West Seattle, Washington
26 Thursday
Here’s where the pandemic stands tonight, locally:
NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: Here are the cumulative totals from Public Health‘s daily-summary dashboard:
*100,455 people have tested positive, 470 more than yesterday’s total
*1,542 people have died, 6 more than yesterday’s total
*5,935 people have been hospitalized, 9 more than yesterday’s total
*1,054,882 people have been tested, 1,595 more than yesterday’s total
ONE WEEK AGO: Last Saturday, those numbers were 98,504/1,526/5,853/1,039,969.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 157.2 million people have tested positive, and more than 3,278,000 people have died; U.S. deaths exceed 576,000. Most cases: U.S., India, Brazil, France, Turkey (same as last week). See the breakdown, nation by nation, here.
VACCINATION SITUATION: Don’t want to go to a city-run hub? Other places are welcoming walk-ins now. The CovidWA Vaccine Finder, for example, lists that status for local Rite Aids and Safeways. (According to their websites, those pharmacies are all currently administering the Moderna vaccine.)
GOT SOMETHING TO REPORT? westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302, text/voice – thank you!
Pandemic headlines as we conclude the first week of May:
COUNTY HEALTH OFFICER’S BRIEFING: Dr. Jeff Duchin said that after six weeks of increasing cases in King County, this past week saw a “slight decrease.” While the pandemic is “no longer a 5-alarm fire” locally, it “continues to burn,” he warned, and as more and more people get vaccinated, the better the chances are that it can be brought down to “smoldering” status. Watch his briefing, including media Q&A, here.
KING COUNTY NUMBERS: On to the daily stats from the Public Health daily-summary page, cumulative totals:
*100,485 people have tested positive, 347 more than yesterday’s total*
*1,536 people have died, 3 more than yesterday’s total
*5,926 people have been hospitalized, 2 more than yesterday’s total
*1,053,287 people have been tested, 2,257 more than yesterday’s total
NOTE: It appears yesterday’s startlingly high case total from King County was a typo of some kind on the county’s part – skipping that day and adding the “more than” totals from today and yesterday to the Wednesday total, the number is only slightly less than tonight’s total.
Continuing tonight’s report – our weekly check of key numbers on the COVID Vaccination Among King County Residents dashboard:
*1,248,950 people have received one dose (67.5% of everyone 16+)
*853,646 people have received both doses (46.1% of everyone 16+)
*1,888,395 doses have been allocated to King County (not counting pharmacy programs)
One week ago, the first four totals were 98,095/1,525/5,827/1,038,291, and the vaccination totals were 1,190,224/783,936/1,691,845.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 156.9 million cases, 3,270,000+ deaths – see the nation-by-nation numbers here.
CITY MILESTONE: 100,000 doses administered at the city-affiliated hubs, so the mayor delivered ice cream to the city-run hubs, including Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex:
GET VACCINATED THIS WEEKEND: You are still welcome to just walk into the city hubs, including that one here in WS (2801 SW Thistle), without an appointment. But you’re also welcome to lock in a spot by making one, first or second dose – you can do that here. WS is open Saturday, 9 am-4:30 pm, and Lumen Field is also open Saturday, 11:15 am-5:45 pm. Both are offering all three vaccines. (And if you want to find someplace else, here’s the covidwa.com lookup.)
GET FOOD: Here’s one more reminder about this food-box distribution Saturday afternoon.
GOT INFO OR PHOTOS? westseattleblog@gmail.com or text/voice 206-293-6302 – thank you!
If you missed the mention in last night’s roundup – 2-4 pm tomorrow (Saturday), the Greater Seattle Filipino-American SDA Church invites anyone in need of food to come get some at their next drive-up distribution. Food boxes will be distributed outside the church, which is at 2620 SW Kenyon, across from Denny International Middle School – here’s a map.
During the pandemic, communities have coalesced in new ways. Among them, school communities raising money for emergency assistance, to supplement what’s available through regular channels. We’ve been asked to share information about another of those efforts, the Arbor Heights Family Resource Fund, to reach more who might be interested in offering support. Here’s their message:
What a long year 2020/2021 has been! Covid-19 has interrupted the lives of all of our families, but many of us have bene fortunate enough to remain employed, work from home, and have our children close.Unfortunately, this has not been the case for many in our community.
The pandemic has hit some of our families harder with job loss, working in high-risk environments, and being away from their children. Here is an opportunity to come together to support our Arbor Heights families.
Our families are facing diverse needs in 2021 as we continue to work through the challenges posed by the pandemic. Many of our families are experiencing severe financial hardships. This fund is direct support with no overhead — the Arbor Heights Family Support Team will work to help families with bills, groceries, transportation to school, childcare, and rent. 100% of your donations will go to the Arbor Heights Family Resource Fund to be distributed directly to families. In the alternative, please consider donating grocery (Safeway & Kroger), gas, and Uber gift cards directly to the school. We are stronger together and we are so grateful for this generous community!
NOTE: These donations are not tax deductible and this short-term Family Resource Fund is not affiliated with the Arbor Heights PTSA.
Here’s what you need to know about the pandemic tonight:
NEWEST NUMBERS: First, the update from the Public Health daily-summary dashboard:
*104,256 people have tested positive, 372 more than yesterday’s total
*1,533 people have died, 1 more than yesterday’s total
*5,924 people have been hospitalized, 10 more than yesterday’s total
*1,051,030 people have been tested, 1,666 more than yesterday’s total
One week ago, the four totals we track were 97,620/1,514/5,784/1,036,081.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: Find them, county by county, on the state Department of Health page.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 156 million cases worldwide, 32.6 million of them in the U.S. See the nation-by-nation breakout here.
VACCINATION VISITS: Tomorrow’s the first of the city’s new pop-up clinics in neighborhood business districts. This will be in the U-District, but a West Seattle Junction visit is planned Saturday, May 15th – stand by for details.
NEED A RIDE TO GET A SHOT? Free and discounted transportation is available.
NEED FOOD? The Greater Seattle Filipino-American SDA Church is offering free food boxes again this Saturday, 2-4 pm. Just show up at 2620 SW Kenyon.
GOT INFO/PHOTOS/TIPS? 206-293-6302, text or voice, or westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
As reported here Tuesday, the city’s trying new tactics to get more people vaccinated, including pop-up vaccination clinics in various neighborhood business districts. We noted that the West Seattle Junction Association had heard from the city about hosting one. Now the date is set – WSJA executive director Lora Radford says the clinic is planned for 10 am-noon on Saturday, May 15th. So if you’re not vaccinated yet but might find that more convenient for you than what’s available now, stand by for more details!
(WSB file photo)
Another long-awaited reopening is on the way. The Southwest Seattle Historical Society has just announced the reopening date for its home base, the Log House Museum on Alki:
Opening Day is on its way! The Southwest Seattle Historical Society is thrilled to announce that our beloved Log House Museum will be reopening to the public on Friday, May 21st 2021 from 12:00 to 4:00 PM.
Want to see our new exhibits before anyone else? Become a member today HERE since the Log House Museum will be open for a members only opening weekend May 14th, 15th, and 16th from 12:00 to 4:00 PM.
From White Center to Delridge, South Park to Alki, we love being stewards of your local history. Visit the museum to explore The Alki Suffrage Club to discover how Alki women were key players in gaining women’s suffrage in 1910, and what the impacts of WWII were on local high schoolers through War on the Homefront.
Our community is full of historic changemakers – so come tell us your stories!
The Southwest Seattle Historical Society is committed to fostering a healthy environment for our entire community. As such, face masks are required for all museum visitors over the age of 2. Visitors can also expect increased ventilation through the museum, frequent cleaning, and capacity limits.
Please check our website often for important updates about how to plan your visit and what you can expect upon your arrival to the museum. For more information you can also call us at 206-350-0999 or email us at museum@loghousemuseum.org. We look forward to welcoming you back.
If you haven’t been to the museum, it’s a cozy, historic building at 61st/Stevens. The SWSHS has been busy with many virtual offerings during the closure – tomorrow night you are invited to view the awards ceremony for its recent youth writing contest!
Tonight’s local/state pandemic updates:
NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: From the Seattle-King County Public Health daily-summary dashboard, the cumulative totals:
*99,754 people have tested positive, 334 more than yesterday’s total
*1,532 people have died, 5 more than yesterday’s total
*5,914 people have been hospitalized, 17 more than yesterday’s total
*1,049,354 people have been tested, 2,078 more than yesterday’s total
Last Wednesday, the county did not update its dashboard, so tonight we have no “one week ago” numbers for comparison.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: Find all the numbers, county by county, on the state Department of Health data page,.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: See them, nation by nation, here.
STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS’ BRIEFING: The weekly briefing by Secretary of Health Dr. Umair Shah and other officials happened this morning. Watch the briefing here.
VACCINATION SITUATION: It was a major topic during the state briefing – in which a new helpline was introduced, 833-VAX-HELP – and the newest vaccine-distribution report is out too.
IF YOU HAVEN’T BEEN VACCINATED YET … You can still go to city sites including the West Seattle hub (2801 SW Thistle) without an appointment, but if you’d rather guarantee your spot, go here.
GOT INFO? Email us at westseattleblog@gmail.com or phone us, text or voice, at 206-293-6302 – thank you!
The musicians are masked and the instruments have special covers, as the West Seattle High School Band gets back to business. The West Seattle Music Boosters shared the photos and some video:
The Marching Band resumed rehearsals a few weeks ago, while the Jazz Band had its first practice today. The Music Boosters note, “Mr. Thomas went to great lengths to obtain SPS permission and put the many safeguards in place. As you can see, proper masks and instrument covers were purchased, and kids are distanced and outside.”
The Music Boosters add, “Other things you didn’t know you needed were clothespins! If you happen to be by Hiawatha on a Wednesday afternoon, cheer them on.”
(Colman Pool, photographed in 2017 by Long Bach Nguyen)
Last month, we reported Seattle Parks‘ announcement that Colman Pool – the outdoor saltwater pool on Lincoln Park‘s shore – would reopen this year, after skipping 2020. At the time, the dates weren’t set. Now they are: June 19 through September 6 “at reduced capacity,” says Parks, with “operational changes … to ensure public and staff safety as we recover from the pandemic.” Lap and family swims will be offered, but no group lessons; swim sessions will last an hour, with a half-hour break following “to facilitate cleaning.” Pre-registration will be offered a day in advance, with “limited drop-in admission.” Masks will be required when you’re not in the pool. On-deck seating will be limited, and the slide will be closed. But Parks will offer party rentals for 30 or fewer people, Fridays through Sundays at 7:30 pm. Rental bookings will open at noon May 26th. More details in the full announcement, here.
P.S. No word yet on when/whether indoor Southwest Pool might reopen.
Tonight’s pandemic toplines:
PHASE PAUSE: With King County’s cases and hospitalizations being over the maximums for staying in Phase 3, many considered it inevitable that Gov. Inslee would announce a rollback today. But he didn’t. Instead, he announced a two-week “pause” on any counties changing phases, saying the newest numbers suggested the “fourth wave” was plateauing.
NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: So here’s where’re we’re at tonight, per the today’s daily summary from Seattle-King County Public Health – the cumulative totals:
*99,420 people have tested positive, 203 more than yesterday’s total
*1,527 people have died, 1 more than yesterday’s total
*5,897 people have been hospitalized, 17 more than yesterday’s total
*1,047,286 people have been tested, 2,401 more than yesterday’s total
One week ago, the totals were 96,744/1,505/5,742/1,032,976.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.
NATIONAL/WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 154.3 million cases worldwide, 32.5 million of them in the U.S. – see other nation-by-nation stats by going here.
HEALTH OFFICIALS’ BRIEFING: At 8:15 am tomorrow online, state health officials will present their weekly briefing and media Q&A. Watch the livestream here.
VACCINATION PROGRESS: 66.1 percent of King County residents 16+ have had at least one shot.
GETTING VACCINATED: The city’s still operating its sites, including the West Seattle hub (2801 SW Thistle), on a “no appointment needed” status (you can make one, though), and starting tomorrow, it’s supposed to have all three authorized vaccines on hand. Tomorrow is also the trial run for evening hours – the WS site will be open until 7:30 pm. … Next new idea from the city: Neighborhood pop-ups. First one is in the U-District; we checked with the West Seattle Junction Association, which says it’s heard from the city about the idea, but no date set yet.
\GOT SOMETHING TO REPORT? westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302, text/voice – thank you!
11:06 AM: Just under way and viewable above (or here), Governor Inslee‘s media briefing, at which he is expected to announce the latest evaluation of which counties are eligible for which reopening phases. (King County has been in Phase 3 since March 22nd.) We’ll update as it goes.
He starts by saying the plan is on “pause” for at least two weeks, so King County stays in Phase 3 for now. He says the newest data suggests the situation is “plateauing” statewide – maybe even a slight decline.
He notes that the death rate “has gone down dramatically” though hospitalizations are up, and he cites “vaccination progress” for that. If this progress continues, he says, “sometime in the summer we could potentially have much more normal activities in the state.” He urges that people continue to get vaccinated to ensure the progress. Don’t take them for granted, he says – “these vaccines are desperately wanted across the planet, and we have them right here in Washington state.”
11:14 AM: King County’s public-health officer Dr. Jeff Duchin says the county has indeed “leveled off,” and the two-week pause “provides time to see more reliably” where we’re at and where we’re heading, “and whether we’re turning the corner on the ‘fourth wave,’ which we may be. … I think this s a good and difficult decision by the governor.” He adds, “Vaccination is our ticket to a more stable, more normal lifestyle.”
And, adds Inslee, safety protocols remain vital.
State Secretary of Health Dr. Umair Shah reiterates that the two-week “pause” will be a chance to see if things are getting better or worse. He notes that it’s been less than three weeks since vaccine eligibility opened to everyone.
11:24 AM: Now on to media Q&A. First one: Why not just give counties the authorization to make their own reopening decisions? The governor says the state-led approach has saved thousands of lives. Dr. Duchin adds that the state’s had one of the nation’s lowest case and death rates for most of the pandemic because of the unified approach.
Next question: Might the plan change so that businesses can have some predictability/certainty? Inslee says “this pandemic has been so rapidly changing and so unpredictable” that a “flexible” plan has been important to have – and in this case, the flexibility involves pausing the plan. “We will look at this for the next two weeks … we are hopeful these trends will continue to go down … we have to figure out which pitch this virus is throwing at us.”
Then: What level of vaccination is the governor looking for, to enable “more normal” activities? Inslee says it’s not yet known what level of vaccine is needed to complement whatever level of natural immunity is out there, but “every single time somebody gets vaccinated” it’s closer.
Q: Couldn’t a pause help counties get a handle on hospital capacity? The governor replied that he hasn’t heard of any major problems aside from Ferry County, which has decided on its own to move back. (During the reply, he mentioned again that the pause is also intended to avoid “disruption to the economy.”)
Q: What more can be done to convince people to get vaccinated? The governor declares, “We’re doing everything humanly possible to give people multiple avenues … We just need people to do this.” Drs. Shah and Duchin acknowledged that some people may not feel much at risk – but need to get vaccinated to help protect others in the community.
Q: A reporter says a restaurant owner has commented about the governor, “He just changed the rules again – how can we trust the process?” Inslee said, “I hope the restaurant owner is happy we just changed the rules again … I would think that’s a popular position with the restaurant industry … (but) he can stay at 25 percent if (he wants).”
Q: What about creating vaccinated sections for restaurants, as the state has now done for some events? Inslee says a lack of compliance with previous rules (in passing, he mentioned $7 million total fines) meant “we just don’t believe there’s a meaningful way” to do that; he also said the state asked the restaurant industry if they wanted that and they did not. As part of a related reply, he again says today’s decision “is not the governor throwing darts at a board,” it’s based on a recent change in trends.
NOON: The event’s offer with one last pitch from the governor saying, “Our destiny is in our hands and that means getting the vaccine.” Here’s the announcement from his website; the archived video should be viewable soon in the same window above.
Our nightly roundup of local pandemic-related information:
GOVERNOR’S ANNOUNCEMENT: If King County is going back to Phase 2 as the metrics would suggest, we’ll find out when Gov. Inslee has his next briefing at 11 am tomorrow. His scheduled guests include Secretary of Health Dr. Umair Shah and King County Health Officer Dr. Jeff Duchin. You’ll be able to watch live at this link; we expect to carry the stream here too.
NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: From the Seattle-King County Public Health daily summary:
*99,217 people have tested positive, 276 more than yesterday’s total
*1,526 people have died, unchanged since Saturday
*5,880 people have been hospitalized, 14 more than yesterday’s total
*1,044,885 people have been tested, 2,337 more than yesterday’s total
One week ago, those totals were 96,597/1,503/5,713/1,028,782.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 153.1 million cases, 3,209,000 deaths – 577,000 in the U.S. See the other stats – nation by nation – here.
VACCINATION SITUATION: The city officially announced today what we reported on Friday – no appointments needed any more at city hubs. The announcement also included hours/days of operation – including a trial run for evening hours – plus details on which vaccines are available on which dates. Meantime, the Mariners are following the Sounders‘ example and offering vaccinations at home games, starting tomorrow.
VACCINE FOR 12-15 YEAR-OLDS? The New York Times reports that the Pfizer vaccine is expected to be authorized for 12- to 15-year-olds in about a week.
SCHOOL CASE: Another local school has notified families of a COVID case – this time, West Seattle High School.
NEED FOOD? The nearest Food Lifeline distribution is 2-5 pm Friday (May 7th) at 815 S. 96th.
‘PANDEMIC PEOPLE’: A new “digital tour” offered by the Southwest Seattle Historical Society looks at two pandemics a century apart.
GOT SOMETHING TO REPORT? westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302, text/voice – thank you!
Two pandemic notes this afternoon:
(Updated sign at SW Thistle entrance to vaccination-hub lot)
WEST SEATTLE VACCINATION HUB: As first reported here last week (thanks to reader tips), you no longer need an appointment to get vaccinated at the city-run West Seattle hub in the Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex parking lot (2801 SW Thistle). The city made an official announcement today about that status for the WS, Rainier Beach, and Lumen Field sites, including additional detail about what you can get there and when:
Today and tomorrow, Rainier Beach is offering the Pfizer vaccine, and West Seattle is offering the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines. Beginning Wednesday, May 5, the following vaccines will be available each day of operation going forward:
Lumen Field Event Center: Pfizer
Rainier Beach Vaccination Hub: Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, and Pfizer
West Seattle Vaccination Hub: Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, and PfizerThe address and hours of operation at these three City vaccination sites are as follows:
Lumen Field Event Center: 330 S Royal Brougham Way; Thursday and Saturday, 11:15 a.m. – 5:45 p.m.
Rainier Beach Vaccination Hub: 8702 Seward Park Ave S; Monday – Saturday, 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. On Tuesday, May 4, this hub will be open until 7:30 p.m.
West Seattle Vaccination Hub: 2801 SW Thistle St.; Monday – Saturday, 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. On Wednesday, May 5, this hub will be open until 7:30 p.m.
You can still make an appointment if you would prefer to; start here.
ANOTHER SCHOOL CASE: Thanks for the tips. West Seattle High School has notified its Cohort B families that “a person in (the) group” has COVID-19. The email from principal Brian Vance says in part:
Following the guidance of Public Health — Seattle & King County the person with COVID-19 will not be able to return to class until after their contagious period has passed. This period is 10 days after the start of symptoms and 24 hours after fever and symptoms improve without the use of medications.
The Seattle Public Schools COVID Central team is contacting and instructing individuals who came in close contact with this person to follow Public Health guidelines and quarantine for the entire 14 days from the date of exposure to the person with COVID-19. A close contact is anyone who has spent 15 or more minutes within 6 feet of the person with COVID-19, regardless of whether the individual and/or the person with COVID-19 were wearing a face covering. If you have not been contacted, it has been determined that your child did not have close contact with the Covid-19 positive individual. The team is involved and actively working with me to ensure the safety of our school community.
We’ve previously reported case announcements at Genesee Hill and at Lafayette Elementaries. The district’s dashboard tracks case numbers by region – West Seattle and South Park comprise the Southwest region, with 43 reported cases this school year, 35 students and 8 staff members.
(WSB file photo)
The Log House Museum hasn’t reopened yet, but its parent organization is offering another “digital tour.” Here’s the announcement:
The Southwest Seattle Historical Society is pleased to announce its second digital tour experience “Pandemic People: Compare and Contrast Lived Experiences in 1918 and 2020.” Join us for an online tour to experience the enrichment that an in-person field trip experience affords, even while we can’t be together. This tour is open for student groups Grades 6 – 12, and any interested adult groups. Signups are required at least two weeks before your desired tour date. “Pandemic People” is a free experience.
“Pandemic People” compares and contrasts pandemic experiences on the Duwamish Peninsula in the age of The Spanish Flu and COVID-19. The tour invites participants to reflect on care discrepancies between communities, public safety precautions, and first-person narratives of life in the pandemic in 1918 and 2020. How have our experiences living in pandemic conditions changed over the past century? How have they stayed the same? Join us on a digital tour to find out! To register, please call 206-350-0999, or email museum@loghousemuseum.org. Tours run for approximately 40 minutes. Tour availability is based on docent availability and is subject to change.
Tonight’s pandemic news, as May’s first weekend concludes:
THINKING ABOUT GETTING VACCINATED THIS WEEK? The city’s West Seattle hub is open for walk-ups until further notice – but you can still get an appointment easily by going here; thousands are available at that and other city sites. (If you are looking for other options, see the list in last night’s roundup.)
NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: From the King County Daily Summary Dashboard page, the cumulative totals:
*98,941 people have tested positive, 437 more than yesterday’s total
*1,526 people have died, unchanged from yesterday’s total
*5,866 people have been hospitalized, 13 more than yesterday’s total
*1,042,548 people have been tested, 2,579 more than yesterday’s total
One week ago, those totals were 96,341/1,503/5,692/1,028,384.
WEST SEATTLE TRENDS: Here’s our weekly check. These numbers are shown in two-week increments via the “geography over time” tab on the countywide daily-summary dashboard; to determine WS status, we combine the totals from the West Seattle and Delridge “health reporting areas” (HRAs): For the past two weeks, 161 positive test results; 158 in the 2 weeks before that; 101 in the two weeks before that. … We also are noting WS death totals each week. The total deaths for the entire pandemic in the two HRAs comprising West Seattle: 67, which means two people’s deaths were reported in the past week. Adding a look at hospitalizations: 187 total have been attributed to people in the two West Seattle HRAs since the start of the pandemic, 6 in the past two weeks.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 152.5 million cases and 3,199,000+ deaths, 577,000+ of them in the U.S. – see the nation-by-nation breakdown here
GRODERY-STORE COVID CASE: Thanks for the tip via text. Metropolitan Market says a West Seattle employee has tested positive for COVID-19. Along with the online announcement, the texter says it’s posted on the store-entrance door.
ROLLBACK WATCH: Though tomorrow’s the date the state looks at the metrics to determine whether counties will move back or ahead in reopening “phases,” the announcements aren’t planned until Tuesday. As shown here, King County is significantly past the Phase 2 maximums in both key metrics.
GOT SOMETHING TO REPORT? westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302, text/voice – thank you!
Here’s where the pandemic stands tonight, locally:
NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: Here are the cumulative totals from Public Health‘s daily-summary dashboard:
*98,504 people have tested positive, 409 more than yesterday’s total
*1,526 people have died, 1 more than yesterday’s total
*5,853 people have been hospitalized, 26 more than yesterday’s total
*1,039,969 people have been tested, 1,678 more than yesterday’s total
ONE WEEK AGO: Last Saturday, those numbers were 95,878/1,503/5,664/1,024,410.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 151.1 million people have tested positive, and more than 3,192,000 people have died; U.S. deaths exceed 576,000. Most cases: U.S., India, Brazil, France, Turkey (which passed Russia this week). See the breakdown, nation by nation, here.
VACCINATION SITUATION: The city has been taking walk-ups but still advises appointments, and has plenty of them, including the West Seattle hub (2801 SW Thistle) – go here. … If you can’t get to a vaccination site because you are mobility-challenged, you may be eligible for a vaccinator to come to you.
GOT SOMETHING TO REPORT? westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302, text/voice – thank you!
Tonight’s pandemic headlines:
NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY: The city-run vaccination site in West Seattle is now taking walk-ups of any vaccine-eligible age (though appointments are still recommended to guarantee time slots). The hub will try out evening hours next Wednesday, too.
COUNTY HEALTH OFFICER’S BRIEFING: Even while acknowledging that King County is looking likely to roll back to Phase 2 in a week, Dr. Jeff Duchin says he sees reasons for optimism. Overall – hospitalizations are up, deaths are down. Watch his briefing here.
KING COUNTY NUMBERS: Now, the daily stats from the Public Health daily-summary page, cumulative totals:
*98,095 people have tested positive, 475 more than yesterday’s total
*1,525 people have died, 11 more than yesterday’s total
*5,827 people have been hospitalized, 43 more than yesterday’s total
*1,038,291 people have been tested, 2,219 more than yesterday’s total
On to our weekly check of key numbers on the COVID Vaccination Among King County Residents dashboard:
*1,190,224 people have received one dose
*783,936 people have received both doses
*1,691,845 doses have been allocated to King County (not counting pharmacy programs)
One week ago, the first four totals were 95,470/1,502/5,645/1,023,092, and the vaccination totals were 1,076,724/681,274/1,511,775.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 151.3 million cases, 3,176,000+ deaths – see the nation-by-nation numbers here.
CHANGES FOR LONG-TERM-CARE FACILITIES: The state is aligning its guidance with recent federal changes:
The changes will allow residents who are fully vaccinated to choose to have close contact with other fully vaccinated individuals and to not wear source control during the activity. This change reflects the continuing progression towards returning long term care facilities to a more normal state by allowing residents to have greater contact with their fellow residents, reducing the stark social isolation many have faced during the past year.
GOT INFO OR PHOTOS? westseattleblog@gmail.com or text/voice 206-293-6302 – thank you!
12:10 PM: Thanks for the tips! We’ve confirmed with the mayor’s office that the West Seattle vaccination hub is now open to ALL walk-ups, not just a certain age (aside from the 16+ minimum). Spokesperson Kelsey Nyland tells WSB that appointments are still advised to guarantee your shot (first or second), but until further notice, they’re not required any more. The hub is on the south side of the parking lot at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex, 2801 SW Thistle – look for the driveway just east of the Southwest Pool/Teen Life Center building. The hub is currently Mondays-Saturdays, ~9 am-4:30 pm.
ADDED 12:33 PM: And if those hours don’t work for you, the city just announced they’re giving evening hours a try. This Wednesday (May 5th), the West Seattle hub will offer vaccinations until 7:30 pm. The city says, “If appointments are high, SFD will expand this pilot.” (The Seattle Fire Department runs the WS hub.)
Here’s what you need to know about the pandemic tonight:
NEWEST NUMBERS: Since King County had no Wednesday update, the newest numbers from the Public Health daily-summary dashboard represent two days worth of totals:
*97,620 people have tested positive, 876 more than Tuesday’s total
*1,514 people have died, 9 more than Tuesday’s total
*5,784 people have been hospitalized, 42 more than Tuesday’s total
*1,036,081 people have been tested, 3,105 more than Tuesday’s total
One week ago, the four totals we track were 95,062/1,500/5,621/1,018,555.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: Find them, county by county, on the state Department of Health page.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 150.5 million cases worldwide, 32.2 million of them in the U.S. See the nation-by-nation breakout here.
ROLLBACK WATCH: King County is still way beyond the case and hospitalization rates that would allow staying in Phase 3. Monday is when the state takes a look at the numbers, with decisions announced Tuesday regarding whether anyone has to roll back on the following Friday.
VACCINATION HESITATION: Gov. Inslee talked about it during his briefing this afternoon. He called the slowdown in vaccine demand “terrible” while extolling the benefits of getting vaccinated – with an increasing list of things that vaccinated people will be allowed to do.
NEED A SHOT? City-run sites including West Seattle still have thousands of appointments – make yours here. Or call this hotline – 800-525-0127.
AND IF YOU’RE GOING TO A SOUNDERS MATCH … the team will be offering walk-up vaccinations to fans, starting Sunday.
COVID AT SCHOOL: Another local elementary school has reported a COVID case. This time, it’s a person at Lafayette Elementary, according to a letter to the staff that doesn’t specify whether the person is a student or staffer but says “Seattle Public Schools’ COVID Central team did not identify any individuals who came in close contact with this person.” Here’s the district’s notification policy. The district isn’t keeping school-by-school reports on its website but does have region-by-region numbers on this dashboard.
NEED FOOD? Two opportunities tomorrow: The nearest Food Lifeline distribution is 2-5 pm Friday at 815 S. 96th; Highland Park Elementary is offering drive-up grab-n-go food boxes during that same time period (1012 SW Trenton).
GOT INFO/PHOTOS/TIPS? 206-293-6302, text or voice, or westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
With eviction moratoriums continuing, some have asked about support for property owners as well as renters. King County has just opened applications for help in this year’s version of a county program that will help them as well as tenants. The King County Eviction Prevention and Rental Assistance Program is now accepting applications from landlords who have five or more tenants behind in rent. On May 17th, it will start taking applications from tenants. The county announcement includes these points:
*The new program is significantly larger than the 2020 program, with over $125 million available to assist residents.
*EPRAP will help King County residents in danger of eviction by paying past, current, and future rent.
*Landlord sign-ups are being collected first and the Tenant pool will open in mid-May.
*The 2020 eviction prevention program provided rent assistance to 9,073 households countywide and expended over $37 million.
Find out more by going here.
Tonight’s local/state pandemic toplines:
NO KING COUNTY NUMBERS: No daily summary, as, Seattle-King County Public Health reported in its daily email update, “we have not been able to download today’s case summaries from the Washington State Dept. of Health’s master database.”
STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS’ BRIEFING: The weekly briefing by Secretary of Health Dr. Umair Shah and other officials happened this morning. They said the “fourth wave” appears to be plateauing “a little bit” around the state – this as the next assessment of phase eligibility, next Monday, approaches. Watch the briefing here.
VACCINATION VISITOR: U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra was in Seattle today and joined local leaders for a visit to the city’s Lumen Field mass-vaccination site:
Today, I talked with frontline workers and saw first-hand the incredible progress that Seattle is making on vaccinations. Thousands of people are stepping up to protect themselves and their communities at the Lumen Field Vaccination site. pic.twitter.com/s8B8cVyk9U
— Secretary Xavier Becerra (@SecBecerra) April 29, 2021
VACCINATION SITUATION: The latest statewide situation report is out. Key stat: 5.2 million doses of vaccine have been administered statewide.
IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A VACCINATION APPOINTMENT … The city still has tons of openings, whether it’s your first or second dose. Here’s that link. If you’re looking for other options, our most-recent list was in Saturday’s roundup.
GOT INFO? Email us at westseattleblog@gmail.com or phone us, text or voice, at 206-293-6302 – thank you!
More than a year after closing in the pandemic’s early going, the Corner Pocket in The Junction is reopening next Tuesday. Co-proprietor Pete Olive emailed the announcement:
The Corner Pocket will be reopening on May 4th. We wanted to make sure our staff had a chance to get vaccinated before we moved forward. We will be open 2 pm to 11 pm Monday-=Thursday, and 2 pm to midnight Friday, Saturday, Sunday. We will be operating on a limited food menu, and will be requiring masks when standing, as per Washington Dept. of Health rules.
Olive says the Corner Pocket (California & Alaska, downstairs) has been closed since mid-March of last year: “It’s been a long year.”
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