHub (under the COVID-19 Vaccine button) for updates.
Once someone becomes eligible under the phased approach to vaccination, they should check with their primary healthcare provider, clinic or pharmacy on vaccination plans.
Several vaccination sites also are under development by the Snohomish County Vaccine Taskforce. These are meant to enhance vaccination efforts and supplement the existing healthcare system. Vaccination at these sites will be by appointment and is only for those who are eligible in the current phase of vaccination.
Those who are not currently eligible should hold off on requesting appointments. Vaccine providers are working hard to finish vaccinating the group in Phase 1a, including healthcare workers and long-term care residents and staff.
In the coming weeks and months, the COVID vaccine distribution and administration process is expected to become much smoother and the pace of vaccination will increase significantly. Several vaccination sites are under development by the Snohomish County Vaccine Taskforce. These sites are meant to enhance vaccination efforts and supplement the existing healthcare system. Vaccination at these sites will be by appointment only, and information these sites and eligibility will be announced as soon as the details is finalized. The Health District encourages people to visit www.snohd.org/covidvaccine for updates.
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The locations and schedules for next week’s drive-thru COVID-19 testing operated by the Health District are as follows:
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3900 Broadway site in Everett – open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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Everett Community College site at 915 N. Broadway – open Monday-Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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Lynnwood Food Bank site at 5320 176th St SW – open Monday and Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon
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Evergreen State Fairgrounds in the front parking lot off of 179th Ave SE in Monroe – open Monday-Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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Sultan Elementary School site at 501 Date St – open Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Testing is by appointment only and registration is now open at www.snohd.org/testing. Those without internet access or needing language assistance can reach the Health District’s call center at 425.339.5278. The call center is staffed 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Callers after hours or on weekends can leave a message, which will be returned on the next business day.
Testing is open to anyone, regardless of symptoms, but remains strongly encouraged for individuals that fit the following criteria:
- Anyone with any of the following COVID-19 symptoms (fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headaches, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea); or
- Close contact of a confirmed case; or
- Anyone who lives or works in a congregate setting; or
- Work in healthcare, EMS, law enforcement or other fields where work settings have a higher risk of catching or spreading COVID-19; or
- Part of a family or social network that has had a case.
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The annual Point-In-Time Homeless Count is an important tool in the community’s efforts to assess the number of homeless individuals and families in Snohomish County, as well as to determine ways of ending homelessness. The count determines how many people are staying in emergency shelters, transitional housing, and on the street or other places not meant for habitation. During these challenging times, Snohomish County and its partners are working hard to protect everyone in the community against the spread of COVID-19, including people who are experiencing homelessness.
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in communities, and address the challenges of conducting a Point-In-Time count of unsheltered homeless persons during a pandemic, the Department of Housing and Urban Development is allowing local communities to request an exception to conduct the unsheltered count for 2021.
Snohomish County’s request was approved by HUD on December 28, 2020. However, the County will still partner with local human service providers to complete a sheltered count of all individuals experiencing homelessness later this month.
Safety was the main reason the County sought the request – not only the safety of the local nonprofit staff and hundreds of volunteers that are critical partners in the annual unsheltered count, but also the safety of those experiencing homelessness.
The county will complete a sheltered count using established methodology as required and will utilize its robust coordinated entry data in its Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) to gather critical data regarding the needs of people experiencing homelessness in our community.
See the full press release for more information.
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New unemployment claims in Snohomish County jumped from 1,823 to 2,946 during the week of Dec.27-Jan. 2, an increase of 62% from the week before.
That was consistent with statewide results, where the 29,651 initial regular unemployment claims were up 54.4% from the week prior, the state Employment Security Department reported Thursday.
Overall, unemployment claims were about double what they were for the same period last year, just before the COVID-19 pandemic emerged. Since the crisis hit Washington in March, the state has paid more than $13.4 billion in unemployment benefits to more than 1 million Washingtonians.
See the full press release for more information.
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Homage, Red Cross, Hero's Cafe & the Lynnwood Senior Center are sponsoring a community donation drive to benefit Veterans. Please bring new or gently used cold weather clothing, gear, or even gift cards to Homage on Saturday, Jan. 9.
These items are especially appreciated: Winter Clothing: coats, hats, gloves, thermal underwear, neck warmers, scarves, warm socks, sweatshirts, plastic sheets or camping tarps.
Can't make the event? There are other ways to give: Ship winter clothing to Homage Attn: Operation Warm Veterans or drop off items at Homage Mon-Fri from 9am-4pm
See the Facebook post for more information.
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Are you a City of Marysville utilities customer facing financial difficulty related to COVID-19? We invite you to apply for a utility assistance grant for a one-time bill credit of $200 (or $100 for those who already have a discounted utility rate).
The City Council on Jan. 4 approved allotting an additional $25,000 in CARES funds for city utility assistance grants. Grants, unlike loans, do not need to be repaid. The grant application is available at https://www.marysvillewa.gov/340/Utility-Billing.
Eligible customers are encouraged to apply soon because funds are limited. Grants will first be awarded to eligible applicants who have not already received a Marysville CARES utility assistance grant. Those who were previously awarded a grant may still apply and will be put on a wait list; if funding is still available, those grants will be awarded in the order that applications were received.
If you have questions, please contact Utility Billing at 360-363-8001 or utilitybilling@marysvillewa.gov.
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Washington State Ferries encourages riders to check its COVID-19 travel updates to keep informed about changes that have been made because of the pandemic. Face masks are required at all WSF facilities to limit the spread of COVID-19. The requirement includes both indoor and outdoor spaces. Customers traveling by vehicle are encouraged to remain in their vehicles for the duration of their trip, while those in the cabin should practice safe physical distancing.
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Starting this week, the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service are sending approximately 8 million second Economic Impact Payments (EIPs) by prepaid debit card.
These EIP Cards follow the millions of payments already made by direct deposit and the ongoing mailing of paper checks that are delivering the second round of Economic Impact Payments as rapidly as possible.
For those who don't receive a direct deposit, they should watch their mail for either a paper check or a prepaid debit card. To speed delivery of the payments to reach as many people as soon as possible the Treasury's Bureau of Fiscal Service is sending payments out by prepaid debit card.
IRS and Treasury urge eligible people who don't receive a direct deposit to watch their mail carefully during this period. The prepaid debit card, called the Economic Impact Payment card, is sponsored by the Bureau of the Fiscal Service and is issued by Treasury's financial agent, MetaBank®, N.A. The IRS does not determine who receives a prepaid debit card.
Taxpayers should note that the form of payment for the second mailed EIP may be different than the first mailed EIP. Some people who received a paper check last time might receive a prepaid debit card this time, and some people who received a prepaid debit card last time may receive a paper check.
More information about these cards is available at EIPcard.com
EIP Cards are safe, convenient and secure. EIP Card recipients can make purchases online or in stores anywhere Visa® Debit Cards are accepted. They can get cash from domestic in-network ATMs, transfer funds to a personal bank account and obtain a replacement EIP Card if needed without incurring any fees. They can also check their card balance online, through a mobile app or by phone without incurring fees. The EIP Card provides consumer protections including certain protections against fraud, loss and other errors.
EIP Cards and paper checks are being sent in a white envelope that prominently displays the U.S. Department of the Treasury seal. The EIP Card has the Visa name on the front of the Card and the issuing bank name, MetaBank®, N.A. on the back of the card. Each mailing will include instructions on how to securely activate and use the EIP Card.
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The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) on Friday announced that the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) will re-open the week of Jan. 11 for new borrowers and certain existing PPP borrowers. To promote access to capital, initially only community financial institutions will be able to make First Draw PPP Loans on Monday, Jan. 11, and Second Draw PPP Loans on Wednesday, Jan. 13. The PPP will open to all participating lenders shortly thereafter.
This round of the PPP continues to prioritize millions of Americans employed by small businesses by authorizing up to $284 billion toward job retention and certain other expenses through March 31, 2021, and by allowing certain existing PPP borrowers to apply for a Second Draw PPP Loan.
“The historically successful Paycheck Protection Program served as an economic lifeline to millions of small businesses and their employees when they needed it most,” said Administrator Jovita Carranza.
See the full press release for more information.
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Do you have a bluebird in your life? That person who doesn’t dismiss your pain, but helps you find joy? They know it’s harder to be pleasant than prickly.
Thank them for their song. Maybe they need a bluebird right now, too. https://tinyurl.com/y37fjqkm
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Cumulative since January 2020.
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ESSENTIAL LINKS AND PHONE NUMBERS FOR UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION
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