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CORONAVIRUS: Saturday 3/21 roundup

March 21, 2020 9:13 pm
|      66 COMMENTS
 |   Coronavirus | West Seattle news

Here’s what happened today, 22 days after the first King County case of COVID-19 was announced:

NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: From today’s Seattle-King County Public Health news release:

Public Health—Seattle & King County is reporting the following confirmed cases and deaths due to COVID-19 through 11:59 p.m. on 3/20/20.

934 confirmed cases (up 141 from yesterday)*
74 confirmed deaths (up 8 from yesterday)*

These additional deaths include:

A woman in her 80s, who died on 3/19
A woman in her 100s, who on died 3/15
A man in his 80s, who died on 3/20 at Swedish Ballard
A woman in her 70s, who died on 3/20 at Northwest Hospital
A man in his 70s, who died on 3/20 at Northwest Hospital
A woman in her 70s, who died on 3/20 at Highline Medical Center
A man in his 60s, who died on 3/20 at Swedish Issaquah
A man in his 80s, who died on 3/20 at Valley Medical Center

Of the 74 deaths reported, 35 are confirmed to be associated with Life Care Center of Kirkland.

*After case investigation, one previously reported death was confirmed to be a resident of a different jurisdiction. We have removed this person from our overall confirmed case and death counts.

For comparison – the totals one week ago were 388 King County cases, 35 deaths.

STATEWIDE NUMBERS: 1,793 cases, 94 deaths; other state stats here.

WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: See them – nation by nation – here.

WEST SEATTLE COVID-19 DEATH: One of the three diagnosed Bridge Park residents has died.

MASK SALES SCRAPPED: Given that just yesterday the mask (and other protective equipment) shortage was announced as so grave that people were being recruited to make them and/or donate them, some were shocked today to discover masks for sale at Westwood Village Target. Some who saw them offered to buy them all and donate them, but reported being rejected. The situation was solved by day’s end:

Meantime, as for the mask-sewing campaign, the organizers at Providence told volunteers via email, “Your response, and the response of so many others, actually served as a catalyst for a local business to step up and offer their equipment and facilities to produce large numbers of face masks.”

GOOD THING THE RAIN’S RETURNING: Despite Gov. Jay Inslee‘s Friday plea for more social distancing and less park crowding, Alki drew a big turnout again this afternoon. That in turn led to a summer-style traffic jam after sunset – Kersti Muul photographed it:

Seattle Parks said earlier in the day they would send employees to parks to reinforce the new rules about no playground/sport-court use; we also heard via scanner that at least one Seattle Police precinct was dispatching officers to “directed patrol” and issuing “dispersal orders” at parks. We didn’t see any sign of that when we drove past Alki just after 6 pm, though.

WIDE-OPEN SPACES: By contrast, the lack of a crowd early this afternoon in The Junction was a reminder of the dramatic hit most small independent local businesses are taking because of the health orders.

About that same time, city leaders were announcing that they’ve decided to roll back some types of parking enforcement.

SPEAKING OF GETTING AROUND – METRO UPDATE: Still awaiting full details on the Metro service cuts that take effect Monday, but we noticed something that’s changed since the Friday announcement of which routes will be affected – now Metro plans to temporarily ax TWO West Seattle routes, the 125 as previously announced, plus the 37. (added) And remember – Metro and the Water Taxi are free TFN.

RESTAURANT/BEVERAGE LIST REMINDER: Still updating and adding to our list of 110+ local restaurants and coffee/wine/beer/etc. establishments – see it here and if you can, help them keep their doors open!

GROCERY-STORE HOURS (ETC.) LIST: We’re continuing to update that list too, since things keep changing..

SIGN OF THE TIMES: Thanks to the two readers who’ve sent a pic of this sighting at West Seattle Nursery:

GOT SOMETHING TO REPORT: westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302, text/voice – thank you!

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66 Replies to "CORONAVIRUS: Saturday 3/21 roundup"

  • LB March 21, 2020 (9:43 pm)

    Same scene at Alki Alki again?  Inslee better get the shelter in place implemented now.  No point waiting.  People are too dumb.  

    • LG March 22, 2020 (3:18 am)

      I’m not sure what good that will do. CA has extra measures in place and from those I know, there have been still games of basketball going on, crowds at some beaches, etc. 

    • Ivory March 22, 2020 (8:39 am)

      Should I stay in my home breathing recycled air while sitting on my butt in front of the tv or should I implement that with occasionally going outside (while maintaining the social distancing rule of 6’) and running to keep my immune system strong? Hmmmm……..

  • Rebecca von Duering March 21, 2020 (9:49 pm)

    Metro is waiving fares and is asking people to enter/exit at the back when able, and enter/exit at the front only when needed. (Please correct me if I’m wrong)

  • NP March 21, 2020 (10:27 pm)

    I saw at least 20 kids playing on the jungle gym at Lincoln Park today. And many groups of friends playing frisbee, etc. It was so infuriating to see. What don’t people understand about this? The longer people ignore these rules, the longer we will be in this situation. I truly can’t believe how selfish and/or out of touch people are. And yes, I was at Lincoln Park as well. By myself. With my dog. Staying very vey far away from anyone else.

    • Bradley March 22, 2020 (12:43 am)

      If you were at Lincoln Park, weren’t you part of the problem? Kids playing outside on monkey bars and young people tossing a frisbee around shouldn’t upset you any more than them seeing you walking your dog. Kids and young people need outdoor exercise just as much as you and K9. Cut them some slack. No one tosses a frisbee less than 6 feet and the sun’s UV radiation kills the germs on the monkey bars. If you find it “infuriating” to see little kids playing on play equipment in a park, then perhaps you should stay away from there.

      • Amy March 22, 2020 (3:41 am)

        Amen! You can only control yourself, you can’t control others. Let people exercise, especially the young. It’s ok to get sunshine & fresh air. 

        • NP March 22, 2020 (8:26 am)

          This logic is 100% the problem. You’re right- I can’t control other people, but everyone’s actions are contributing to the problem. This will only get better is everyone stops just thinking about themselves and starts realizing the impact that they have on the whole situation. 

        • ttt March 22, 2020 (9:42 am)

          Actually, it is not immediately killed by the sun and that’s why playground equipment is off limits. 

      • Avalon Resident March 22, 2020 (6:42 am)

        Bradley, surely you know the difference between a bunch of kids playing on close proximity on closed park equipment, in violation of several social distancing guidelines and mandates; and a person walking their dog alone while maintaining social distancing, in violation of no guidelines or mandates. Also, please cite a reliable source if you’re going to claim that the UV radiation from the sun kills germs and makes playgrounds safe. If they’re safe why did the city close them? 

      • M March 22, 2020 (6:54 am)

        Shut down Alki. 

        • Bradley March 22, 2020 (2:24 pm)

          Alki can’t be “shut down”. It’s mostly public sidewalks, paths, and Beach Drive – a major arterial. It’s the only access to thousands of residents. It’s probably the most truly “public” area in the entire city. All roads in West Seattle would have to be “shut down” if Beach Drive were closed.

      • NP March 22, 2020 (7:38 am)

        Inslee closed the jungle gyms. There are not supposed to be people on them. 

      • KM March 22, 2020 (8:11 am)

        Playgrounds are closed by county order, and they require a lot of different people touching surfaces to enjoy them, and are pretty hard to social distance on of there are more than a few kids. Walking your dog at the park while social distancing is still allowed and doesn’t involve multiple people touching surfaces. They are different activities.

      • Alki March 22, 2020 (9:09 am)

        Or maybe the people with kids playing on playground equipment that are closed should not be doing that given that the virus lives on metal and plastic for days. The governor has closed playgrounds. The governor has not closed the outdoors to walking he’s just asking us to distance ourselves from every other person walking. There is a huge difference that sounds like you might be part of the problem. I have three young children we’re not playing on the monkey bars or any Park equipment. However we did go toss the football around in a wide-open park where we weren’t near anyone.

  • Jethro Marx March 21, 2020 (11:25 pm)

    There is little we like more than trumpeting our own virtue by contrasting it with others we see as lesser. Many here in the comments this past week have demanded others be shamed or forced to conform to their own view on what constitutes appropriate social distance. Meanwhile we have raised a bumper crop of public health experts babbling buzzwords and pseudoscience. Please stop, beloved community.  I get it, you’re scared, but this virus is not going to spread by joggers not warning you when they pass. Dishing out dirty looks and snapping at each other will spread quite quickly, however. Reducing contact among us will not “make this over that much sooner,” it may even prolong it, but real experts tell us it will spread out the impact on hospitals and that may save lives. But reduced contact can also make it easier to be selfish, even under the guise of “the greater good.” That sucks, and we are a healthier and happier community in West Seattle with less selfishness, less snip/snap, and fewer dirty looks, regardless of what virus is currently being passed around. Let’s all try to follow the new rules pressed upon us without becoming jerks about it. This should be a shared tribulation that allows us to feel more connected, rather than a season of judging teens who still high five each other, eyeing checkers with mistrust over whether they are clean enough, and demanding “outsiders” stay out of “our” neighborhood/beaches/etc.

    • West Seattle Guy March 22, 2020 (12:48 am)

      Thank you for writing this. Well said. 

    • Greg March 22, 2020 (1:00 am)

      Jethro, those who risk spreading this virus are not our friend.  They are not neighborly.  Those who trade risk for pleasure spoil the effort of all the folks risking their lives.  I am ashamed of Seattle.  For the love of God…  Please shut this city down.

      • East Coast Cynic March 22, 2020 (6:46 pm)

        I have this “cynical” belief that as long as much of the corporate sector, particularly IT, can function w/ employees and management working from their homes, I don’t believe that you will see a closure proposal coming from the Governor.  Companies have got to keep the worker bees going and the revenue streaming, lest they have to close up shop or lay off a bunch of people, i.e., the restaurant industry. From the corporate vantage point, why turn out the lights as long as we can function.

      • Jethro Marx March 22, 2020 (10:58 pm)

        Well I don’t know, Greg- you appeal to the love of God but what good will it do you if you do not love your neighbor? Who, after all, is my neighbor? Love that is contingent on your neighbor’s behavior is only a temporary form of tolerance. 

    • Calires March 22, 2020 (1:55 am)

      Agree with all of this but also have a friend in Italy, so I don’t really care if people get their feelings hurt.  We should shame people who aren’t doing what they should.  Shame is helpful if it causes people to do the right thing. 

      • Ice March 22, 2020 (5:54 pm)

        I agree with your sense of urgency, but I am not sure if shame is the correct tool. Shame makes people dig in their heels and continue with their behavior, in my experience.

    • Kadoo March 22, 2020 (7:49 am)

      Thank you for writing this. 

    • Alki March 22, 2020 (9:13 am)

      While I appreciate your sentiment reality is people are not doing the right thing. People from outside of the neighborhood are jeopardizing the people that live in the alki neighborhood. I wish we could count on people to do the right thing we just can’t. So our governor needs to shut down our beach. When I say are beach it’s a peach for everyone but it needs to be shut down.

  • Greg March 22, 2020 (1:20 am)

    Jethro, you said…“This should be a shared tribulation that allows us to feel more connected, rather than a season of judging teens who still high five each other”Almost Live has been over for years.  There are no more High Fiving Guys of Alki.  The truth is more like everyone is enjoying the last few days of socializing before this cruel summer.  This risky behavior spreads the virus that will be a death sentence for some.Don’t kill me bro!

  • Greg March 22, 2020 (1:36 am)

    I haven’t left my house in several days except to walk around the block a few times so please excuse me if I get a little testy here but please stay home if you can.  Look not to somebody else to tell you what to do.  They have other interests than you.  CYA.  If you can stay home, then do so.  When you interact with another person, you risk interacting with everyone else they interacted with.  We need the Adults to step in.

  • Ms. A March 22, 2020 (3:24 am)

    People just will not change their behavior – they will ignore advice and do what they please.Right now I’m peeved at our next door neighbors – who celebrated the warm weather by inviting several friends over for a backyard cookout.  They were out there for hours, drinking and chatting.If/when they get sick, it will be our other neighbors – the health care responders – who will be exhausted taking care of them.Come on people, please don’t hold Pandemic Parties.

    • Amy March 22, 2020 (9:17 am)

      It’s nice that you’re worried for your neighbor’s health, but being annoyed or upset at them for having people over is a waste of energy & emotion. We can’t control others, people will do what they want because everyone has a unique set of standards & beliefs. Just control your actions & behaviors; then you won’t be so offended or irritated. :)

      • HK March 22, 2020 (12:11 pm)

        This is what people are not understanding. It is not just about the persons health who is choosing not to social distance. It is about the people they will get sick and the people those people will get sick and the person who somewhere long those lines will die. I am 28 weeks pregnant with my first child that I worked incredibly hard for. I only leave the house for doctors appointments. But every single person choosing not to listen to the guidelines puts me at risk. And there are thousands and thousands of people like me, who are high risk and doing everything they can to avoid contact but still need to leave the house at some point. I truly think the only thing that will change peoples behavior at this point is social shaming, so if you see someone behaving dangerously call them out. Explain to them how their actions effect others. Stop thinking of this as a individual problem. Be better. 

  • S March 22, 2020 (5:10 am)

    Nope, kids playing on monkey bars and people playing frisbee are worlds different from taking a solo walk with your dog. The sun will not magically kill all coronavirus on the frisbee in the two seconds it takes to fly to your friend, or on the monkey bars in the ten seconds between kids.

  • Do Better March 22, 2020 (7:23 am)

    My job is deemed essential and involves direct contact with the public. However the majority of my job can be done through online services, phone calls or the mail. Still had more than 50 people come in Friday. 

    Those of you not required to leave your homes, but still going out “running errands” or whatever else should think more about those of us who don’t have a choice.The last thing I want to do is getting anyone sick, but some of my coworkers have had some of the symptoms and have been denied tests. They are staying home now but the rest of us shared space with them. We could all be carriers with no symptoms and every time you come into work you are risking not only your own health but the health of everyone else you come in contact with. I could have it. You could have it. But only one of us is required to go out. 

    So I am begging people. See if there is an alternative to leaving your house. Limit your direct interaction with people as much as possible. Every single person working at shops/restaurants doing take out, medical facilities, nursing homes, grocery stores, pharmacies, banks, gas stations, buses and other “essential” industries could be a carrier or you could be a carrier. It’s spreading silently among people who can’t get tested and people who show no symptoms. There is no way to stop it until we stop interacting with each other.

    Its my biggest fear I am asymptomatic and will never know I had it, therefor continue to go out on the bus and to work every day. Please if you can stay home, stay home, for those of us who can’t! 

    Don’t be like the young person who when I said they could do this online replied “yeah I know but I was getting tired of being home and just wanted to stretch my legs”

    • Canton March 22, 2020 (9:49 am)

      No offense, but again another example of do as I say, not as I do. Jethro and Bradley hit the nail. It’s as if people think that Alki and Lincoln are “their” parks and their magic forcefield isn’t working to their satisfaction.

    • Be kind and stay well March 22, 2020 (12:12 pm)

      Thanks for sharing your perspective as someone who has to be out commuting and working, in an essential industry, right now. Stay safe.

    • Ms. A March 22, 2020 (9:58 pm)

      @Amy – maybe I should have said I’m pissed at my neighbors, not peeved.  They are risking their health and the health of others to have a cookout.  All the time, loudly joking about how the virus has made it easier to hang out.  I am justifiably pissed because there are always people who think the rules don’t apply to them or they are invincible – and it’s this mindset that causes harm to others.  It’s not just a matter of reframing my emotions, it’s a matter of social responsibility.  Most have it and act like grownups.  Some act like selfish chuldren.  And, my neighbors aren’t young people who may not know better – they are like us, 40-something parents with kids.  Again, people, DON’T THROW PANDEMIC PARTIES!!

  • Yma March 22, 2020 (8:15 am)

    I was at the Westwood Target yesterday ( still trying to find tp, got nose tissues instead). I saw the stack of masks. I put a box in my cart ( using a hand sanitizer wipe to touch anything). Then went looking for vitamins & sleep aid. I double checked myself – and put the box of masks back. I didn’t need these as much as others. I am VERY glad this got called out & the stack of masks went to the hospitals/ 1st responders.

  • Paul March 22, 2020 (8:27 am)

    Consider also reporting number of tests that come back negative. Interesting to know percentages of negative and positive. Thanks 

    • WSB March 22, 2020 (10:55 am)

      That’s in the state #’s we’ve been linking nightly.
      https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/Coronavirus

      King County does not include them. Statewide it’s been a (corrected) 93 percent negative, 7 percent positive split so far but they’re still trying to ramp up testing, only 27,000 tests done statewide so far.

      • Mark March 22, 2020 (2:15 pm)

        I think you meant to say 93 percent negative, 7 percent positive with the state test results.

        • WSB March 22, 2020 (2:22 pm)

          Fixed.

  • oakley34 March 22, 2020 (9:02 am)

    Why aren’t signs/tape up at playgrounds?? I noticed kids playing on 3 different playgrounds in WS yesterday.  One even hada sign indicating it had been bleached and cleaned at 8AM.  If these are supposed to be closed why have signage indicating the opposite, and no signage indicating closure.  Do they expect to just hold a press conference and magically all the different communities get the message?  

  • nonni March 22, 2020 (10:04 am)

    I stepped into the Nursery on Thursday hoping  to quickly collect some pruners I’d left for sharpening. The sight of multiple sets of parents, indoors with 3 or more small children and staff/ other adults not keeping their distance caused me to do an about-face. I’ll use my less favorite, duller pruners, or just wait and let nature go wild. I’ll be good and stay home now!

  • Be kind and stay well March 22, 2020 (10:38 am)

    “There is little we like more than trumpeting our own virtue by contrasting it with others we see as lesser”

    Jethro, isn’t that what you just did here in your comment? There are shades of shaming here.

    People are scared, concerned, and trying to do the right thing while watching others not comply. The more people comply, the more collectively we can make a difference. Can you try to understand the concern and frustration some are feeling?

    I agree our community will be better if we aren’t jerks in the process of navigating and expressing our different perspectives. However, essentially calling your concerned neighbors pseudo experts and labeling others who care about the greater good as selfish, doesn’t seem in line with the positive aspects of your message.

    Assuming the worst in people who are expressing a higher level of concern than you isn’t cool. You don’t know anything about these individuals, some may actually be medical professionals, many probably have loved ones in the high risk category, and so on.

    We’re all in this together, can we be more gentle in our conversations?

    Is there another way we can express our concerns about people who don’t seem to be complying and are still congregating in close proximity to one another? I wonder what is going on with them? Maybe they aren’t as well informed or are in a state of shock? What could we do to help the awareness level in these places? What about putting up encouraging signs near the playgrounds or at Alki?

    • Seattleraised March 22, 2020 (12:03 pm)

      Thank you for noticing I agree. 

    • LB March 22, 2020 (12:56 pm)

      Well said:)

    • Jethro Marx March 22, 2020 (11:11 pm)

      I’m sorry you felt I was unkind; I did say, “we” at the beginning, not “you all.” And then, later, when I requested that we stop with the half-assed graphs and descriptions of curves that lack understanding of how to differentiate “flat” and all that, I did say, “please.” 

  • M March 22, 2020 (10:39 am)

    Just saw a group of old men playing tennis at the courts near Lincoln Park at 10am on Sunday. I stopped my car to tell them to go home and be respectful of our neighbors. Then told me to find my own business and one of them even game out and hit me with his tennis racket. 

    • WSB March 22, 2020 (10:44 am)

      That would be assault, so you certainly could have called police.

    • Graciano March 22, 2020 (12:03 pm)

      M… were they they these 2 men?

    • David March 22, 2020 (1:50 pm)

      Why would you interrupt some older gentlemen playing tennis? By nature of the game, you aren’t 6 feet from the person you are playing against; if playing doubles it may be close but certainly not worth intervention. This is the type of stuff that needs to end; you cannot shame people for participating in outdoor activities that almost precisely mirror what the authorities are suggesting. Let the guys play tennis. A 100-person drum circle where people are practically sitting on top of each other? Sure, go for it. Tennis? Come on now.

      • Amy March 22, 2020 (2:32 pm)

        Exactly! Also, how do you know if those older men playing tennis aren’t brothers or roommates? They may already be living together or are related. Yelling at them for playing tennis is absolutely rude and illogical! Wow people!

    • Amy March 22, 2020 (2:37 pm)

      Yelling at random strangers playing tennis is rude and immature. Clearly they are okay with being next to each other because they are playing tennis together. They are not forcing themselves near people, they are minding their own business & playing their own tennis game at a distance. That is so disrespectful, rude, and immature to yell at random strangers because you think you’re better than them. Nobody is winning in these situations, we are all losers here and suffering together. Just be kind!

  • Friend O'Dinghus March 22, 2020 (11:46 am)

    The studies from Iceland seem to indicate a higher percentage of asymptomatic/low symptomatic transmission than anticipated. If this bears out it would explain the difficulty in achieving any containment short of mass restrictions on movement. If the person who is infectious has not personally identified symptoms, then they are unable to take actions to cease infecting others. This is why we must all behave as if we are infected, because, well, we may be. Oh, and wash those hands frequently.

    • East Coast Cynic March 22, 2020 (7:18 pm)

      More difficult to act infected if you are not feeling it than you think.  Some companies tell their workers that as long as they are not feeling sick that they should show up for work.

      • Friend O'Dinghus March 23, 2020 (7:40 am)

        I appreciate what you are saying, and having an employer compel you to work even if not fully displaying symptoms is most definitely an issue, but I was referencing people’s personal behavior while not at their workplace. If everyone were to conduct their non-work related actions based on a presumption of being infected, well then we would have more effective containment/slowing of spread. The reasons you mentioned are what gets entire communities fully shut down of all activity, including all non-essential employment ( i.e. if the lesser measures are not effective enough). Your employer should think on that a bit when determining how/when to deal with our current reality.

  • SMH March 22, 2020 (1:20 pm)

    Wow. That Target thing doesn’t happen by accident. Those don’t get put up on shelves because someone with no authority decided they were languishing in the back and should be on shelves. That was a decision by people higher up, who wanted to profit off fear and misery. And corporate Target’s mealy-mouthed “apology” because they got caught is even more shameful. This is war profiteering in a different kind of war. And judging by so many of the ignorant comments in this thread, people think that kind of thing’s okay. 

  • dcn March 22, 2020 (1:24 pm)

    That Target was selling N95 masks while hospitals are critically short, blows me away. I hope not too many were sold to individuals before the state government stepped in and had them redirected to hospitals. Unbelievable.

  • Dunno March 22, 2020 (1:58 pm)

    I also was driving on Delridge, saw kis at the skateboard park, people in the field, and about 10 young men playing basketball next to the road.  The basketball players were bumping into each other and breathing god knows what into each others nostrills!!  Not kidding.

  • Alison Mitchell March 22, 2020 (2:47 pm)

    Is there a way to report sports courts still being used? I just drove by the tennis courts on Fauntleroy and they were all being used by several people. 

    • WSB March 22, 2020 (2:57 pm)

      Though I heard at least one 911 broadcast yesterday (Sheriff, not SPD) with somebody calling in that type of thing, I don’t believe we are to the point where they are dispatching officers – there’s still a fair amount of other crime/violence going on. As will be shown in our next story, Parks is getting around with tape and signage … I don’t know if they’re taping off tennis courts, though. Will ask.

  • Maria M. March 22, 2020 (3:27 pm)

    May I please remind everyone to be mindful of the 6′ rule – leaving 6 feet between them and anyone else they’re approaching. This morning my husband and I (67 and 65) were ending our morning walk by heading down SW Edmunds to our home on 40th (think steep grade!) and when we were almost at the bottom of the hill a young couple appeared on 40th and started to climb up towards us, she pushing a baby carriage and he running ahead. I called out to them to please wait until we got down to 40th; she stopped and he continued running up towards us. My husband and I stepped out into the street and were able to cross over – avoiding traffic – and continue down. The young woman waved and called out to us “With his headphones on he can’t hear!” “That’s right, he can’t can he?” I called back. Please be mindful of the 6′ rule whether you’re wearing headphones or not. Otherwise we’ll all lose the privilege of being able to go for a walk or a run on a beautiful morning. Be well, everyone.

  • Dunno March 23, 2020 (4:30 pm)

    M, I know some of these old geezers that we’re playing tennis.   You yelled came up yelling obsenities and used name calling right off start.   Great way to open a converstion.   Then you came on the court and told them you we taking pictures so you could social media shame them.   You also threatend to spit on them, break  car windows, wanted to fight them and took a kick at one of the real old guys.   Nice….

Sorry, comment time is over.