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With Gov. Jay Inslee and the Washington State Department of Health scheduled to release county-level data according to the Roadmap to Recovery metrics next Tuesday, recent trends all but guarantee Snohomish County will move back to Phase 2 effective Saturday, May 8. The next review will be on May 25.
In order to get numbers down so that Snohomish County can get back to Phase 3 in late-May, residents are urged to get their vaccines now.
“The number of vaccines coming into our county has increased recently, which means the stress of finding an open appointment has largely gone away,” said Dr. Chris Spitters, Health Officer for the Snohomish Health District. “These vaccines are so safe and effective that they’ve virtually eliminated outbreaks in our long-term care facilities. We need all residents 16 and up vaccinated, and quickly, so that we can see that same impact countywide.”
The Health District has also updated its estimate on how long it will take to fully vaccinate 600,000 residents in Snohomish County based on recent allocations and projections for upcoming weeks. This estimate shows that timeline has shortened significantly in the last month as supplies have increased. Where it was projected to take up to early-January 2022 to vaccinate at least 70% of the county population, it’s now possible to do so by this summer.
“These estimates all hinge on the community taking their shot when available. If not, this could take much, much longer,” added Dr. Spitters. “If every resident follows the CDC mask guidance and unvaccinated people pursue vaccination as quickly as possible, we could be back in Phase 3 soon. Mask up when appropriate and vax up now so we can keep progressing toward enjoying all the things COVID has put on hold.”
The Snohomish County Vaccine Taskforce has made changes to improve access to the mass vaccination sites. These include:
- Expanding hours, including more weekend appointments as well as some evening appointments.
- Opening registration for new vaccination appointments a week at a time, allowing more time for patients to plan.
- Hosting second-dose catch-up clinics for anyone who is due for a second dose, regardless of first dose provider. The first Pfizer second dose catch-up clinic is being hosted Saturday at the Ash Way Park & Ride mass vaccination site, and information on a catch-up clinic for Moderna should be available by next week.
- Offering flex clinics that don’t require pre-registration. This is a vaccination event at one of the mass vaccination sites where appointments are recommended but not required. Booking an appointment reserves a dose, but people who arrive during that day without an appointment will be vaccinated as long as doses are available. The first of these is scheduled for Tuesday, May 4, at the Arlington mass vaccination site form 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aside from these flex clinics, appointments are required for all mass vaccination sites.
Appointments are much more readily available for vaccination now compared to in previous weeks and months. Everyone age 16 and up is eligible for vaccination. Getting a shot is crucial for getting past the COVID-19 pandemic.
More information on mass vaccination sites is available at http://bit.ly/snocovaccine, including registration links to book an appointment. Appointment information also is posted regularly via Snohomish Health District and Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management social media channels.
For those without internet access or who are struggling to book an appointment, the COVID-19 call center for Snohomish County is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at 425-339-5278.
In addition to mass vaccination sites, there are a number of other ways to find a vaccine appointment:
- Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has updated its vaccine locator page at https://vaccinelocator.doh.wa.gov allowing people to search by their ZIP code.
- For a full list of Federal Retail Pharmacy Program locations, visit www.vaccinefinder.org.
- Veterans of all ages may contact the VA’s Puget Sound Health Care System at 206-716-5716 to schedule an appointment or contact their VA primary care team directly.
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The Snohomish County Vaccine Taskforce is hosting a flex clinic for first or second dose Pfizer vaccines. During this event, people can be vaccinated by appointment (register at http://bit.ly/snocovaccine) or without an appointment on a first come, first served basis. The clinic is at the Arlington Airport vaccination site on Tuesday, May 4, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Appointments are encouraged but not required for this vaccination event. If you register for an appointment, it reserves your dose. If you show up without an appointment, you’ll be vaccinated as long as doses remain available.
Remember that appointments are required during normal operations at this and all other mass vaccination sites. The flex clinic is the only time you may show up without an appointment confirmation.
If you are getting your second dose, you must bring documentation of your first dose showing date and brand received. This location is only vaccinating with Pfizer. If you need a Moderna second dose, please register at http://bit.ly/snocovaccine for an appointment at a site with Moderna.
The vaccination site is located at 4226 188th St. NE in Arlington. This is a drive-thru site. More than one person may arrive in the same vehicle. Please wear masks and come prepared with photo ID and insurance information, if applicable.
There is no cost to be vaccinated at this event. Must be at least 16 years of age. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to be vaccinated.
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On April 20 there were just over 202,000 fully vaccinated adults in Snohomish County. Data show roughly 28,000 more people here became fully vaccinated in the week that followed. One in every three adults in the county is now fully vaccinated.
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Congratulations! You got a vaccine appointment. Now what? Here are some tips on how to prepare for getting your shot. Following these guidelines will help you have a smoother experience. #VaxUpSnoco
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Teens age 16 or older can be vaccinated against COVID. Pfizer-BioNTech is currently the only COVID-19 vaccine authorized for those 16 years of age and older. If you are 16 or 17, you need consent from a parent or guardian to get the vaccine, unless you are legally emancipated. Learn more in this flyer with info on Vaccines for Teens: https://www.snohd.org/DocumentCenter/View/7236/Vaccines-for-Teens
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Don’t skip that second dose! Both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two doses in order to provide protection against COVID-19. If you still need to schedule yours, please visit www.bit.ly/snocovaccine
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Volunteers have been crucial to COVID-19 vaccination efforts running smoothly in Snohomish County. The Snohomish County Vaccine Taskforce is interested in having additional volunteers at mass vaccination sites as that work continues to expand
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There are multiple mass vaccination sites around the county, and they typically run during daytime hours (about 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.), but there also are weekend and evening hours.
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Volunteers at the sites help in positions such as: greeting patients, screening, site support, traffic control, site set-up, documentation and data entry.
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Applicants must have a background check that is current within the past five (5) years to qualify to volunteer at one of the sites.
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This is a great way for people to help our community overcome this pandemic.
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Volunteering at a site does not guarantee you will be vaccinated. We encourage everyone to sign up for an appointment for their vaccination.
If you are interested in volunteering, please fill out the online form at https://bit.ly/3el2dUA to be screened as a volunteer and provided with additional information.
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The schedule for drive-thru COVID-19 testing through the Snohomish Health District is as follows:
- Everett site located at 3715 Oakes Avenue – Monday through 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, 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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Washington residents are battling a fourth wave of COVID infection that threatens to overwhelm hospitals and other aspects of the healthcare system, Gov. Jay Inslee said Thursday.
More transmissible variants of the virus that causes COVID – the governor collectively called them “COVID 2.0” – are driving the growth in infections. The path out of the pandemic is to stop the spread, and that means people need to continue to wear masks and to make appointments to get vaccinated, Inslee said.
The governor is scheduled Tuesday to announce how counties around the state are performing under the Roadmap to Recovery plan. Inslee said, “quite a number of counties have had their numbers go up quite significantly” and could face rollbacks as a result.
Data was being assembled Friday and over the weekend with state health officials planning to analyze the results on Monday. The Roadmap decisions will be based on new COVID case rates logged April 11 through April 24, and on hospitalizations from April 15 through April 21.
Snohomish County’s preliminary rates for COVID hospitalizations and new COVID cases have in recent weeks been trending above the level allowed for Phase 3. The Roadmap plan says communities that fail to meet the metrics must face tighter Phase 2 restrictions.
Watch the press conference on TVW.
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Unemployment claims in Snohomish County dropped 11.7% during the week of April 18 through April 24, the state Employment Security Department said Thursday. There were 1,241 claims filed in the county, 166 less compared to the week before, according to state data.
Statewide, there were 11,629 initial claims during the most recent data collection period, down 12% from the prior week. Initial regular claims were down 91% compared to the same period last year when the economic impacts of the pandemic began starting to spike.
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Registration for the federal Restaurant Revitalization Fund began Friday morning, with the application period starting on Monday, May 3 at 9 a.m., Pacific time. The online application will remain open to any eligible establishment until all of the $28.6 billion in assistance funds are exhausted.
“Restaurants are the core of our neighborhoods and propel economic activity on main streets across the nation. They are among the businesses that have been hardest hit and need support to survive this pandemic. We want restaurants to know that help is here,” said Isabella Casillas Guzman, Administrator of the Small Business Administration.
The program will provide restaurants with funding equal to their pandemic-related revenue loss up to $10 million per business and no more than $5 million per physical location. Recipients are not required to repay the funding as long as funds are used for eligible uses no later than March 11, 2023.
More information about the program is available here in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean and Chinese to name a few. Register here to start the application process.
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During Phase 3, the Snohomish Health District will be accepting and reviewing temporary food permit applications for events that meet current governor’s guidelines. Foodservice operators will be responsible for meeting the most current COVID-19 Requirements for Eating and Drinking Establishments. Event coordinators will be responsible for meeting the most current COVID-19 Requirements for Fairs and Special Events. Due to the unstable nature of COVID-19, and the possibility of regressing phases, temporary food permits will be granted just prior to the event to ensure compatibility with the guidelines for the current phase. The Health District will continue to accept and review temporary food application for venders at farmers markets in both Phase 2 and 3.
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Edmonds police report that two curbside COVID test operations that appeared in the city on Tuesday have been determined to be run by people who were engaging in scams. The city is working with the state Department of Health to investigate.
Edmonds Mayor Mike Nelson wrote on Facebook Wednesday about the discovery:
“Yesterday a curbside COVID testing operation appeared in Downtown Edmonds. We dispatched an Edmonds Police officer who spoke with the gentleman offering the tests, who soon thereafter packed up and left the site. We have since learned that this operation appears to be a scam, with follow-up contact to persons initially tested that requests more personal information. Our Edmonds Police Department will monitor this situation and shut down any continued attempts to set up such unauthorized informal COVID testing sites.”
As a reminder, drive-thru COVID testing continues to be offered by the Snohomish Health District. This safe, secure testing is available by appointment in Everett, Lynnwood and Monroe.
The Health District advises caution when engaging with anyone offering or requiring testing who cannot demonstrate affiliation with a legitimate healthcare entity. This should include providing proper identification linking them to that entity.
Although testing can be mandated by local public health in some circumstances, that authority is never delegated to a non-Health District entity. Individuals should be skeptical about solicitations for free testing in public, at someone’s doorstep, by telephone or email. Unfortunately, risk of sub-standard practices, inaccurate results, or identity theft do exist. People should err on the side of not engaging if approached.
If there are questions or concerns about the legitimacy of a testing operation, individuals are encouraged to contact the Health District by email at complaints@snohd.org or share details through the call center at 425-339-5278.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) this week released updated guidance for people who are fully vaccinated. Simply put, those who are fully vaccinated can more safely engage in many activities that have been curtailed during the pandemic. A key piece of the advice was highlighted by President Joe Biden early in the week: “If you are fully vaccinated — and if you are outdoors and not in a large crowd — you no longer need to wear a mask.”
The full guidance also focuses on gatherings, travel and testing.
A couple of key takeaways:
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When choosing safer activities, consider how COVID-19 is spreading in your community, the number of people participating in the activity, and the location of the activity.
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Outdoor visits and activities are safer than indoor activities, and fully vaccinated people can participate in some indoor events safely, without much risk.
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ESSENTIAL LINKS AND PHONE NUMBERS FOR UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION
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