Today, Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers announced that, with the lifting of pandemic restrictions, Snohomish County government facilities will re-open to the public July 6, 2021. When visiting county facilities, visitors and staff are required to follow Washington state and Snohomish Health District guidelines, including wearing masks if unvaccinated. Since a significant portion of the public are vaccinated, hospitalizations from COVID-19 remain low, and Washington state removed most pandemic restrictions, the county will reopen doors to the public that have been closed since March 2020 in response to the pandemic.
“Snohomish County residents can be proud that they have beaten back four waves of the COVID-19 pandemic and have been vaccinated in significant numbers,” said Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers. “We had the first case in the United States right here in Snohomish County, and we have been hard at work since January 2020 to limit death and disease. As we reopen Snohomish County government facilities to the public, we want to ensure everyone is as safe as possible. While the pandemic has not ended and COVID-19 remains a public health challenge, we can safely resume in-person government activities that were suspended in March 2020 and mark this as progress in our fight against the global pandemic. The resilience and adaptability of Snohomish County’s residents and those who work for them in county government will continue to serve us all well.”
The public is encouraged to continue using online access to county services. Some tasks that previously required a special trip to a county facility to perform are now easily completed online, and prior to the pandemic, Snohomish County had already moved many services on-line. Before taking a trip to a county facility, please check if you can conduct your business on-line, saving time and increasing convenience.
Requirements for courtrooms are addressed by Emergency Orders of the Courts. You can find the Emergency Order for Superior Court here and District Court here.
Some of the facilities that had periods of limited hours and access during the pandemic or provided only on-line services but will once again be physically accessible to the public include in-person customer service counters at the Superior Court Clerks’ Office, Treasurer’s Office, Auditor’s Office (including Elections), Parks and Recreation, Planning and Development Services, Prosecuting Attorney’s, Public Works, reception desks at Sheriff’s Office precincts and Corrections, the law library, restrooms, rental spaces and public meeting rooms.
For specifics on business hours for a particular service, visit https://www.snohomishcountywa.gov.
After weeks of progress against COVID-19, the case rate in Snohomish County is flattening. It is now at 69 new cases per 100,000 residents – the same as last week.
In the past during this pandemic, flattening typically has been followed by a climb. Let’s keep cases down! During this Fourth of July holiday weekend make sure your plans are not only heat and fire safe, but COVID safe, too.
Meanwhile more reopening activities are expected as many COVID restrictions lift in Washington on June 30. To reopen as safely as possible, we need to be cautious and respectful – mask up if unvaccinated or in a venue that requires it, stay home if you feel ill, and mind your space in group settings.
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For the nearly 450,000 Snohomish County residents who have had at least one vaccine, it may mean getting back to pre-pandemic activities. Here are tips and recommendations for life after the vaccine. #vaxupsnoco
For more information visit: https://bit.ly/3xZuGG4
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The state Department of Health last week updated its guidance keeping indoor spaces cooler during the COVID crisis. Creating Safer Air Movement for Cooling with Consideration of COVID-19 provides guidance on safer ways to create air movement for cooling when air conditioning units and a central HVAC system are not available.
See DOH's Hot Weather Safety page for additional information.
High temperatures are hard on pets, too. Keep them cool and safe by following these easy tips. For more info, visit www.bit.ly/hotpetsafety.
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Health Officer Dr. Chris Spitters, Emergency Management Director Jason Biermann, and Marysville Fire District Public Information Officer Christie Veley provide updates on the response to COVID-19.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pE67bgs0O5E
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