CORONAVIRUS: Monday 12/21 roundup

Time for our nightly toplines in the virus crisis:

NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: Here are the toplines of today’s daily summary from Seattle-King County Public Health – the cumulative countywide totals:

*58,107 people have tested positive, 477 more than yesterday’s total

*993 people have died, unchanged since Friday

*3,893 people have been hospitalized, 8 more than yesterday’s total

*717,680 people have been tested, 2,208 more than yesterday’s total

One week ago, the totals were 54,649/935/3,714/694,880.

STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.

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

TEMPORARILY CLOSED: Illusions Hair Design (WSB sponsor) announced today that one of its employees has tested positive, so the salon is closing for 2 weeks while everyone quarantines.

GOVERNOR’S BRIEFING: Today he focused on the buzz about new variants of the virus overseas, with expert guests. The bottom line: Don’t panic. That said, he did take action as announced below:

Today Gov. Jay Inslee issued a 14-day quarantine requirement for anyone returning to Washington state after visiting the United Kingdom, South Africa, and other countries where a new variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, 501Y.V, has been circulating.

Health experts believe this new variant may be more transmissible than other variants. The order applies to anyone who has been present in these countries within the prior 14 days. An individual is permitted to leave quarantine to perform certain essential activities (for example, seek medical treatment), provided that they avoid public transportation and ride-share services, wear a facial covering, separate themselves from other people to the greatest extent reasonably possible, and follow other appropriate social distancing measures. All individuals who are impacted by this order are strongly encouraged to be tested within seven days of returning to Washington. The full proclamation is available here.

See the briefing video here.

RELIGIOUS SERVICES: Also covered in the governor’s post-briefing news release: a removal of the attendance cap on religious services, based on a recent court ruling.

NEED FOOD? On Wedmesday (December 23rd), food boxes will be available 2-5 pm at Food Lifeline (815 S. 96th).

NEED A HOLIDAY MEAL? The Christmas People are waiting for your call “between now and 12/24 to order Christmas Day take-out meals (12-4) for shut-ins, seniors, veterans … people who need a nice meal at Christmas. Call Fred at 206-719-4979 or email pialley@jps.net. We will do this until the food runs out.” They have volunteer drivers to help make this happen.

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

7 Replies to "CORONAVIRUS: Monday 12/21 roundup"

  • M December 22, 2020 (6:20 am)

    I just think there is something backwards in this world with kids not being able to attend school yet anyone can gather at church. We need to get our priorities straight as a society. So much for the separation of church and state. The virus doesn’t care what religion one has and it doesn’t exempt one from passing it through our community. 

    • AMD December 22, 2020 (7:24 am)

      His hands are tied, unfortunately, because the Constitution doesn’t have a lot to say about education.  It does reference religion, so rules get made based on how that passage is interpreted.  Inslee still has the 25% capacity or 200 people as a recommendation, but he can’t make it a requirement unless another court issues a different ruling.  I’m grateful that the vast majority of churches (at least in our area) are taking the health and safety of their flock seriously and not having giant indoor services, knowing that church has been one of the top places for infection globally (along with bars, restaurants, and prisons).  Honestly, we could be fine with JUST recommendations if people weren’t so insistent that their “freedoms” trump their community’s safety.  The rules and mandates come in when people aren’t doing the right thing just because it’s the right thing to do.

    • Anne December 22, 2020 (7:48 am)

      Hopefully folks will continue to do the right thing. Even if government doesn’t have the power to cap attendance-I would hope Churches would also do the right thing -on their own. I think this ruling  clearly shows the separation of Church & State. 

  • All Souls December 22, 2020 (7:59 am)

    This virus kills. Currently 1.7% of cases in Washington. We should all attend to our spiritual affairs, urgently. But yes, we should be doing that remotely and spare some lives.

  • Rick December 22, 2020 (9:43 am)

    “Common sense isn’t so common”.

  • anonyme December 22, 2020 (9:45 am)

    Religious exemptions of any kind can and must be eliminated.  The freedom to believe any crazy thing you want is not in any way inhibited by adhering to rules that protect others from the sometimes deadly consequences of those beliefs.  Belief is not in any way curtailed by not being able to access a certain man-made structure at a given time in close proximity to other believers.  Dangerous nonsense.

  • waikikigirl December 22, 2020 (6:23 pm)

    A Church a few blocks from us is having this on Christmas Eve! WOW REALLY?!?!?!

    The King’s Ball

    Join us in person or online for The King’s Ball! Glide across the dance floor dressed to the nines or slide around your kitchen dance floor in footie pajamas. Either way, we are going to celebrate the birth of the one true king in style.There will be a photo corner to commemorate your evening. If you are joining online be sure to snap a picture and email it to us so we can include it in the slideshow!

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