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COVID-19 case rates in Snohomish County continue to decline sharply as growing numbers of people are getting vaccinated, a press conference was told Tuesday.
The rolling two-week COVID case rate is now down to 154 per 100,000 people – the lowest it has been since January.
That’s welcome news, but the same data show that COVID “is still circulating widely in Snohomish County,” said Dr. Chris Spitters, Snohomish Health District Health Officer.
“We have lost 11 residents to COVID since the beginning of May. And there are currently 35 people hospitalized, 8 of whom are on ventilators,” Dr. Spitters said. “This is why masking up and getting vaccinated are so critical.”
The press conference also featured comments from Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers and Jason Biermann, director of the county’s Department of Emergency Management.
Executive Somers shared his gratitude for the community partners who have helped focus efforts fighting the virus. A lot of work remains, particularly in helping people and businesses recover from the harm, he said.
Biermann discussed changes coming for the community’s vaccination efforts, including scaling back mass vaccination sites in the weeks ahead. Focus will shift to community-based clinics and other more targeted opportunities.
“Please help us keep our community safe by getting vaccinated,” Biermann said.
Dr. Spitters said mask wearing and other COVID containment strategies remain important, particularly around those who aren’t vaccinated. That population includes all children under 12, who aren’t yet eligible for vaccination.
Adults need to model good behaviors, including ensuring that youth mask up when around people they don’t live with. That’s important heading into the Memorial Day Weekend, he added.
Find a video recording of the full briefing here: https://youtu.be/cSVzZ6JTrcM
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Vaccination efforts in Snohomish County have been underway now for more than five months, and in that time more than 730,000 doses of COVID vaccine have been administered. Of those, at least 320,000 doses were given through efforts by the Snohomish County Vaccine Taskforce.
In recent weeks, the number of appointments at mass vaccination sites has decreased. However, there still is need for vaccine access throughout the county. The taskforce is dialing back some on the mass vaccination sites and devoting more resources to community-based clinics.
Two of the mass vaccination sites are being demobilized this week: the Angel Of The Winds Arena and the Boom City sites. These sites were made possible thanks to partnerships with Angel Of The Winds Arena and with the Tulalip Tribes.
At Angel Of The Winds, 4,218 doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccine have been administered since the site opened March 5. A lower supply of J&J compared to the other vaccines, along with a temporary pause in its use, caused that site to be open less frequently than other sites, but we saw great response on the days when vaccine was available.
At Boom City, all three brands of vaccine have been given at some point, and 6,487 doses of COVID vaccine have been administered there since the site opened April 6.
There is no date yet for when all mass vaccination sites will be suspended. The other five sites – Arlington Airport, Monroe Fairgrounds, Boeing Everett Activity Center, Edmonds College, and Ash Way Park & Ride – are still in operation and appointments are available. However, during the first week of June, most of the mass vaccination sites will move toward finishing out second doses and no longer offering first doses for new patients. Now is the time to book if you want to get vaccinated at one of these sites. Schedules and appointment info are available at http://bit.ly/snocovaccine.
Vaccine is more readily available at clinics or pharmacies than it was early on, and demand no longer exceeds supply, so there will be multiple options for vaccination even after the mass sites wind down.
This allows the vaccine taskforce to turn attention to community-based clinics. Clinics are scheduled at multiple schools, churches, and at Funko Field prior to and during the first part of the Everett AquaSox baseball games on June 1 and 2. The AquaSox vaccination event will be the Pfizer vaccine for age 12 and up (12-17 with adult parent or guardian). A second dose clinic is set for June 23 at the same time and location, and the AquaSox are planning to offer vouchers for one free admission and one free hot dog per vaccine once people have completed their second dose at that event.
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Here's a look at which sites are open, when, and which vaccines are offered. Sign up or show up. More info: http://bit.ly/snocovaccine.
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Community Transit is offering people free rides on the bus to get their COVID-19 vaccination. The service started Monday, May 24. The free round-trip does not require customers provide any documents. They can simply state they are traveling to get the vaccine or returning from receiving it. The free ride can be used to travel to mass vaccination sites, a doctor’s office, pharmacy or wherever the customer plans to get vaccinated.
“We want to help as many people as possible get the vaccine so that our community can enjoy a return to normal life with family and friends,” said Community Transit CEO Ric Ilgenfritz. “A free ride can make the difference for people who have not been able to get a vaccine before now.” Community Transit worked with the Snohomish County Vaccine Taskforce to provide the first transit-focused mass COVID-19 vaccination site in Snohomish County at Ash Way Park & Ride. The site is easily accessible by transit; there are 17 bus routes serving this location. Appointments are encouraged but not required. A drive-thru option is also available. See: http://bit.ly/snocovaccine
People using Community Transit’s paratransit service, DART, have had access to free rides for vaccines since February.
To plan a trip to any location, go to https://www.communitytransit.org/ or call (425) 353-RIDE (7433) or TTY Relay 711.
Free bus rides will be offered through Wednesday, June 30.
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The Snohomish Health District is in communication with the state Department of Health regarding a small number of cases of myocarditis or pericarditis in patients following vaccination. At this time, there have been no cases of myocarditis or pericarditis after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine reported to us here in Snohomish County.
However, we are aware that the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Technical (VaST) Work Group met last week to review a few cases. These were:
- predominantly in adolescents and young adults,
- more often in males than females,
- more often following dose 2 than dose 1, and
- typically within 4 days after vaccination.
It should be noted that the association has not been confirmed as being causal. Investigation is ongoing, as well as further case finding through the health care system and vaccine safety monitoring system.
The potentially rare side effect of myocarditis pale in comparison to the potential risks of COVID, including the persistent syndrome called “long COVID.” In fact, acute COVID itself can cause myocarditis.
The Health District will continue to work with the Department of Health, as well as the health care community to report any suspected cases of vaccine-associated myocarditis or pericarditis to the Health District and to CDC’s Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System.
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We are all excited to have our state fully open again this summer, and if 70% of our community is vaccinated, we can get there even faster! Gov. Jay Inslee has said he will relax COVID measures early if 70% of the population 16 and up statewide initiates vaccination. As the state's third-largest county by population, Snohomish County can have a big impact on hitting the goal. As of Saturday, 63% of people 16 and up had initiated vaccination here, and 60.9% statewide. Find out where to get your shot by going to http://bit.ly/snocovaccine.
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“From what we’ve seen, getting COVID-19 can be really serious, even life-threatening, so I weighed the benefits of the vaccine against these potential risks, as I would with any major decision. And the benefits far outweighed the risks.”
- Simone Tarver, NAACP Snohomish County
Why do you vax?
#vaxupsnoco
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The COVID-19 vaccine rollout started almost six months ago in Washington and millions of people have been fully vaccinated. It is time to reflect on our progress and address the path ahead.
The webinar is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 27. The register and submit questions: http://spr.ly/6013y1ltR
Do you still have some questions about the vaccine? How can you help a loved one who’s hesitant to get the vaccine? Where does Washington go from here?
Thursday’s presentation featuring Washington’s leading experts will go beyond the headlines and bring scientific facts. This live conversation with physicians and officials will address the “most-asked” vaccine questions as well as myths spreading in Washington. The panel will discuss:
- How a vaccine works
- What experts have learned in the last six months
- Our state’s latest COVID-19 vaccination rates and what they mean
- Common questions about vaccines
- Addressing myths about the COVID-19 vaccine
- What’s next and what to expect
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New qualifying applications for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) are only being funded through a set-aside for Community Financial Institutions (CFIs). This includes Certified Development Companies (CDCs), Microlenders, Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), and Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs) through May 31, 2021 or until funds are exhausted.
A list of eligible CFIs is available on the SBA website. Please note that not all institutions listed are currently participating in PPP. You can also contact your local district office for assistance.
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The state Department of Health has released a new flyer showing examples of proof of some vaccination documents. This can be particularly helpful for businesses or organizations that wish to see proof of vaccination, or for vaccinated people who are wondering if they have the documentation needed to provide proof of vaccination.
Examples of proof of vaccination include the CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card, the Washington State Certificate of COVID-19 Vaccination, or a Washington State Immunization Information System printout. Lifetime immunization record booklets or a verified electronic medical record printout from a medical provider may also serve as proof of vaccination.
(Note: To comply with federal rules, the flyer below does not replicate the CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card.)
See the flyer here: https://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/1600/coronavirus/348-810-COVID-19ProofGuide.pdf
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The unemployment rate in Snohomish County was 5.9% in April, the lowest level reached in more than a year.
The number of reported jobless people was 26,365, the state Employment Security Department said. That compares to 86,170 in April 2020, when the pandemic drove unemployment to 19.3%. While county unemployment has been in single digits since July, April marked the first month since the start of the pandemic that it has dipped below 6%.
For more information see the state's monthly employment report.
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Cumulative from January 2020 through May 24, 2021
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