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For the first time in over a year, there are no COVID outbreaks at assisted living or supportive living facilities in Snohomish County. In addition, there is only one skilled nursing facility and one adult family home with active outbreaks. Provided no additional cases are reported, the two remaining sites are anticipated to be cleared by the end of the month.
“This is a remarkable recovery from late-December when we had over 100 cases being reported weekly from long-term care facilities and all 17 skilled nursing facilities in the county with ongoing outbreaks,” said Dr. Chris Spitters, Health Officer for the Snohomish Health District. “It’s a welcome relief for everyone.”
Since March 2020, there have been more than 150 outbreaks and nearly 2,000 cases associated with long-term care and similar facilities in Snohomish County. These facilities—more than 600 in number throughout the county—have also linked with at least 345 hospitalizations and 273 deaths through March 6.
 This decrease is the result of the commitment to infection control and prevention measures, vaccination, and the sacrifices made by the residents, staff and their families over the last year. It also shows how much of an impact that these safe and effective vaccines are having in such a short time in settings where risk of both transmission and severe disease is highest.
“This is an exciting milestone in controlling the pandemic for these residents, staff and their families that have been among the hardest hit,” said Dr. Spitters. “The vaccination effort is already delivering great results, saving lives and letting us get back to enjoying timed with loved ones. I hope people who are on the fence about whether to get the vaccine recognize these incredibly favorable results and choose to make an appointment to get vaccinated themselves just as soon as they are eligible.”
Given these promising trends, Governor Inslee announced that visitation at long-term care and nursing home facilities may resume immediately. Outdoor visitation remains the safest, preferred option, but indoor visitation will be permitted for visitors or residents who are fully vaccinated. Compassionate care visits will still be permitted, regardless of vaccination of either party.
Note that indoor visitation will not be allowed if there is a current outbreak in a facility, or for residents with either a confirmed case of COVID-19 or in quarantine due to exposure to the virus. Facilities will still need to follow prevention practices like symptom screening, PPE and testing, environmental cleaning, etc.
Read the full release.
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With more than 100,000 people now fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in Snohomish County, we are closing in on 2 out of every 10 residents aged 16 and up protected from the disease. #InItTogether #vaxupsnoco
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As the County moves to Phase 3 and spectator events are permitted, the Health District will begin moving its testing operations at 3900 Broadway near Funko Field to a nearby location. The last day of operations at that site will be Thursday, March 25. On Friday, March 26, the new site at 3715 Oakes Avenue will open.
The schedule for the week of March 22 remains as follows:
- 3900 Broadway site in Everett – Monday through Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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NEW Everett location located at 3715 Oakes Avenue – Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Lynnwood Food Bank site at 5320 176th St SW – open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturdays 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, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Appointments for testing are encouraged, and registration is available 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 to schedule a testing appointment. 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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An estimated 2 million more people in Washington will become eligible for vaccinations against COVID-19 starting March 31, Gov. Jay Inslee announced Thursday.
The change clears the way for numerous people who likely would have had to wait weeks – if not months -- for eligibility.
About 3 million people in Washington already have been cleared for access to the vaccines. At the end of the month they will be joined by:
- Anyone with two or more comorbidities.
- Anyone aged 60-64.
- People who work in restaurants, food manufacturing and construction jobs.
- Anyone in who lives in congregate settings, including group homes, jails and prisons.
- Anyone experiencing homelessness who seeks services in group settings.
Even though demand for vaccine continues to far outpace supply, Inslee said adding eligible people is possible now because a greater supply of vaccine is expected soon.
“This timeline is much faster than we would have predicted a couple of months ago,” he said.
The governor announced the changes in the vaccine access rules at the same time he said he is extending the moratoria on eviction and utility service shutoffs. He also said visitation is again allowed, with conditions, at nursing homes in the state.
For more information, see the governor’s office full post to medium.
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Wondering how to navigate the online registration systems for the mass vaccination sites in Snohomish County? The Joint Information Center on Wednesday published two new videos, one walking through the PrepMod registration system and the other through the Seattle Visiting Nurse Association (SVNA) registration system. SVNA is the system for booking appointments at the Edmonds College or Boeing Everett Activity Center mass vaccination sites. The other mass vaccination sites in Snohomish County are booking appointments using PrepMod.
The videos are available under “how to register for an appointment” on http://bit.ly/snocovaccine
 Click image to watch the video on how to register for your vaccine using the PrepMod system
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We are all looking forward to gathering again with friends and family. As more people are able to be vaccinated, it’s important to remember that we still need to help protect those who are waiting for their shot. #InItTogether
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Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers, County Council Chair Stephanie Wright and Council Vice Chair Megan Dunn released this statement Wednesday:
“There has been an increase in anti-Asian hate crimes in the United States, including in our own community, and the horrible murders in Georgia yesterday should make us all more determined than ever to work for an end to acts of hate. There is no place for hate, violence, and racism in Snohomish County. I condemn these acts against our Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. I will continue to work to advance justice for all of our residents, and I am committed to ensuring Snohomish County government values every community who lives, works, or plays here. The longstanding contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to our democracy, economy, culture, and way of life deserve our honor and gratitude. Snohomish County stands in solidarity with all who are the targets of hate.”
The county leaders join Gov. Jay Inslee and other local leaders in standing in support of Asian Americans who have increasingly become targets for intolerance during the COVID-19 crisis.
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Has your business experienced financial loss and hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic? If so, the Ready for Business Fund administered by GSBA is here to help your business bounce back. Applications opened March 15 and will close April 9. A $2,500 cash grant will be awarded to selected small businesses. Additionally, awardees will receive wrap-around support services including GSBA membership, technical support, marketing, and consulting. This grant does not have to be repaid, and it can be used for any purpose to help the business recover from the economic crisis. The grant is open to any small business in Washington State established prior to March 2, 2020. Priority will be given to small businesses within the communities most impacted by COVID-19, including LGBTQ-, BIPOC-, and women-owned businesses, as well as businesses located in rural areas.
Visit the GSBA website for more information or to complete the online application.
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As the state advances to the next tier of vaccine eligibility, the state Department of Health wants to emphasize that the expansion will include some people with disabilities.
People with disabilities continue to experience access barriers to the COVID-19 vaccine and certain disabilities can put someone at increased risk for severe illness. This prioritization is intentional to provide access to a high-risk group that experiences more barriers to access.
Governor Jay Inslee announced last week that Washington state will make an early move to Phase 1b-2, advancing on March 17 instead of March 22. Phase 1b-2 includes pregnant people and individuals with disabilities that put them at high risk for severe COVID-19 illness.
Individuals with disabilities are eligible for the vaccine in Phase 1b-2 if their disability alone puts them at higher risk for severe illness, or if they have a disability coupled with another underlying condition identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
It’s also important to remember that caregivers are still eligible for a vaccine. Anyone who supports the daily, functional and health needs of someone who is at high risk of COVID-19 illness due to advanced age, long term physical condition, co-morbidities, or developmental or intellectual disability is considered a health care worker and is therefore eligible. They can be licensed, unlicensed, paid, unpaid, formal or informal. The person for whom they are providing care can be an adult or child.
See the full press release for more information.
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A medida que el estado avanza hacia el próximo nivel de elegibilidad para la vacuna, el Departamento de Salud del Estado de Washington quiere destacar que la ampliación incluirá algunas personas con discapacidades.
Las personas con discapacidades siguen experimentando obstáculos para acceder a la vacuna contra la COVID-19, y ciertas discapacidades pueden representar un mayor riesgo de contraer una enfermedad grave. Esta priorización es intencional, a fin de brindar acceso a un grupo de alto riesgo que experimenta más obstáculos para recibir la vacuna.
El gobernador Jay Inslee anunció la semana pasada que el estado de Washington avanzará hacia la fase 1b-2 de forma anticipada el 17 de marzo, en lugar de hacerlo el 22 de marzo. La fase 1b-2 incluye a las personas embarazadas y aquellas con discapacidades que representan un riesgo elevado de enfermarse gravemente a causa de la COVID-19. La fase 1b-2 también incluye algunos grupos de trabajadores de alto riesgo. Lea más sobre quién es elegible aquí.
Leer más.
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The Internal Revenue Service on Wednesday announced disbursing approximately 90 million Economic Impact Payments from the American Rescue Plan valued at $242 billion.
The first batch of payments were mostly sent by direct deposit, which some recipients started receiving this past weekend. As of today, all recipients of this first batch of direct deposit payments will have access to their funds.
See the full press release for more details.
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Dr. Christopher Murray, director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, and Dr. Peter Piot of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, have published a JAMA viewpoint article warning that action is necessary now to avoid another awful COVID winter.
“There is growing optimism and hope that by virtue of ongoing immunization efforts, seasonality (declining infections through August), and naturally acquired immunity, by spring and early summer 2021 in the US there will be a substantial decline in the number of deaths and hospitalizations related to COVID-19,” the authors write. “However, this optimism must be tempered by several important factors. The likelihood of achieving herd immunity against SARS-CoV-2 is low simply because not all individuals in the US are eligible to be vaccinated and a quarter of eligible individuals will likely decline to be immunized. Moreover, the vaccines do not provide full immunity against infection, and the currently available vaccines are less effective against variant B.1.351, and possibly other variants. Accordingly, the public and health systems need to plan for the possibility that COVID-19 will persist and become a recurrent seasonal disease.”
The full article details steps that if taken now can lessen the disruption later. Pressed for time? Review the major points in this Twitter thread or in this IHME graphic.
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Unemployment claims in Snohomish County rose 3% during the week of March 7 through March 13, the Employment Security Department said Thursday. There were 1,272 claims filed in the county, up 38 from the week before, according to state data.
Statewide, there were there were 11,699 initial claims during the most recent data collection period, down 0.5% from the prior week. Initial regular claims are 17% below weekly new claims applications brought during the same period last year at the start of the pandemic.
For more information, see the full press release.
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Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler issued a consumer alert Thursday to set the record straight about vaccines affecting life insurance policies and payouts.
“I encourage all people in Washington state to get a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as they are eligible and can find an appointment,” said Kreidler. “It is a life-saving measure for yourself and your loved ones. Rest assured that doing so will not affect your ability to qualify for life insurance or adversely affect your premiums or benefits.”
Misinformation has been circulating nationally falsely noting that receiving a COVID-19 vaccine would void a policyholder's life insurance coverage due to the rapid development of these vaccines.
A person’s vaccine status is not part of policy language nor is it a consideration when applying for a new policy. If you have questions about your specific policy, contact your insurer.
“I can only imagine the anti-vaccine crowd is spreading false information about the life-saving vaccines now being given to millions of our fellow citizens each day,” Kreidler said. “The vaccines are safe and effective. People should ignore all misinformation to the contrary.”
See the full press release for more details.
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¡La primavera está llegando y tenemos muchas razones para sentirnos con optimismo! La distribución de la vacuna contra el COVID-19 está aumentando rápidamente. Y, comenzando el día 17 de marzo, los trabajadores críticos o esenciales con alto riesgo en su salud, serán elegibles para recibir la vacuna en la fase 1B nivel 2. En este grupo de trabajadores críticos de alto riesgo, se incluyen personas que trabajan en la agricultura, barcos de pesca, plantas de procesamiento de alimentos, tiendas de comestibles, departamento de correcciones, prisiones o centros de detención, transporte público y socorristas. No habrá distinción de edad para este grupo. En esta fase, también se incluyen personas de 16 años de edad o más que están embarazadas o tienen una discapacidad que los coloca en un nivel de alto riesgo de enfermarse gravemente con el COVID-19, también serán elegibles para recibir la vacuna.
Leer más
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Cumulative from January 2020 through March 19, 2021.
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ESSENTIAL LINKS AND PHONE NUMBERS FOR UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION
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