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For the first time in more than two months, the two-week case rate saw a significant decrease. The case rate for the period ending May 15 was 193 per 100,000 residents, down from a rate of 226 for the previous period. That figure still represents 700-800 reported cases weekly in Snohomish County.
Recently published data through April 30 shows the fourth wave’s activity has largely been driven by increase among those under ages 20-49 and, to a lesser extent, children and adolescents.
The recent drop in cases is a welcome change, attributed in large part to the continued increase in vaccination rates. Everyone 16 and up became eligible April 15, and then eligibility expanded to youth 12 and up almost one month later on May 13. Adolescents and young adults have been making up large portions of those being vaccinated in recent weeks. Trends like these need to continue in the weeks ahead, particularly among those 20-59, in order to keep driving down the number of cases and to increase the likelihood of easing statewide restrictions before June 30.
In the meantime, masks are still a requirement for unvaccinated people in public settings. While the Snohomish Health District does not have plans to issue a masking directive for public indoor spaces, or to be more restrictive than the Secretary of Health’s updated face covering order, the District endorses the principles underlying the intention of King County’s indoor masking directive. Although decreasing slightly, transmission levels are still high in the community and vaccination coverage is not yet sufficient to permit relaxing of the prevention measures for unvaccinated people.
“There is no easy way to know who is and is not vaccinated in public spaces, so it seems reasonable to assume there will be both vaccinated and unvaccinated people without masks in public indoor settings,” cautioned Dr. Chris Spitters, Health Officer for the Snohomish Health District. “Unmasked, unvaccinated people gathering indoors will fuel ongoing transmission and prolong the fourth wave that appears to have crested.”
Consequently, the Health District finds it quite reasonable for businesses, employers and other organizations to continue requiring masks for all staff and customers at their discretion. This approach takes the burden off those enterprises to vet their occupants’ vaccination status while also permitting them to provide a maximally safe environment.
Gov. Jay Inslee issued an extension of the Healthy Washington – Roadmap to Recovery emergency proclamation, Proclamation 20-25.13. Additionally, the governor issued new worker protections through Proclamation 21-08 that safeguards employees who wish to get vaccinated, or who are in isolation or quarantine, from adverse action by their employer. The safe worker proclamation also aligns with the CDC recommendation that employers provide flexible options for worker vaccinations.
Washington State Labor & Industries also released updated guidance for fully vaccinated employees. This information, in addition to industry and event specific guidance, provide frameworks for businesses to continue to safely reopen.
Some important reminders about the updates:
- Employers must require proof of vaccination or self-attestation from every employee before those employees are permitted to work at the worksite without wearing a face covering as permitted under the general rule referenced above. Employers may choose the form of proof they will require.
- If an employee is not fully vaccinated or their vaccination status is unknown, employers must continue to require masks and social distancing.
- The new guidance does not change masking rules for health care settings like hospitals, long-term care, or doctor’s offices; correctional facilities, homeless shelters, schools, child care centers or day camps. The federal order requiring masks on public transportation remains in place.
- Employers cannot fire or discriminate against an employee who is at high risk of contracting COVID-19 and is seeking accommodation that protects them from COVID-19 exposure.
Employers may require vaccination as a condition of employment, except as prohibited by state or federal law.
“Now is a good time for all unvaccinated community members to pursue getting vaccinated so we can move closer to the time when all of this will no longer be necessary,” added Dr. Spitters.
See the full press release for more information.
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Here’s a look at the mass vaccination sites open this weekend. Book an appointment at http://bit.ly/snocovaccine, call 425-339-5278 by 4:30pm Friday, or just show up (no appointment needed). Reminder: Ages 12-17 need adult parent or guardian with them for the mass vaccination sites.
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“Before getting vaccinated I would worry that not only might I get sick but, more importantly, I might get somebody else sick. So now I’ve been vaccinated, I feel very safe and I feel like I’m keeping others safe.”
-- Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin
Why do you vax?
#vaxupsnoco
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In a week’s time, nearly 25,000 more Snohomish County residents became fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Vaccination is now available for everyone aged 12 and up, and the data here has been updated to reflect that change in eligibility.
Gov. Jay Inslee has said that he will relax COVID restrictions and more fully reopen the state's economy if 70% of people 16 and up initiate vaccination. As of May 17, state data show 59.7% of Snohomish County residents 16+ have at least begun the COVID vaccine series. As the state's third most-populated county, we can have a big impact on meeting the governor's challenge.
It’s time to take your shot: http://bit.ly/snocovaccine
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Gov. Jay Inslee on Friday issued two proclamations that address worker health and safety and mask requirements during COVID.
Proclamation 20-25.13 - Healthy Washington
This extension provides that all counties are in Phase 3 as of May 18, 2021. It also incorporates the new CDC face covering guidance, adopted by the Governor on May 13, 2021, which generally provides that fully vaccinated individuals are not required to wear a mask inside or outside, except in certain locations (health care settings, correctional facilities, homeless shelters, schools and public transportation).
The proclamation clarifies that business owners may adopt an “honor system” and may assume that any customer who is not wearing a face covering has been fully vaccinated. It further clarifies that business owners and local authorities have the option to require that customers wear a face covering, and that local authorities may not prohibit business owners from requiring that their customers wear a face covering.
The proclamation also addresses the application of this new rule to employees and employers, and requires that employers must obtain proof of vaccination or obtain a self-attestation from the employee, attesting to their fully vaccinated status, before an employee may work at a worksite without wearing a mask. It further permits employers to continue to require that employees wear a face covering, regardless of vaccination status.
A link to additional and more detailed employer guidance from the Department of Labor & Industries is included in the proclamation. (The L&I guidance also appears below.)
Read the full proclamation here.
Proclamation 21-08 - Safe Workers
In addition to protecting workers who wish to get vaccinated, or who are in isolation or quarantine, from adverse actions by their employer, Proclamation 21-08 will also align with the CDC recommendation that employers provide flexible options for worker vaccinations.
“We call on Washington employers to remain vigilant in their promotion of employee vaccinations, and this proclamation will alleviate another barrier to vaccine access,” said Inslee.
Read the full proclamation here.
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The latest COVID-19 modeling and surveillance situation report from the state Department of Health shows disease activity is declining. Immunity from vaccination is helping slow the spread of the virus and reduce its impact on the health care system. Vaccination efforts and other preventive measures (like wearing masks and maintaining distance if you’re unvaccinated) need to continue to keep trends from reversing.
Report findings include:
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Case counts are declining statewide and either declining or flattening in most counties. Only a few counties are continuing to see increasing case counts, including Lewis, Kittitas, Stevens and Whatcom.
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Transmission decreased sharply over the last two weeks of April, but was still relatively high as of April 30.
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Immunity from vaccination is playing an important role in reducing transmission. As of May 6, the best model-based estimate of overall population immunity was 36.5%. Estimated immunity from vaccination (about 23.6% of the population) was almost twice as high as immunity from prior infection (about 12.9% of the population).
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As of May 6, case rates were declining in most age groups and flattening in the rest. Case rates continued to be highest among people ages 20-29, followed by ages 10-19 and ages 30-39.
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Getting vaccinated is protecting people from serious illness from COVID-19 that requires hospitalization and helping to control hospital admission rates. The hospital admission rate for COVID-19 in unvaccinated people ages 45-64 is about 18 times higher than people of the same age who are fully vaccinated. For people ages 65 and older, the hospital admission rate is about 11 times higher among people who are unvaccinated than those who are fully protected.
“We are excited to see trends improving, but we are not out of the woods yet,” said Acting State Health Officer Scott Lindquist, MD, MPH. “We still have work to do on vaccinations if we want to continue to see declines in disease and make progress toward full reopening.”
See the full press release for more information.
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Happy Public Works Week! Please join us in thanking the people that keep Snohomish County running, particularly during the challenges of the past year. Public works crews have played key roles during the pandemic, including helping to establish the mass vaccination sites run by the Snohomish County Vaccine Taskforce; transporting food for hungry communities; and assisting with warehousing materials and equipment destined for use on the front lines.
We’re grateful for all that you do. #InItTogether
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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 and Thursday 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.
Note that the Lynnwood Food Bank testing site will be closed on Saturday, May 29 and all sites will be closed on Monday, May 31 in observance of Memorial Day.
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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Unemployment claims in Snohomish County rose 24.8% during the week of May 9 through May 15, the state Employment Security Department said Thursday. There were 1,805 initial claims filed in the county, 359 more compared to the week before, according to state data.
Statewide, there were 19,619 initial claims during the most recent data collection period, up 18.2% from the prior week. Initial regular claims were down 86% compared to the same period last year when the economic impacts of the pandemic were sharply increasing. The four-week average for initial claims statewide remains elevated at 15,590. That’s more than double the usual rate, and similar to the levels seen more than a decade ago during the Great Recession, the state said. For more information, see the full press release.
Meanwhile, the state reported that Washington’s economy added 11,200 jobs in April and also logged a monthly unemployment rate of 5.5%. That rate remained constant between March and April, the state said.
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The state Department of Commerce is partnering with the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) to administer $1.25 million in Nonprofit Community Recovery grant funding to nonprofit veteran service organizations (VSOs).
The grant focuses on statewide VSOs with networks of local chapters. Additional information and application forms are available at dva.wa.gov/ncrgrant. All applications received by 11:59 p.m. on Monday, May 24, 2021 will be considered.
“As we look ahead to reopening and recovery, we want to make sure our grant funds are reaching the sectors and communities that have been disproportionately impacted or left out of prior grant programs,” said Commerce director Lisa Brown. “Our VSOs are so important to making sure our veterans have the support they need during the pandemic. We’re very appreciative of this opportunity to partner with WDVA for this effort.”
“Our VSOs help build communities and support WDVA’s mission of Serving Those Who Served,” said WDVA Director Lourdes “Alfie” Alvarado-Ramos.
These pandemic recovery grants will be administered by WDVA to VSOs in Washington state. Organizations that are led by and/or serve under-resourced communities, culturally diverse populations, and underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.
Grants will be distributed to nonprofit VSOs statewide. Eligible organizations must have 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), or 501(c)(19) status, with appropriate documentation since their 2019 fiscal year.
There is no minimum or maximum award amount. Awards must be used to cover expenses incurred between March 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021, due to financial hardship incurred by the COVID-19 pandemic. Funds will be awarded as unrestricted grants but cannot be used to cover expenses previously covered by other COVID-19 related public or private funding sources including Paycheck Protection Program funds.
See the full press release for more information.
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Eligible eating establishments have until 5 p.m., Monday, May 24, to submit applications to the federal Restaurant Revitalization Fund.
The $28.6 billion fund is designed to speed pandemic relief for qualified businesses. To apply, visit sba.gov/restaurants.
“If our nation’s food and beverage industry is going to fully recover, we must ensure as many of the hardest-hit businesses get the economic aid they need,” U.S. Small Business Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman said in a press release.
During the first two weeks of the program, SBA has received applications from:
- More than 122,000 women business owners
- More than 14,000 veteran business owners
- More than 71,000 economically and socially disadvantaged individuals
For more information, see the full press release.
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Heading to any of these schools in the fall? Colleges requiring COVID vaccine for students who will be on campus this fall include: The University of Washington, University of Washington Bothell, Washington State University, Washington State University Everett, Evergreen State College, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle University, Pacific Lutheran University, Whitman College, Western Washington University, and Central Washington University. Other colleges in Washington state strongly encourage the vaccine but are still considering whether they will require students to be vaccinated against COVID.
Edmonds College and Everett Community College have not announced whether they will in general require vaccination for those on campus in the fall, but they've been strongly encouraging people to get vaccinated.
To register for a vaccine appointment visit: http://bit.ly/snocovaccine
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Memorial Day is approaching, bringing with it the unofficial launch of the spring and summer travel season. While air travel is steadily increasing, a larger-than-average number of travelers are expected to travel by car due to the pandemic. State leaders are encouraging travelers to plan ahead as the increased demand comes at a time fuel stations nationwide are grappling with delays in fuel delivery caused by an ongoing shortage of truck drivers.
“People are eager to travel, and because of the pandemic we’re expecting to see a lot more folks making stops at gas stations. While fuel supplies are healthy, gas stations are sometimes seeing a delay in fuel deliveries so we want people to be prepared in case they have to make a few stops,” said Elizabeth King, State Energy Emergency Management Director at the state Department of Commerce.
King emphasizes the cybersecurity pipeline incident impacting fuel supplies in some states on the eastern side of the country is not impacting supplies in Washington state and is wholly separate from the delivery issue. She says there are three things drivers can do to plan ahead:
- Before heading out, add an app to your smartphone that helps you quickly and easily find nearby gas stations. This can be especially helpful when stopping through an unfamiliar town or city.
- Don’t let your tank drop below a quarter tank. You may come across gas stations that are closed while they wait for their next fuel delivery, so be sure you don’t put yourself in a position where you can’t get yourself to another station for a refill.
- Be courteous and don’t buy more than you need. Fuel supplies are healthy and deliveries are on the way so fill up your tank and then get back on the the road so the driver waiting behind you can do the same.
See the full press release for more information.
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The state Department of Health has a new blog post about keeping youth sports COVID safe:
Many young people in Washington have headed back to the field, track, gym or pool — and that’s a good thing. Playing a sport brings physical, social and emotional benefits.
But doing so during a pandemic requires everyone to follow safety guidelines, starting with the four W’s: wearing a mask if you’re not fully vaccinated, watching your distance, washing your hands and signing up for the WA Notify exposure notification app. Mask rules differ by sport, but it’s important to mask up before, after and on the sidelines if you’re not fully vaccinated.
See the full blog post for more information.
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Don't forget to bring these essentials with you this summer. And of course, don't forget to get vaccinated. The CDC says that once you're fully vaccinated you do not have to wear a mask in most places. Register for your vaccine here: http://bit.ly/snocovaccine. #VaxUpSnoco
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ESSENTIAL LINKS AND PHONE NUMBERS FOR UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION
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