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Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers and Health Officer Dr. Chris Spitters provided updates Tuesday on the community’s response to COVID-19.
Executive Somers said the county and its partners continue to focus on safely and quickly administering COVID-19 vaccinations to as many people as possible.
“The supply is still not meeting our capacity to deliver it into arms,” Somers said, “but we are optimistic that the federal government will increase the amount coming to the state and we should begin to have an impact and we are seeing a slow increase but we also are managing to make sure that people who need second doses will be able to get second doses. It is a bit of a juggling act but things are improving slowly.”
Efforts also are underway to ensure that vaccine is available to people from Black, Indigenous, Latinx and other communities that have been disproportionately hit by COVID and who also often face challenges in obtaining health care. Somers said the work builds on outreach and connections made with people in those communities during last year’s Census efforts.
Dr. Spitters said that the Snohomish County Vaccine Taskforce sites are following the state’s lead and focusing much of the attention on making sure people who received their first COVID vaccine dose now can receive their second.
“It looks like the allocation from the state for this week is 5,000 first doses and 18,500 second doses,” Dr. Spitters said. “So consistent with the state Department of Health’s messaging and strategy, this week is mostly about getting second doses in for folks with limited availability this week.”
Spitters also discussed data about COVID-19 in the state’s schools and new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on wearing face masks. He demonstrated how to double mask, consistent with the new guidance.
He also discussed the challenges presented by emerging, more infectious strains of the COVID virus. Wearing masks, washing hands and practicing social distancing all are strategies that can curb infection.
“That's really our call to action for the community, is to continue to do that, to buy time while we roll out the vaccine,” Dr. Spitters said.
Watch the briefing: https://youtu.be/nttV2zkDNkw
Or read the transcript: https://www.snohd.org/DocumentCenter/View/6583/Media-Availability-021621
Young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 years face many challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They may not have entered the workforce, finished school or college, be in a relationship with a significant other, or started a family. Young adults also may feel robbed of important turning points in their lives that they imagined or planned on achieving before the pandemic. Some have spent a lot of time practicing, studying, or waiting, only to have sports competitions, performances, or graduations cancelled or postponed. Others have had to change their wedding plans, are starting or raising a family, or are struggling to keep a job. Additionally, plans for jobs or further education might seem out of reach due to new social and financial challenges.
The state Department of Health has prepared guides for parents and mentors who want to help:
English
Spanish
 Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers and Snohomish Health district Health Officer Dr. Chris Spitters give updates on the response to COVID-19 in Snohomish County.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nttV2zkDNkw
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