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Moving into Phase 2 this week was welcome news to the business owners, employees, schools and residents of Snohomish County. This easing of restrictions is good for our economy, our children’s education, and so many other social and health needs in our communities.
It also means that everyone must be diligent in following all precautions to minimize risk of exposure and transmission. This is particularly important with Super Bowl Sunday ahead. Here are some reminders for a safer game day:
- Cheering on the team from home? A virtual gathering with others is best and safest. Indoor gatherings of no more than five people outside the household are permissible, with a maximum of 15 people for outdoor gatherings. Both indoor and outdoor gatherings are limited to two households.
- Going to a local restaurant to watch the game? Indoor dining is available at 25 percent capacity, with a max of six people per table and a limit of two households.
- Regardless of how you celebrate, face masks and physical distancing still apply when you’re around people you don’t live with.
- Now’s not the time to crowd around the TV for the big game. Spread out the fans.
- Keep the masks on when not eating or drinking.
- Speaking of eating, no double-dipping. Either bring your own food or have separate plates with one person dishing out. The goal is to limit the places where multiple people are touching the same surface and breathing the same air.
- Also wash hands frequently, especially before and after eating, with hand sanitizer as needed in between.
Enjoy the day but make smart play calls. The Roadmap to Recovery is for a two-week period, with the next data published on Feb. 12.
“We do not want to move backward, but that will happen if we’re not careful,” said Dr. Chris Spitters, Health Officer for the Snohomish Health District. “The region must continue to meet at least three of the four metrics to remain in Phase 2. It is incumbent upon all of us to make wise decisions for the sake of our local businesses and neighbors and to continue to drive down COVID-19 transmission in the county.”
See the full press release for more information.
Meanwhile, the Joint Information Center has prepared a brief video with more tips about safely celebrating during Super Bowl weekend.
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The locations and schedules for next week’s drive-thru 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.
- Everett Community College site at 915 N. Broadway – open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Lynnwood Food Bank site at 5320 176th St SW – open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- 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.
- 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.
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If you received your first COVID vaccine at the Snohomish County Vaccine Taskforce sites in Monroe or Arlington, please watch for an email arriving within a few days of your target date for a second dose. The email will include a registration link just for people who received their first dose at the mass vaccination site and need to schedule their second dose.
Vaccine supply is still limited, and we do not know exactly how many second doses we will have in the coming weeks. This means that you may not be able to register for an appointment on your target date, but don’t worry. The available appointments will still be within the acceptable window for your second dose.
If you need additional information or to provide or update/confirm your email address, please complete this quick contact form: https://bit.ly/2YMDJL1.
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The state Department of Health offered this glimpse Thursday of how vaccines have been distributed in Washington this week:
- 19% community health centers
- 23% hospitals
- 36% mass vaccination sites, including the four operated by the state and sites in Snohomish, King and Pierce counties.
- 19% pharmacies
- 3% tribes & Urban Indian Health Program
More than 600 facilities in Washington requested more than 358,000 first doses of vaccine. The first-dose allocation from the federal government was 107,125 doses – less than one-third of what providers sought. Total state allocation for second doses was 58,725 – 14,000 less than requested.
In Gov. Inslee’s weekly press conference, he shared additional statistics about the administration of vaccines since mid-December:
- The state has administered over 770,000 doses since vaccinations began; 10% of the state’s population has received at least one dose
- The state is now administering 28,000 doses per day.
- Statewide, there is capacity to administer 45,000 per day, but we do not yet have the vaccine to make this happen
- There are 1.7 million Washingtonians eligible to receive the vaccine right now. On average, the state is receiving 100,000 doses per week.
The state’s COVID in Washington data dashboard includes county-by-county breakdowns on vaccination progress. The graphic below details total vaccine doses distributed to counties as of Thursday, Feb. 4.
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Initial regular unemployment claims in Snohomish County were virtually unchanged during the week of Jan. 24-30, increasing from 1,698 to 1,703 compared to the week before, the state Employment Security Department reported Thursday. The five-claim difference translates into a .3% rise.
Statewide, there were 16,102 initial regular unemployment claims during the same period, down 2.2% from the week prior. See the full press release for more information.
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Most of us are waiting for our vaccine phase and/or tier to open up so we can make an appointment to get the vaccine. We know that some of you work in jobs that you can’t do from home, which puts you at higher risk of being exposed to COVID. The good news is that every day more and more people are getting the vaccine against COVID. In the meantime, we want you to know that there is help for you if you get COVID and need to isolate or quarantine. You can get assistance through a program called Care Connect Washington.
More information.
 ¿Está enfermo con el COVID-19 y necesita ayuda?
Todos estamos esperando para que nuestra fase de vacunación contra el COVID-19 se abra para inscribirnos y tener acceso a ella. ¿Sabía usted que existe ayuda si se enferma de COVID-19 y necesita aislarse o ponerse en cuarentena? Puede recibir ayuda por medio de un programa llamado Care Connect Washington.
Más información.
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The Minister of Transport, Omar Alghabra, announced two new Interim Orders, which prohibit pleasure craft in Canadian Arctic waters and cruise vessels in all Canadian waters until February 28, 2022. This means:
- Adventure-seeking pleasure craft are still prohibited from entering Arctic waters.
- Passenger vessels carrying more than 12 people are still prohibited from entering Arctic coastal waters, including Nunatsiavut, Nunavik, and the Labrador Coast.
- Cruise vessels carrying more than 100 people are still prohibited from operating in Canadian waters.
Pleasure craft used by local Arctic residents will not be affected.
Smaller cruise ships certified to carry 100 or fewer people are not covered by this ban and must follow provincial, territorial, local and regional health authority protocols.
The temporary measures for pleasure craft and cruise ships were set to expire on Feb. 28, 2021.
Read the press release.
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Many people are working to conquer COVID. Show others how you are fighting COVID by adding one of our new Facebook profile photo frames to your profile picture.
Simply go to the link below, search Snohomish Health District to find our custom frames, then select one of our frames to be in your profile picture. www.facebook.com/profilepicframes
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You’ve been vigilant for months now, and it’s a lot of work – physically and mentally.
The vaccine brings hope, but the pandemic isn’t over.
Thank you for sticking with it by masking and social distancing. Thank you for being patient and brave as high-risk healthcare workers, first responders and elders are first in line. www.snohd.org/covidvaccine
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Cumulative from Jan. 2020 through Feb. 5, 2021
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ESSENTIAL LINKS AND PHONE NUMBERS FOR UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION
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