CORONAVIRUS: Monday 1/11/21 roundup

A prominent West Seattle resident has just announced she’s tested positive, and that tops tonight’s pandemic roundup:

REP. JAYAPAL TESTS POSITIVE: Late tonight, West Seattle-residing U.S. House Rep. Pramila Jayapal announced she has tested positive for COVID-19. From her news release:

United States Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) received a positive COVID-19 test result tonight after being locked down in a secured room at the U.S Capitol where numerous Republican lawmakers recklessly refused to wear masks in the moments after the January 6 attack. Dr. Brian Monahan, the Attending Physician of the United States Congress, advised representatives and Congressional staff on Sunday that those in the secured room could have, “been exposed to another occupant with coronavirus infection.” The duration in the room was multiple hours and several Republicans not only cruelly refused to wear a mask but mocked colleagues and staff who offered them one.

Jayapal’s news release – which you can read in full here – says she has been quarantining since Wednesday, suspecting that she and others might have been exposed.

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

*69,188 people have tested positive, 716 more than yesterday’s total

*1,141 people have died, 1 more than yesterday’s total

*4,466 people have been hospitalized, 19 more than yesterday’s total

*777,783 people have been tested, 4,273 more than yesterday’s total

One week ago, the totals were 64,912/1,096/4,296/759,558.

STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.

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

GETTING VACCINATED: We checked with West Seattle care facilities and learned that some are already vaccinating patients/residents and staff, while others will be doing it soon.

PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM: As noted in a reminder today from the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, applications are now open for this federal assistance for small businesses.

HELP FOR WORKERS: Also now open, applications for the city program offering $2 million in grants to low-income hospitality workers. Check your eligibility here.

AWAITING YOUR ‘ECONOMIC IMPACT PAYMENT’? Don’t be surprised if it shows up as a debit card (we were).

YOUR TEST MAY BRING A TEXT: In hopes of boosting the effectivenesss of the WA Notify tool, people who test positive are going to get texts with a code – even if they’re not using the tool.

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

CarDriver January 12, 2021 (6:55 am)

Called my dr office(Swedish WS) & my pharmacy(QFC) yesterday afternoon. They both said they would be giving vaccine shot’s. However they had NO idea when and had NO idea how many doses they would get. Their official word: “watch their websites” for any & all information.

Just wondering January 12, 2021 (7:08 am)

One can only hope the callous Republicans who mocked others catch Covid themselves.

Rosey January 12, 2021 (7:41 am)

News of WA-07 rep Jayapal’s covid-19 test has me livid this morning given the number of house GOP reps still disregarding the basic common courtesy of a damn mask. GOP calls for unity and healing are bogus. Accountability before unity, or there’s no unity.

Pessoa January 12, 2021 (9:48 am)

Unless Ms. Jayapal had a negative test result immediately prior to the positive result, she cannot know with certainty when and where she contracted the virus. The incubation period is up to two weeks. Unsubstantiated accusations only fan the flames that are now engulfing the country. But, as anyone, I hope she recovers completely.

Canton January 12, 2021 (8:27 am)

Jayapal is a hypocrite. She was clearly seen on video during the lockdown, NOT wearing a mask herself. Why is she blaming others for her not wearing a mask?

heartless January 12, 2021 (7:26 pm)

Canton: She had taken off her cloth mask because security told her to remove it in order to put on a gas mask. Nothing hypocritical about this.

miws January 12, 2021 (8:57 am)

Well put, Rosey. Sending Healing Thoughts to Rep. Jayapal… —Mike

West Seattle Person January 12, 2021 (10:32 am)

Everyone should have the opportunity to get the virus shot immediately and not wait!! It is unfair that people who want the shot now are unable to get it, this is unacceptable and our lack of government organization and government leadership is too blame.

emcat8 January 12, 2021 (11:48 am)

There is so much to be angry about with regards to last Wednesday, but what’s happened to Rep. Jayapal is beyond infuriating. It’s unconscionable that those people put others at risk, when they were all themselves under siege. I’m sending all my hopes that Rep. Jayapal has the mildest of cases, or maybe even nonsymptomatic, and that she doesn’t have lingering effects.

WearAMask January 12, 2021 (12:10 pm)

I’m unsure it was Wednesday’s events that caused a positive test, in less than a week – and video showing her without a mask herself causes me pause – that being said I wish her all the best – and still expect EVERYONE who can to wear a effing MASK!!!

WSB January 12, 2021 (12:23 pm)

The video in which Rep. Jayapal was seen was from when she and others were taking cover in the upper gallery as the violent intruders approached. The situation in which the laughing colleagues refused masks was after they all were moved to a secure, and apparently crowded, room to shelter. As explained here and elsewhere, she was switching to a gas mask in the former.
- oakley34 January 12, 2021 (10:08 pm)
  
  Thank you

Colonel Mustard's Wrench January 12, 2021 (1:49 pm)

Dear Rep Jayapal,
We are so sorry that you and the rest of Congress was subjected to an assault on our democracy last Wednesday.
I am disgusted that your Republican colleagues refused masks and apparently exposed everybody to the virus.
We hope for your speedy recovery.
If you have access to Black Seed Oil capsules, it is an anti-viral, and may lessen your symptons and may accelerate your recovery.
We are praying for your continued good health, and appreciate you greatly !

Come together January 12, 2021 (5:59 pm)

How do we help those republicans who believe mask wearing is somehow a politically motivated thing or display, rather than an actual necessary scientific based pandemic mitigation strategy?

How do we fix this misconception?

Any republicans want to share and discuss why they don’t believe it’s necessary or good to wear a mask and why they believe it’s a political thing? Can you help democrats understand why there is so much contention around this? Is there anything that could help change your mind?

Maybe having some discussions around this rather than perpetuating the divide with insults and outrage, could help.

It is important that we find a way to get on the same page about these matters that impact all Americans, regardless of beliefs and preferences.

Sorry, comment time is over.