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Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers, Health Officer Dr. Chris Spitters and Emergency Management Director Jason Biermann provided updates Tuesday on the community’s response to COVID-19.
Much of the presentation focused on progress administering COVID-19 vaccinations, including the county’s work to develop the ability to inoculate tens of thousands of people each week – if vaccine supply increases.
Winter storms across much of the U.S. last week blocked vaccine supplies from reaching the county. This week, those supplies arrived, along with more doses, and work is underway to scale up vaccine capacity.
“It’s really frustrating for all of us not to have more dependable supplies every week,” Executive Somers said. “It makes it difficult to plan but we are optimistic it will get better with time.” He also wanted to assure the community that “all groups that have been more adversely impacted by COVID-19, including our seniors, will remain priorities for us.”
Dr. Spitters said declining case COVID rates, along with reductions in hospitalizations and deaths are all good signs, but it is “truly remarkable” that the recent data show only one newly reported COVID case in a long-term care facility. Compare that to earlier this winter, when there were up to 90 new cases weekly in long-term care facilities, he said.
The decrease in nursing home cases offers much relief to residents, their families and staff. While there are many contributing factors, vaccinations of people living and working in long-term care facilities is clearly playing a big role, Dr. Spitters said.
Despite weather challenges, last week more than 25,000 doses of vaccine were administered in the county, Dr. Spitters said.
“We now have 92,000 people who have received their first dose and 29,000 who are fully vaccinated,” he said. That works out to more than 120,000 total doses of vaccine administered in roughly 10 weeks.
Biermann provided a detailed briefing on the COVID vaccination program here and its challenges. Planning for vaccinating people in the county began in July and initially didn’t place much emphasis on mass distribution sites outside the existing health care system. The focus shifted in December, and the first site stood up Jan. 6. The Snohomish County Vaccine Task Force now operates four sites in Everett, Edmonds, Monroe and Arlington. About half of the people who have been vaccinated against COVID in the county have received their shots at one of the mass vaccination sites.
“We know we are still a long way off from getting the over 600,000 Snohomish County residents that we know will want to be vaccinated completely vaccinated, but we are making good progress,” Biermann said.
The biggest hurdle remains supply, he added.
It is true that other counties have vaccinated more people or a higher percentage of the eligible population, but the focus here remains on getting everyone who wants to be vaccinated as swiftly and safely as possible, the news conference was told.
“We are in a race and a competition against the virus, not against the neighbors,” Dr. Spitters said.
Watch the briefing: https://youtu.be/E6mvJpwb4hs
Or read the transcript: https://www.snohd.org/DocumentCenter/View/6675/Media-Availability-0223
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The COVID vaccine is safe and effective, but no vaccine offers 100% protection, and it will take time to vaccinate enough people for widespread immunity. Even if you’ve gotten both doses, it’s important to keep up the same preventive measures we’ve been relying on throughout this pandemic. Don’t let your guard down yet. This isn’t forever, just for now.
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Students, teachers, and staff in Snohomish School District schools are participating in a COVID-19 testing project with researchers at the University of Washington (UW) to gain new insights into the transmission of the virus in schools and classrooms.
The project provides free COVID-19 testing for in-person learning students in grades kindergarten through 2nd grade, as well as current, onsite staff working with special education and kindergarten through 6th grade students. This program is voluntary and only those families and staff who want to participate are encouraged to do so. It was slated to begin Feb. 22 and will continue through the end of the 2020-2021 school year.
“We are thrilled to be a part of this testing partnership with the University of Washington,” said Kent Kultgen, Superintendent of the Snohomish School District. “This project allows our students and staff participating in in-person learning to be routinely tested for COVID-19. This project gives our students, staff and their families peace of mind by providing timely results. In addition, this rapid personal testing model will enable our health partners to quickly contact trace those who have had contact with those who test positive.”
The UW’s Dr. Helen Chu said the goal is to gain knowledge about how the virus may be transmitted in schools, especially by asymptomatic children. The study will be conducted between February and June, through regular symptom monitoring and weekly volunteer testing of children and school staff.
“I am confident that with the design of this study and the participants, we will learn a great deal about the transmission of the virus,” Chu said. “This information will be invaluable to policy makers and administrators of health and education systems on the state and local levels, as they make decisions on when and how students may return to in-classroom instruction.”
The study is being conducted by the Seattle Flu Study group, which includes faculty and staff from the Brotman Baty Institute; UW Medicine and the Department of Genome Sciences; Seattle Children’s Hospital; and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.
To learn more, visit www.sno.wednet.edu/reopening/testingstudy.
Or watch the project video: https://youtu.be/Lk70B-70yjk
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Overdose deaths accelerated in Washington in 2020, increasing by 38% in the first half of 2020 compared to the first half of 2019. Most of that increase came from deaths involving the powerful opioid fentanyl.
Preliminary data show 835 overdose deaths in the first six months of 2020 compared to 607 deaths in the first half of 2019. Fentanyl-involved deaths more than doubled from 137 to 309 during that time. Most deaths involved multiple substances.
The increase in overdose deaths was highest among groups already dealing with inequitable health outcomes: American Indian/Alaska Natives, Hispanic/Latinx, and Black people.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all of us,” said Bob Lutz, state medical advisor for the COVID-19 response. “Those Washingtonians with substance use disorder may have found themselves using more frequently, and unfortunately, the data suggest they are also overdosing more often.”
More information.
Preocupante tendencia de sobredosis fatales en 2020, en parte, por consumo de fentanilo
En la primera mitad del 2020, se ha observado un aumento del 38 % de muertes por sobredosis en Washington, en comparación con los mismos meses del 2019. En gran parte, el aumento se debe a muertes relacionadas con el consumo de fentanilo, un opioide muy potente.
El aumento de muertes por sobredosis fue mayor entre grupos que ya enfrentaban desigualdades en términos de salud: personas de origen indioamericano o nativas de Alaska, hispanas o latinas y negras.
Según los datos preliminares (solo en inglés), en los primeros seis meses del 2020 se registraron 835 muertes por sobredosis, comparadas con las 607 muertes en la primera mitad del 2019. Las muertes relacionadas con el consumo de fentanilo aumentaron más del doble durante ese tiempo: de 137 a 309. La mayoría de las muertes estuvieron relacionadas con el consumo de múltiples sustancias.
“La pandemia de la COVID-19 nos ha afectado a todos”, dijo Bob Lutz, asesor médico estatal para la respuesta contra la COVID-19. “Es posible que los habitantes de Washington con trastornos de consumo de sustancias hayan consumido con más frecuencia y, lamentablemente, los números indican que han sufrido más sobredosis”.
Más información
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The Monroe Community Senior Center is partnering with Pharm A Save Mornoe to compile a list of seniors, age 65+, who are in need of their first COVID-19 vaccine shot. Efforts are underway to establish a vaccination clinic at the senior center, and those on the list will be contacted when that clinic becomes available. To get on the list, please contact the senior center either by phone at (360) 794-6359, or by email at programs@mcsc.org.
See the full Facebook post.
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The state Department of Health and others on Tuesday announced that the B.1.351 variant of SARS-CoV-2 has been detected in King County, WA.
The variant, initially identified in South Africa, was identified through genomic sequencing at the UW Medicine Virology Laboratory. The patient tested positive for COVID-19 on January 29, 2021. Other details about the case, including travel history are not available as the person was not able to be reached through contact tracing efforts.
At the same time, a virology lab found evidence of 19 additional cases of the B.1.1.7 variant strain in Washington state. First identified in the United Kingdom, this brings the total number of known cases of the B.1.1.7 variant in Washington state to 39. Currently, there are no confirmed cases of the P.1 variant that originated in Brazil.
“The finding underscores the importance of genomic surveillance by sequencing, which allows us to identify variants currently circulating in the population,” said Dr. Pavitra Roychoudhury, acting instructor, Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine.
See the full press release for more information.
The Right as Rain blog from UW Medicine also offers more information about COVID variants including the importance of people being diligent in efforts to slow their transmission.
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The state Department of Health is optimizing the hours for the COVID-19 information hotline to better serve the public.
Starting on February 22, the hotline will be open from:
Hotline specialists can answer questions on a variety of COVID-19 topics, including symptoms and testing, exposure to the virus, recommended isolation and quarantine periods, and WA Notify (the state’s exposure notification app).
Additionally, hotline specialists may be able to make COVID-19 vaccination appointments for eligible Washingtonians who do not have internet access, or need help using Phase Finder and online appointment scheduling tools.
To reach the state COVID-19 information hotline, dial 1-800-525-0127, then press #. Language assistance is available.
Nuevo horario de la línea directa estatal de información sobre la COVID-19
El Departamento de Salud del Estado de Washington está optimizando el horario de la línea directa estatal de información sobre la COVID-19 para atender mejor al público.
A partir del 22 de febrero, la línea directa estará disponible en los siguientes horarios:
Los especialistas de la línea directa pueden responder preguntas sobre diversos temas relacionados con la COVID-19, tales como los síntomas y las pruebas, la exposición al virus, los periodos de aislamiento y cuarentena recomendados y Notifica WA (la aplicación estatal de notificaciones de exposición).
Además, los especialistas de la línea directa pueden concertar citas para la vacunación contra la COVID-19 para los habitantes de Washington que reúnan los requisitos y no tengan acceso a internet, o necesiten ayuda para utilizar Encuentra tu fase (solo en inglés) o herramientas de programación de citas en línea (solo en inglés).
Para las citas de vacunación, el servicio más rápido es el autoservicio. De ser posible, programe su propia cita en línea o a través de su proveedor de salud para que podamos reservar la capacidad de atención de la línea directa para fijar citas para aquellos que necesiten ayuda.
La información de la línea directa está disponible en nuestra página de contacto sobre la COVID-19 (solo en inglés). Para comunicarse con la línea directa estatal de información sobre la COVID-19, marque 1-800-525-0127 y, luego, oprima #. Hay asistencia lingüística disponible.
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The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission extended protections for electric and natural gas customers struggling to pay their bills due to the ongoing economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
State regulators extended an order — previously set to expire on April 30 — preventing investor-owned energy utilities, such as Puget Sound Energy and Cascade Natural Gas, from disconnecting customers for nonpayment through July 31. Utilities will also continue to waive late fees and deposits through Jan. 27, 2022.
The order allows utilities to begin sending notices to customers in June, reminding them that disconnections will resume, and supplying information about payment options and customer assistance programs.
In the order, the commissioners said, “ The pandemic continues, and efforts to combat it are evolving. The Commission is committed to remaining flexible when addressing the changing circumstances in these challenging times. ... We remain committed to addressing equity issues that impact utility customers, and we look forward to continuing to engage with stakeholders and the public to protect Washington’s most vulnerable communities.”
Read the full release.
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The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently announced $84.4 million in grants to Washington state to continue helping an estimated 17,800 people in need. The grants renew funding for HUD’s “Continuum of Care” — a program that supports community-based programs on the front lines of serving individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
Here in Washington, these programs provide services including transitional housing rental assistance, supportive services such as outreach and permanent supportive housing for people with disabilities. A press release from the state Department of Commerce lists more than two dozen examples in Snohomish County, funded at more than $12 million.
“Our state has an incredible network of organizations working every day in partnerships with local governments and housing programs to make the most of every available dollar to help the growing number of individuals and families experiencing homelessness,” said Washington State Commerce Director Lisa Brown. “We had a homeless crisis before COVID, and today, sadly, we’re seeing even more people in need, some for the first time in their lives. This HUD funding is vitally important to strengthen communities in our battle to end homelessness.”
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Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler has extended two emergency orders. His order requiring health insurers to waive copays and deductibles for any consumer requiring testing for coronavirus (COVID-19) and his order protecting consumers from receiving surprise bills for lab fees related to medically necessary diagnostic testing for COVID-19 are both extended until March 21, 2021.
Kreidler's order waiving cost-sharing applies to all state-regulated health insurance plans and short-term, limited-duration medical plans. The order on surprise billing applies to both in-state and out-of-state laboratories when a provider orders diagnostic testing for COVID-19.
Also, insurers must continue:
- Allowing a one-time early refill for prescription drugs.
- Suspending any prior authorization requirement for treatment or testing of COVID-19.
In addition, if an insurer does not have enough medical providers in its network to provide testing or treatment for COVID-19, it must allow enrollees to be treated by another provider within a reasonable distance at no additional cost.
See the full press release for more information.
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More than a year after COVID-19 was declared a global health emergency, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continue to underscore that there is no credible evidence that food or food packaging play a role in spreading the virus.
In a Feb. 18 press statement, federal officials said:
“Our confidence in the safety of the U.S. food supply remains steadfast. Consumers should be reassured that we continue to believe, based on our understanding of currently available reliable scientific information, and supported by overwhelming international scientific consensus, that the foods they eat and food packaging they touch are highly unlikely to spread SARS-CoV-2.
“It’s particularly important to note that COVID-19 is a respiratory illness that is spread from person to person, unlike foodborne or gastrointestinal viruses, such as norovirus and hepatitis A that often make people ill through contaminated food. While there are relatively few reports of the virus being detected on food and packaging, most studies focus primarily on the detection of the virus’ genetic fingerprint rather than evidence of transmission of virus resulting in human infection. Given that the number of virus particles that could be theoretically picked up by touching a surface would be very small and the amount needed for infection via oral inhalation would be very high, the chances of infection by touching the surface of food packaging or eating food is considered to be extremely low.”
For more information, read the full statement.
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The U.S. Small Business Administration starting Wednesday plans a special 14-day focus on connecting the smallest businesses and nonprofits with the federal Paycheck Protection Program.
The SBA has scheduled the exclusive PPP loan application period for small businesses and nonprofits with fewer than 20 employees. It is part of an initiative by the Biden-Harris Administration to make improvements to the PPP program.
The latest round of Paycheck Protection Program funding opened one month ago and there have been improvements to the program’s implementation:
- For businesses with fewer than ten employees, the share of funding is up nearly 60%
- For businesses in rural communities, the share of funding is up nearly 30%
- The share of funding distributed through Community Development Financial Institutions and Minority Depository Institutions is up more than 40%
Small businesses employ nearly half of the American workforce; they create 2 out of 3 net new private-sector jobs; they reinvest 68% of revenues to build and sustain communities. Borrowers can apply for the Paycheck Protection Program by downloading the First Draw PPP loan application or Second Draw PPP loan application and working with a participating PPP lender through the SBA Lender Match tool.
See the full press release for more information.
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The IRS has announced that, as required by law, all legally permitted first and second round of Economic Impact Payments have been issued and the IRS now turns its full attention to the 2021 filing season.
Beginning in April 2020, the IRS and Treasury Department began delivering the first round of Economic Impact Payments within two weeks of the legislation. The IRS issued more than 160 million EIPs to taxpayers across the country totaling over $270 billion, while simultaneously managing an extended filing season. In addition, since Congress enacted the COVID-related Tax Relief Act of 2020, the IRS has delivered more than 147 million EIPs in the second-round totaling over $142 billion.
The legislation required that the second round of payments be issued by January 15, 2021. While some second round Economic Impact Payments may still be in the mail, the IRS has issued all first and second Economic Impact Payments it is legally permitted to issue, based on information on file for eligible people.
Get My Payment was last updated on January 29, 2021, to reflect the final payments and will not update again for first or second Economic Impact Payments.
Most people who are eligible for the Recovery Rebate Credit have already received it, in advance, in these two rounds of Economic Impact Payments. If individuals didn't receive a payment – or if they didn't receive the full amounts – they may be eligible to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit and must file a 2020 tax return. Eligibility for and the amount of the Recovery Rebate Credit are based on 2020 tax year information while the Economic Impact Payments were based on 2019 tax year information. For the first Economic Impact Payment, a 2018 return may have been used if the 2019 was not filed or processed.
Read the full release.
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Cumulative from Jan. 2020 through Feb. 23, 2021.
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ESSENTIAL LINKS AND PHONE NUMBERS FOR UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION
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