West Seattle, Washington
20 Friday
Here’s our nightly check-in with news and notes related to the virus crisis:
NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: Here are the cumulative totals from Public Health‘s daily-summary dashboard:
*24,992 people have tested positive, 219 more than yesterday’s total
*785 people have died, 1 more than yesterday’s total
*2,478 people have been hospitalized, 3 more than yesterday’s total
*501,711 people have been tested, 3,428 more than yesterday’s total
One week ago, those totals were 23,879/776/2,433/475,507.
WEST SEATTLE TREND: Here’s our weekly check of this stat, with numbers accessible in two-week increments via the “geography over time” tab on the daily-summary dashboard, combining the totals from the West Seattle and Delridge “health reporting areas.” In the past 2 weeks, 48 positive test results were reported; 61 in the 2 weeks before that; 33 in the two weeks before that – so we have a downward trend going, after being on the upswing when we did the same check the last two Saturday nights.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 39.5 million people have tested positive, and more than 1,108,000 people have died; U.S. deaths have passed 219,000. Most cases: U.S., India, Brazil, Russia, Argentina (which passed Colombia this week to become #5). See the breakdown, nation by nation, here.
TOY DRIVE: The pandemic is going to make it a tough holiday season for many, so donation drives have started early. The Kiwanis Club of West Seattle is at California/Alaska every Sunday, by the Farmers’ Market entrance, continuing tomorrow, 10 am-1:30 pm, collecting new, unwrapped toys for Toys for Tots.
GOT SOMETHING TO REPORT? westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302, text/voice – thank you!
33 weeks ago tonight, King County announced its first case of COVID-19. Here’s where we are now:
NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: From the Public Health daily summary:
*24,773 people have tested positive, 124 more than yesterday’s total
*784 people have died, 2 more than yesterday’s total
*2,475 people have been hospitalized, 3 more than yesterday’s total
*498,283 people have been tested, 4,502 more than yesterday’s total
One week ago, those totals were 23,736/776/2,429/471,588.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 39.3 million cases, 1.1 million deaths – see the nation-by-nation numbers here.
NEED TESTING? Our weekly reminder – the city-operated testing site in West Seattle – south side of the Southwest Athletic Complex parking lot (2801 SW Thistle) – is open Saturdays (as well as weekdays). Go here to choose an appointment time before you go.
HELPING: With so many more people in need this year because of the COVID crunch on our economy, if you can donate, every drive gains new importance. Tomorrow (Saturday), new kids’ coats and used men’s coats are being accepted at Hope Lutheran in The Junction.
GOT INFO OR PHOTOS? westseattleblog@gmail.com or text/voice 206-293-6302 – thank you!
Checking in on the local pandemic-related news:
NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: From the Public Health daily-summary dashboard, the cumulative totals:
*24,649 people have tested positive, up 149 from yesterday’s total
*782 people have died, unchanged from yesterday’s total
*2,472 people have been hospitalized, up 5 from yesterday’s total
*494,372 people have been tested, up 4,166 from yesterday’s total
One week ago, those totals were 23,586/774/2,418/467,086.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: Find them, county by county, on the state Department of Health page,.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 38.9 million cases worldwide, 7.9 million of them in the U.S. See the nation-by-nation breakout here.
TOP HAT QUARANTINE SITE: The controversial county site has yet to host a single person, county officials said tonight at the North Highline Town Hall online community meeting. It’s still being kept on standby, they said, adding that its future post-pandemic remains undecided.
NEED FOOD? Free emergency food boxes are available again 2-5 pm tomorrow at Food Lifeline HQ (815 S. 96th).
GOT PHOTOS/TIPS? 206-293-6302, text or voice, or westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
(Added: WSB photo)
Thanks to Mike for the tip! The south lot at Lincoln Park is open again (we haven’t been able to check yet on the north lot), after almost 7 months. Though as we had reported previously, the announced reopening date is next Monday (October 19th), Parks spokesperson Rachel Schulkin explains, “We started reopening on Monday, and we’ll be finished with all the lots across the city by Monday, October 19 (we can’t do them all in a day).”
Though most school buildings aren’t home to classes right now, there’s still a lot going on. Like meal distribution! This is National School Lunch Week, so we stopped by Madison Middle School, one of more than half a dozen schools in West Seattle/South Park that are distributing meals to students and families every weekday. During the pandemic, meals are provided free to all, and Madison’s Stony Normandeau (in the photo above) told us they’re up to about 300 a day – not the volume they’d be serving if students were on campus, but the number is steadily climbing.
Stony adds that it’s not just day-of meals – they also distribute Backpack Brigade supplies for the weekend, and they have frozen meals provided by FareStart. And if you’re not going because you don’t want to take food away from someone who needs it more, she says don’t worry, they have plenty. The seven meal sites in West Seattle/South Park are listed and mapped here; there’s also one school-bus route in north West Seattle dropping off meals at bus stops.
Every night, we bring you the local/regional pandemic-related toplines:
NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: From the Public Health daily-summary dashboard, the cumulative totals:
*24,500 people have tested positive, 170 more than yesterday’s total
*782 people have died, 3 more than yesterday’s total
*2,467 people have been hospitalized, 9 more than yesterday’s total
*490.206 people have been tested, 3,239 more than yesterday’s total
One week ago, those totals (plus testing) were 23,419/774/2,410/456,822.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: Find them, county by county, on the state Department of Health page,.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: See them, nation by nation, here.
STATEWIDE SITUATION REPORT: The new one’s out, and here are the highlights for our part of the state:
Transmission is increasing in western Washington and recently plateauing in eastern Washington. The best estimates of the reproductive number (how many new people each COVID-19 patient will infect) were 1.12 in western Washington and 0.94 in eastern Washington as of September 27. The goal is a number well below one, which would mean COVID-19 transmission is declining.
Case counts in western Washington are increasing across all age groups and over broad geographic areas. This suggests increases are due to broad community spread, not driven by a single type of activity or setting. Though all age groups are seeing increases, the rising trends among older people are particularly concerning because these groups tend to experience more severe illness.
Recent growth in cases is widely distributed across a number of counties. Some larger counties (Clark, King, Kitsap, Pierce, Snohomish and Thurston) are seeing steady increases. Several smaller counties (Lewis, Mason, Pend Oreille and Skagit) are clearly experiencing increases, though the total number of recent cases remains low. Benton and Franklin counties are seeing gradual but steady increases as well.
FOLLOWUP: After our report on Sew Very Grateful – a West Seattle woman’s project organizing volunteers to sew scrub caps for health-care workers – lots of potential new helpers contacted her! If you missed the story (which includes info on how to help), check it out here.
GOT INFO? Email us at westseattleblog@gmail.com or phone us, text or voice, at 206-293-6302 – thank you!
Halloween is now 2 1/2 weeks away. By reader request, we’re compiling a list of West Seattle decoration locations to visit – so many are already in the spirit! Thanks to everyone who’s already sent tips since we first mentioned this last week. In case you missed it, we wanted to publish this reminder – let us know where you’ve seen exceptional Halloween displays, and whether they’re best seen by day or night (illuminated) or both – photos appreciated but not mandatory. westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
When we mentioned this last week, a comment discussion spun off on the topic of trick-or-treating, and whether families plan to do it this year. Opinions were mixed. We’ve since heard from one reader “wondering what the consensus is around trick or treating? … We plan on lowering candy down in a bucket from our deck into our yard.” Public Health-Seattle King County is recommending “other options,” but if you do decide to trick-or-treat and/or hand out treats, the agency has some safety tips. What’s your plan?
Here’s the latest local info on the pandemic, 7 1/2 months in:
NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: Now, here’s today’s daily summary from Public Health – the cumulative totals:
*24,330 people have tested positive, 125 more than yesterday’s total
*779 people have died, 3 more than yesterday’s total
*2,458 people have been hospitalized, 17 more than yesterday’s total
*486,967 people have been tested, 3,835 more than yesterday’s total
One week ago, the totals were 23,268/769/2,393/455,717.
ANOTHER LOCAL DEATH: Checking on the zip codes that are partially or entirely in West Seattle, we found that another death has been reported in 98116, the 8th. The other local zips: 98106, 4; 98136, 4; 98126, 16; 98146, 17.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.
NATIONAL/WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 38.1 million cases worldwide, 7.8 million of them in the U.S. – see other nation-by-nation stats by going here.
GOVERNOR’S ANNOUNCEMENTS: From Gov. Inslee‘s briefing today: Five counties are finally advancing to reopening Phase 2 – Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Franklin, Yakima. Also, he’s creating a new group to focus on economic recovery. You can watch the briefing video here.
BRIEFING TOMORROW: State health officials’ weekly briefing is Wednesday at 2 pm; you can watch the livestream (or, later, the archived video) here.
NEED FOOD? Emergency boxes will be distributed tomorrow morning in the West Seattle Eagles parking lot. Wednesday morning note – just got word this is canceled.
REOPENING: Speaking of parking lots, Seattle Parks reiterated in this post today that they will reopen next Monday “at popular parks” (in West Seattle, that would mean Lincoln Park).
GOT SOMETHING TO REPORT? westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302, text/voice – thank you!
Meet Phyllis Warman, a Seaview resident who’s managed to get thousands of scrub caps sewn and donated to health-care workers … and she doesn’t even sew!
Her daughter Jenna, who also lives in Seaview, is an ER Trauma Nurse at Harborview Medical Center, and expressed frustration about people not taking COVID-19 seriously. Phyllis learned that health-care workers like her daughter need scrub caps: “The hospitals only provide paper caps and prioritize those for surgical staff. The plastic shields ER and ICU staffs now wear dig into their scalps, patients cough on them — especially after the COVID-19 test — so who knows what’s getting in their hair and these days, every day is a Bad Hair Day. Scrub caps help. A lot. Health-care staff have to provide their own and wash them after every 12-hr shift. What better way to thank our brave, front-line healthcare workers — like my daughter, your neighbor — than with a much-needed and appreciated gift like this?”
When Phyllis made that pitch to an online neighborhood group, she recruited dozens of volunteers to sew caps. They’ve made almost 2,500 caps that have gone to hospitals in Washington, California, Arizona, and Nevada. The need is great, so she would love to sign up more volunteers! Her project is called Sew Very Grateful. Here are four ways you can be part of it:
1. Join our team of volunteer seamstresses/seamsters and machine-sew as many caps as you are willing.
2. Donate fabric (100% cotton quilt)
3. Donate funds for fabric
4. Recruit others
Also, Phyllis adds, “I can supply patterns, fabric, curbside delivery and pickup.” If you can help, or have a question, email SewVeryGrateful@outlook.com.
(Thanks to one of the Sew Very Grateful volunteers, Sue Lindblom of longtime WSB sponsor Illusions Hair Design, for the tip about Phyllis!)
Here are tonight’s local pandemic-related toplines:
NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: Here’s today’s daily summary from Public Health – the cumulative countywide totals:
*24.205 people have tested positive, 152 more than yesterday’s total
*776 people have died, unchanged since Friday
*2,441 people have been hospitalized, 7 more than yesterday’s total
*483,132 people have been tested, 2,937 more than yesterday’s total
One week ago, the totals were 23,149/766/2,386/(not available).
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here … but with this caveat.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: See them – nation by nation – here.
NEED FOOD? Again this week, Food Lifeline will distribute free emergency boxes of food to anyone who shows up, 2-5 pm Friday (October 16th) at its South Park HQ, 815 S. 96th.
MEALS FOR STUDENTS & FAMILIES: It’s National School Lunch Week, a reason to remind you again that all students/parents/guardians – regardless of family income – are welcome to pick up meals at 7 Seattle Public Schools sites in West Seattle/South Park, 11:15 am-1:15 pm weekdays. (Also at that link: Info on the one bus route by which meals are delivered in north West Seattle.)
REOPENING: We’ve been checking the Admiral Theater marquee since the moviehouse’s announcement last Friday that it’s reopening this Friday (October 16th). This appeared today!
The Admiral’s website also shows what’ll be showing.
GOT SOMETHING TO REPORT? westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302, text/voice – thank you!
Seven months ago today, the pandemic started closing schools. Here’s where we are now:
KING COUNTY’S NEWEST NUMBERS: First, the cumulative totals from the Public Health daily-summary dashboard:
*24,053 people have tested positive, up 174 from yesterday’s total
*776 people have died, unchanged since Friday
*2,434 people have been hospitalized, up 1 from yesterday’s total
*480,195 people have been tested, up 4,688 from yesterday’s total
One week ago, the King County totals were 23,023/764/2,397/451,906.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 37.4 million cases and 1,075,000+ deaths – see the nation-by-nation breakdown here.
NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH WEEK: Starts tomorrow – and what better time to remember that all students can get food at Seattle Public Schools‘ distribution sites every weekday right now, free, regardless of family income levels. The sites, times, and menus are all listed here.
ART DURING A PANDEMIC: Local artists have been offering free downloadable coloring pages – and now they’re publishing a book. with proceeds to support arts education – and more.
GOT SOMETHING TO REPORT? westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302, text/voice – thank you!
Midweekend, we check in on the virus crisis:
NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: Here are the cumulative totals from Public Health‘s daily-summary dashboard:
*23,879 people have tested positive, 143 more than yesterday’s total
*776 people have died, unchanged from yesterday’s total
*2,433 people have been hospitalized, 4 more than yesterday’s total
*475,507 people have been tested, 3,919 more than yesterday’s total
One week ago, those totals were 22,941/764/2,395/449,170.
WEST SEATTLE TREND: Here’s our weekly check of this stat, with numbers accessible in two-week increments via the “geography over time” tab on the daily-summary dashboard, combining the totals from the West Seattle and Delridge “health reporting areas.” In the past 2 weeks, 60 positive test results were reported; 49 in the 2 weeks before that; 35 in the two weeks before that – so we are still on an uptick, as was the case when we did the same check last weekend.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 37.1 million people have tested positive, and more than 1,071,000 people have died; U.S. deaths have passed 214,000. Most cases: U.S., India, Brazil, Russia, Colombia. See the breakdown, nation by nation, here.
FOOD-AND-MORE DRIVE: 10 am-3 pm tomorrow outside Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds) – see last night’s roundup for the full list of what they’re accepting.
TOY DRIVE: The need is greater than ever this year because of the pandemic, so donation collection began early. The Kiwanis Club of West Seattle is at California/Alaska every Sunday, continuing tomorrow, 10 am-1:30 pm, collecting new, unwrapped toys for Toys for Tots.
GOT SOMETHING TO REPORT? westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302, text/voice – thank you!
32 weeks ago tonight – on February 28th – King County announced its first case of COVID-19. Here are tonight’s local toplines:
NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: From the Public Health daily summary:
*23,736 people have tested positive, 150 more than yesterday’s total
*776 people have died, 2 more than yesterday’s total
*2,429 people have been hospitalized, 11 more than yesterday’s total
*471,588 people have been tested, 4,502 more than yesterday’s total
One week ago, those totals were 22,788/764/2,382/445,824.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 36.8 million cases, 1,067,000+ deaths – see the nation-by-nation numbers here.
NEED TESTING? Another reminder, the city-operated testing site in West Seattle – south side of the Southwest Athletic Complex parking lot (2801 SW Thistle) – is open Saturdays. Go here to choose an appointment time.
NEED FOOD? Greater Seattle Filipino-American SDA Church is distributing food boxes again tomorrow – drive up, ride up, or walk up at 2620 SW Kenyon, 1:30-4 pm.
24/7 FOOD AND SUPPLIES: Peace Lutheran Church in Gatewood (39th/Thistle) has a new Little Free Pantry with food and hygiene items available.
DONATION DRIVE SUNDAY: Alki UCC will have another drive 10 am-3 pm Sunday, outside the church at 6115 SW Hinds:
A huge shout-out to all the generous people who filled our lobby with donations of non-perishable food, school supplies and men’s casual/work clothing during our last expanded donations drive. The next Call for Donations is this Sunday, October 11, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, outside Alki UCC’s front entrance at 6115 SW Hinds
Food and basic supplies such as toilet paper and diapers are distributed through the White Center Food Bank. We’re accepting school supplies for all grades on behalf of one or more local schools to be distributed when students are back at in-person learning. Suggestions include backpacks, #2 pencils, black and blue ink pens, crayons, lined paper, glue, small scissors, colored pens, writing notebooks and colored paper.
Donations of clean, new or used men’s casual/work clothing are distributed through the Westside Interfaith Network’s hot lunch program for people experiencing homelessness, The Welcome Table. There is a constant and growing demand for denim apparel, khaki’s, hoodies, tee shirts, sweatshirts, clean underwear, socks, shoes and all kinds of outerwear for the fall and winter. Please … NO dress shirts, sport coats or suits
REOPENING: Two days after the governor announced movie theaters could open at 25 percent capacity in Phase 2 counties, West Seattle’s Admiral Theater says it will open a week from today.
GOT INFO OR PHOTOS? westseattleblog@gmail.com or text/voice 206-293-6302 – thank you!
Our nightly pandemic-related roundup:
NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: From the Public Health daily-summary dashboard, the cumulative totals:
*23,586 people have tested positive, up 167 from yesterday’s total
*774 people have died, unchanged from yesterday’s total
*2,418 people have been hospitalized, up 8 from yesterday’s total
*467,086 people have been tested, up 10,264 from yesterday’s total
One week ago, those totals were 22,560/758/2,378/441,609.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: Find them, county by county, on the state Department of Health page,.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 36.4 million cases worldwide, 7.6 million of them in the U.S. See the nation-by-nation breakout here.
GOVERNOR’S BRIEFING: Gov. Inslee had another media briefing today, with announcements including an extension of the statewide eviction moratorium to the end of the year, and a new federal grant that’ll fund various business-supporting initiatives. He also urged everyone to “shop locally, shop small business.” You can watch the video here.
CITY HELP FOR IMMIGRANTS: One week from today, applications will open for a city program to provide financial assistance to immigrants who can’t access federal aid. The program is explained here.
NEED FOOD? Free emergency food boxes are available 2-5 pm tomorrow at Food Lifeline HQ (815 S. 96th) and Saturday afternoon at the Greater Seattle Filipino-American Seventh-day Adventist Church, 1:30-4 pm, 2620 SW Kenyon.
GOT PHOTOS/TIPS? 206-293-6302, text or voice, or westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Here’s our nightly update with local/regional pandemic-related toplines:
NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: From the Public Health daily-summary dashboard, the cumulative totals:
*23,419 people have tested positive, 151 more than yesterday’s total
*774 people have died, 5 more than yesterday’s total
*2,410 people have been hospitalized, 17 more than yesterday
*456,822 people have been tested, 1,105 more than yesterday
One week ago, those totals (plus testing) were 22,400/758/2,374/437,985.
ANOTHER LOCAL DEATH: 98116 is now up to 7 deaths as of today. Checking on the other 4 zip codes that are entirely or partly within West Seattle:
-98136: 4
-98106: 4
-98126: 16
-98146: 17
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: Find them, county by county, on the state Department of Health page,.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: See them, nation by nation, here.
LIBRARIES OPEN SOON? Though the governor’s new guidelines allow some indoor services, the Seattle Public Library says it’ll take a few weeks for them to figure out their plan.
NEED FOOD? Another food-box distribution is planned by the Greater Seattle Filipino-American SDA Church, 1:30-4 pm Saturday (October 10th), 2620 SW Kenyon.
GOT INFO? Email us at westseattleblog@gmail.com or phone us, text or voice, at 206-293-6302 – thank you!
(WSB photo: Social-distancing markings for outdoor services at High Point Library)
As we reported Tuesday afternoon, Gov. Inslee has announced new guidelines for a variety of businesses and institutions – among them, libraries. We asked Seattle Public Library management whether that means they’ll be opening their buildings soon. Today, SPL communications director Andra Addison sent this update:
Gov. Jay Inslee has announced public libraries may allow some indoor service at 25 percent capacity in Phase 2 of his Safe Start reopening plan. Indoor activities were previously slated in Phase 3. The Seattle Public Library currently operates in Phase 2 and is assessing the new reopening requirements with current planning efforts to expand services.
The safety of our patrons and staff is our top priority as we develop and progress carefully and thoughtfully on our reopening plans. It will likely take a few weeks to develop a plan to determine services that can safely adapt to in-building access. All physical distancing and health protocols will remain in place, and as required in the new guidance, cloth masks will be required to access any in-building services. Curbside Pickup Service and online services, classes, programs and activities will continue through all phases. More details will be announced when plans are finalized.
(Spirit of Kingston – WSB file photo)
2:39 PM: From King County Transportation:
The M/V Spirit of Kingston (social-distancing passenger capacity of 33) will be on the West Seattle Water Taxi route all evening, replacing the Doc Maynard (86-passenger capacity) while it operates on the Vashon route. The Sally Fox will be out of service tonight while a pilot-house window is replaced. Please plan your commute accordingly in the event that West Seattle customer demand exceeds available capacity on any individual sailing.
The water taxi continues to prevent the spread of COVID-19 through regular cleaning and disinfecting between sailings. Masks are required for both passengers and crew.
3:10 PM: Update – back to normal!
essel Maintenance on the M/V Sally Fox completed early, which allows the Water Taxi to operate at the normal social distancing capacity of 86 on both the West Seattle and Vashon routes. Current ridership has been well below this threshold. Thank you to the engineering team for the expedited work!
Rather than focusing on phases, the governor says he’s focusing on industries and activities, and announced some changes today:
GOVERNOR’S ANNOUNCEMENT: More activities will be allowed under what Gov. Inslee announced today, though no one is advancing phases (King County remains in Phase 2). From the announcement:
Libraries
These guidelines will align regulations with that of museums, allowing some indoor activity in Phase 2 at 25% capacity.
Youth/Adult Sports
These guidelines will align school-related and non-school-related sports guidance. Tournaments and crowds are prohibited in counties that aren’t in the low-risk category, but these guidelines will allow more school and non-school sports, both indoor and outdoor, according to a combination of local metrics. These metrics are aligned with state metrics for school opening recommendations. It also provides specific protocols for transportation, group size and facial coverings.
Movie Theaters
These guidelines will allow for occupancy in Phase 2 at 25% and 50% in Phase 3. Theater attendees will be required to maintain a 6 feet social distance between households and to wear facial coverings at all times when not eating and drinking.
Restaurants
These guidelines will move alcohol cutoff from 10 PM to 11 PM for Phases 2 and 3, as well as eliminates the indoor household member restriction for indoor dining. Additionally, the guidelines will allow for the increase of table size to six in Phase 2 and eight in Phase 3.
Wedding Receptions
These guidelines will increase the total number of wedding reception attendees to 50 in Phase 3.
Retail Events (craft sales shows, etc.)
These guidelines will expand the miscellaneous venues guidance to allow outdoor retail event shows in Phase 3 only, capping attendance to 200 people.
Real Estate
These guidelines will allow for open houses, but limit attendance by the counties’ gathering size limit in accordance to their Phase.
Outdoor recreation (running/bicycling/etc.)
These guidelines will provide protocols for Phases 2 and 3 for races, bicycle tours and rides, runs, cross country skiing races, biathlons, canoe and kayak races, marathons, cross country running competitions, triathlons, and multi-sport competitions with more than 12 participants.
Water Recreation Facilities
This guidance updates the current guidance for water recreational activities and facilities in Modified Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3 counties.
That’s all effective immediately.
NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: Now, here’s today’s daily summary from Public Health – the cumulative totals:
*23,268 people have tested positive, 119 more than yesterday’s total
*769 people have died, 3 more than yesterday’s total
*2,393 people have been hospitalized, 7 more than yesterday’s total
*455,717 people have been tested, 1,512 more than yesterday’s total
One week ago, the totals were 22,263/758/2,369/435,194.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.
NATIONAL/WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 35.7 million cases worldwide, 7.5 million of them in the U.S. – see other nation-by-nation stats by going here.
BRIEFING TOMORROW: Want to hear firsthand what state health officials are saying about the pandemic? You can watch tomorrow’s weekly briefing live at 2 pm here.
NEED FOOD? Emergency boxes will be distributed tomorrow afternoon in the West Seattle Eagles parking lot.
‘FRESH BUCKS’ EXPANDING: The project offering vouchers for fresh fruit and vegetables will add 1,000 more participants, the city says.
GOT SOMETHING TO REPORT? westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302, text/voice – thank you!
3:06 PM: Last week, during a media briefing, Gov. Inslee said that instead of allowing counties to advance “phases,” he expected that he would continue announcing industry-by-industry advances. And that’s what he’s just done in another briefing this afternoon. Among other things, movie theaters will be allowed to reopen in Phase 2 counties – which is where ours is at – at reduced capacity. (We’ll be checking with the Admiral Theater about their plans.) And restaurants/bars will be allowed to extend alcohol service to 11 pm, instead of the 10 pm cutoff that’s been in place for a while, and “greater capacity at tables.” Some real-estate open houses will be allowed. Libraries will be able to open for 25 percent indoor capacity. And the governor also announced that more school sports will be allowed. We’re awaiting details on all of this and will add the document links when they’re available.
4:36 PM: Still awaiting most of the details; here are the sports guidelines, sent by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association. Added the archived video of the governor’s briefing, above.
4:50 PM: Here’s the governor’s news release with more details; regarding sports, here’s the WIAA’s news release. One more sports note – the governor’s new guidelines also address outdoor recreation, described as “races, bicycle tours and rides, runs, cross country skiing races, biathlons, canoe and kayak races, marathons, cross country running competitions, triathlons, and multi-sport competitions with more than 12 participants.” Still waiting to hear back on some specific inquiries, including the Seattle Public Library‘s response.
The President’s out of the hospital; the pandemic continues. Here are tonight’s local toplines:
NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: Here’s today’s daily summary from Public Health – the cumulative countywide totals:
*23,149 people have tested positive, 126 more than yesterday’s total
*766 people have died, 2 more than yesterday’s total
*2,386 people have been hospitalized, 11 fewer than yesterday’s total*
*434,142 people have been tested, 2,280 more than yesterday’s total
One week ago, the totals were 22.212/758/2,362/434,142.
*The PHSKC explanation for the drop in hospitalizations: “A correction was applied to hospitalization data, which resulted in a decrease of 13 hospitalizations. There were 2 new hospitalizations reported on Oct. 5.”
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: See them – nation by nation – here.
WE’RE NOT #1: The city says Seattle has the lowest case rate among 30 major cities.
REOPENING: Play areas at Seattle city parks will reopen tomorrow (details here); parking lots that have been closed at parks (Lincoln Park, for example) will reopen on October 19th.
NEED FOOD? Again this week, Food Lifeline will distribute free emergency boxes of food to anyone who shows up, 2-5 pm Friday (October 9th) at its South Park HQ, 815 S. 96th.
MEALS FOR STUDENTS & FAMILIES: All students/parents/guardians – regardless of family income – are welcome to pick up meals at 7 Seattle Public Schools sites in West Seattle/South Park, 11:15 am-1:15 pm weekdays. (Also at that link: Info on the one bus route by which meals are delivered in north WS.)
GOT SOMETHING TO REPORT? westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302, text/voice – thank you!
(WSB photo from March, Southwest Teen Life Center)
One month ago, the city announced it was creating “learning hubs” for middle- and high-school students, with Southwest Teen Life Center among the sites. Now, there’s a reminder, because there’s still room:
… Free, with wifi, these spaces are equipped with community center and youth program staff who can help your student get engaged in learning.
To help support local students during the pandemic, Seattle Parks and Recreation has opened these hubs for the 2020-21 school year. The facilities offer a stable, productive environment by providing access to Seattle Public Schools’ virtual learning portals, along with recreational, enrichment and mentoring programs and in-person assistance with connectivity and academics. Breakfast and lunch are provided daily.
The hubs adhere to current public health standards by performing regular cleaning, sanitizing and daily wellness/temperature checks. All staff and students are required to wear masks, and social distancing and room occupancy limits are followed. …
Today’s reminder includes information on how to register.
On the President’s third night of hospital treatment for COVID-19, here are tonight’s local toplines:
KING COUNTY’S NEWEST NUMBERS: First, the cumulative totals from the Public Health daily-summary dashboard:
*23,023 people have tested positive, up 82 from yesterday’s total
*764 people have died, unchanged since Friday
*2,397 people have been hospitalized, up 2 from yesterday’s total
*451,906 people have been tested, up 2,736 from yesterday’s total
One week ago, the King County totals were 22,118/758/2,355/431,862.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 35 million cases and 1,036,000+ deaths – see the nation-by-nation breakdown here.
PERSONAL SERVICES REMINDER: A local provider wants to be sure clients are aware of the update last month that set the rules for allowing services such as facials and beard trimming that require removal of the client’s face covering – see the state guidance here.
CROP WALK GETS PERSONAL: The pandemic has transformed another major fall event – the CROP Hunger Walk, which otherwise would have happened in West Seattle today, is instead happening on a route of your choosing sometime in the next week, as explained here.
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On the President’s second night in the hospital with COVID-19, here’s what’ happening locally with the virus crisis:
NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: Here are the cumulative totals from Public Health‘s daily-summary dashboard:
*22,941 people have tested positive, 153 more than yesterday
*764 people have died, unchanged from yesterday
*2,395 people have been hospitalized, 13 more than yesterday
*449,170 people have been tested, 3,346 more than yesterday
One week ago, those totals were 22,000/758/2,353/428,983.
WEST SEATTLE TREND: Here’s our weekly check of this stat, with numbers accessible in two-week increments via the “geography over time” tab on the daily-summary dashboard, combining the West Seattle and Delridge “health reporting areas.” In the past 2 weeks, 70 positive test results were reported; 36 in the 2 weeks before that; 54 in the two weeks before that – so we seem to be on an uptick, after last week’s check indicated plateauing.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 34.7 million people have tested positive, and more than 1,031,000 have died; U.S. deaths are just under 210,000. Most cases: U.S., India, Brazil, Russia, Colombia. See the breakdown, nation by nation, here.
FOOD DRIVE: Local Cub Scouts are doing “Scouting for Food” door-to-door right now – if a hanger turned up on your doorknob and you can donate, they’ll be back next weekend to pick it up!
TOY DRIVE: The need is greater than ever this year because of the pandemic, so collection is starting early. The Kiwanis Club of West Seattle will be at California/Alaska every Sunday starting tomorrow, 10 am-1:30 pm, collecting new, unwrapped toys for Toys for Tots.
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