CORONAVIRUS: Monday 3/15/2021 roundup

| Coronavirus | West Seattle news

The vaccination situation once again tops tonight’s pandemic headlines:

SCHOOL PROCLAMATION: No updates today from Seattle Public Schools or the Seattle Education Association regarding what they plan to do in response to Gov. Inslee‘s order that schools start offering some in-person instruction to all students soon. As promised, the governor did issue the full proclamation today – you can read it here.

NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: No King County update yesterday, so these are two days’ worth of numbers on the daily summary from Seattle-King County Public Health, representing the changes since Saturday:

*84,303 people have tested positive, 272 more than Saturday’s total

*1,437 people have died, unchanged from Saturday’s total

*5,180 people have been hospitalized, 5 more than Saturday’s total

*933,980 people have been tested, 6,654 more than Saturday’s total

One week ago, those totals were 83,196/1,416/5,147/918,491.

STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.

WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 120.1 million cases, 2,660,000 deaths – 535,000 in the U.S. See the other stats – nation by nation – here.

EVICTION MORATORIUMS EXTENDED: Mayor Durkan has extended the residential and commercial eviction moratoriums another three months, until the end of aJune.

GUARANTEED LAWYER FOR RENTERS? The City Council delayed for two weeks a vote on guaranteeing legal representation to renters facing eviction. The bill’s sponsor, Councilmember Kshama Sawant, was not happy.

PARKING RULES: Today the mayor also announced the year-long suspension of the 72-hour parking limit will end April 1st, though some other changes, such as short-term pickup zones in front of restaurants and other businesses, will continue for now.

ELIGIBLE BUT NOT VACCINATED YET? Here’s our list of where to look for an appointment (remember that eligibility expands on Wednesday):

*For the Lumen Field site as well as the city-run West Seattle and Rainier Beach sites – get on the notification list here; check for West Seattle appointments available in the next few days by going here
*Your health-care provider (particularly bigger ones like UW Medicine, CHI Franciscan, Swedish, Kaiser Permanente, etc.)
*covidwa.com (volunteer-run aggregator)
*Pharmacy chains big and small – Safeway, Rite Aid, QFC, Pharmaca, Costco
*Sea Mar clinics

NEED FOOD? This week’s nearest Food Lifeline distribution is 2-5 pm Friday (March 19th) at 815 S. 96th. … Also on Friday, Highland Park Elementary (1012 SW Trenton) will be offering free food boxes 3-5 pm.

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

BW March 15, 2021 (10:15 pm)

To my fellow hospitality industry folks. No one is checking to see if you actually qualify for the current vaccine tier. Please make an appointment to get the vaccine if you want it. UW health had appointments available every 15 minutes today. Kaiser Medical Center Northshore as well. There is no reason that restaurant workers shouldn’t be eligible, as we’ve been told over and over again restaurants are the most dangerous places to be. After a year of this its time to look out for ourselves. Stay safe!

AMC March 16, 2021 (10:10 am)

I would caution that it depends on where you go. I agree 100% that hospitality workers so be prioritized for the vaccine but I got my first dose as a teacher yesterday at Safeway on Roxbury and they were strictly enforcing eligibility and I had to show proof.
- Matt P March 16, 2021 (12:57 pm)
  
  What kind of proof? For example, there are some childcare workers that are eligible that there is no proof for as they don’t require a license. Fred Hutch is another where they go by the honor system. My wife is a childcare worker and got the vaccine but they didn’t ask for any real evidence.
  - AMC March 16, 2021 (2:06 pm)
    
    I had to show my badge. They were checking everyone and verifying eligibility (not all the people I saw were teachers).
  - BW March 16, 2021 (9:15 pm)
    
    Hi- I was referring to the DOH form/page that states your eligible for the vaccine, which supposedly needs to be shown:)
- flimflam March 16, 2021 (4:38 pm)
  
  It definitely depends, which is why we (restaurant workers) know how and where to get one if we choose. I don’t like the idea of cutting the line, but if the state doesn’t care about us, our customers don’t really care about us, our bosses sort of care about us, it’s up to us to care about ourselves at some point.

SD March 16, 2021 (12:17 am)

Has anyone heard whether the West Seattle city-run vaccination site will be expanding eligibility beyond 65+ on/ after Wednesday when Tier 2 opens up?

WSB March 16, 2021 (12:25 am)

They’re already urging everyone who’s eligible now – not just 65+ – to get on the city list.
- SD March 16, 2021 (12:59 am)
  
  Thanks. I’ve signed up for the city notification list, but was curious to know if Tier 2 will be able to schedule appointments there once eligible. Right now, you can only move to the next page of the scheduler if you check a box that’s currently eligible so it’s impossible to see what the appointment schedule looks like for Wednesday or later in the week. None of the Tier 2 eligible categories are listed yet.
Auntie March 16, 2021 (6:00 pm)

It’s supposed to be now, but the West Seattle Vaccination Hub won’t let you get past the first screen if you are not over 65. Don’t know when they plan to update the questionnaire so that newly eligible people scan schedule. WSB – any clues?
- WSB March 16, 2021 (7:43 pm)
  
  The city has been saying for some days now that its sites are open to whomever’s eligible.
  https://seattle.signetic.com/home/0694df7c-437d-eb11-a812-000d3a3bdc05
  - Auntie March 16, 2021 (8:13 pm)
    
    Thank you! That is the link I could not locate on the City’s website, or elsewhere. WSB saves the day again.

T3 March 16, 2021 (7:17 am)

272 new cases? It has jumped again 😣

WSB March 16, 2021 (8:09 am)

As noted above, that’s two days worth of cases, as the county did not post an update Sunday.

E1 March 16, 2021 (9:41 am)

To those who can drive, try making appt at West Valley Medical Center in Renton for the vaccine. They take appts online when you create a My Chart account. Very easy!!

Curiousabout March 16, 2021 (11:18 am)

Husband got his J&J 1- dose vaccine last Sunday at the ShoWare Center in Kent after filling out the questionaire online. I think it’s just getting easier now to get one!

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