CORONAVIRUS: Monday 3/29/2021 roundup

Big week – with vaccine eligibility expanding dramatically on Wednesday. But first, here’s our nightly roundup of local pandemic news:

NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: From the Seattle-King County Public Health daily summary:

*87,567 people have tested positive, 185 more than yesterday’s total

*1,461 people have died, unchanged since Saturday

*5,303 people have been hospitalized, 15 more than yesterday’s total

*964,809 people have been tested, 5,251 more than yesterday’s total

One week ago, those totals were 85.629/1,452/5,220/949,161.

STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.

WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 127.5 million cases, 2,791,000 deaths – 550,000 in the U.S. See the other stats – nation by nation – here.

STILL IN THE DANGER ZONE: Here’s county health officer Dr. Jeff Duchin‘s advice, in a Twitter thread, on working to hold off a fourth wave.

TEST SITE NOT CLOSING AFTER ALL: One week after we learned the West Seattle testing/vaccination site was set to become vaccination-only as of this Wednesday, the city changed the plan today, and will continue offering testing there (Southwest Athletic Complex parking lot, 2801 SW Thistle) at least through April 17.

KING COUNTY VACCINATION MILESTONE: More than 1,000,000 doses administered.

VACCINE ELIGIBILITY: Announced today by the state Health Department:

Phase Finder, the state’s online vaccine eligibility tool, will no longer be required to verify COVID-19 vaccine eligibility starting March 31.

That means that people who want a vaccine should check DOH’s prioritization guidance webpage to see when they are eligible to get vaccinated. Those who are eligible can then use Vaccine Locator to find an appointment. After March 30, those who visit the Phase Finder site will be directed to Vaccine Locator. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has informed vaccine providers of this change. DOH has asked that providers no longer require Phase Finder to schedule an appointment or ask for it when patients arrive for their appointment.

LOOKING FOR A VACCINATION APPOINTMENT? Here’s our ongoing list:

*Check for West Seattle city-run site appointments here; sign up for the city’s notification list for all three of its sites here.
*Health-care providers (particularly bigger ones like UW Medicine, CHI Franciscan, Swedish, Kaiser Permanente, etc.)
*covidwa.com (volunteer-run aggregator)\
*The state’s Vaccine Locator (as mentioned above)
*The CDC’s Vaccine Finder
*Pharmacies 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 (April 2nd) at 815 S. 96th.

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

19 Replies to "CORONAVIRUS: Monday 3/29/2021 roundup"

  • N March 29, 2021 (10:54 pm)

    Trying to understand the dropping of phase finder.  Does this mean providers won’t ask for anything and so called cutting in line will be rather easy?  I know we are getting close to where everyone will be eligible but just curious what this is all about.

    • Mark March 30, 2021 (6:55 am)

      The City-run website for Lumen Field, etc locations has a similar eligibility questionnaire and attestation.  Can’t speak to the other providers. 

    • NorthAdmirals March 30, 2021 (8:28 am)

      Yes. Even our mayor is saying the rules are getting in the way of people getting it. If you need one just go get one 

    • Matt P March 30, 2021 (9:36 am)

      Basically tacit acknowledgement that many people are signing up through phase finder to say they are eligible when they are not, so might as well not waste resources hosting a tool that’s pointless.  People are going to cheat and at this point, it’s better to get jabs in arms then worry about whether people are being truthful or not.

    • Meg March 30, 2021 (1:59 pm)

      Phase finder didn’t prevent people cutting in line, or make it hard at all. I’ve heard most centers ask for no verification at all, so this doesn’t change anything. We’re essentially operating on the honor system and always have been. When you think about it, what’s the alternative? Make nurses or volunteers the arbiter of health conditions, age, weight, occupation? That seem untenable. It’s frustrating when things feel unfair but the ultimate goal should be vaccinating as many people as quickly as possible. Making vaccine-center volunteers sort through and verify piles of paperwork before giving the shot would just slow things down. 

    • Rooster March 30, 2021 (3:52 pm)

      Adding to what Mark commented. The City run vaccination sign-up for West Seattle (Thistle St.)  has a phase questionnaire similar to Phase Finder. It’s probably already been mentioned, but you don’t need to provide any insurance info at the City run sites. Just bring  your ID and your appointment confirmation code.

  • flimflam March 30, 2021 (6:39 am)

    seems that hospitalizations have been rising quite a bit. that needs to stay under 5 per day on average to stay at phase 3 – not sure when the next evaluation is but it doesn’t look great. i also have to say, i’m extremely skeptical the state will move us back to phase 2 – they seem intent on reopening and not sure i trust them now that it seems the  state has caved to business interests.

    • polka dot March 30, 2021 (3:03 pm)

      They’re going to evaluate the situation every 3 weeks, the next one will be April 12th. It’s at the county level so some counties may roll back while others do not. And yeah, looks like in King County hospitalizations were 4.4 per 100,000 on the 21st and we’re supposed to roll back if it goes over 5…

  • Smittytheclown March 30, 2021 (7:20 am)

    We are very close to having the portion of the population that represents 80% of deaths fully vaccinated.  The focus needs to shift from cases to hospitalizations and deaths.  Both well below target. Both declining nationwide and locally. We can’t wait for zeroes across the board because that is never going to happen.  Ever.  It feels like enhanced unemployment has made people less enthusiastic about returning to work because the  40 hour work week results in very little difference in take home pay.  

    • WSB March 30, 2021 (11:15 am)

      No, hospitalizations are NOT “declining locally.” See the chart.
      https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/covid-19/data/daily-summary.aspx
      The risk of being hospitalized with COVID is also currently increasing – see the third stat here
      https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/covid-19/data/key-indicators.aspx

      • Smittytheclown March 30, 2021 (4:48 pm)

        Other than a VERY recent uptick off of close to an all time low what am I missing?  Hospitalization down significantly since December.  Am I looking at the wrong chart?

        • WSB March 30, 2021 (6:00 pm)

          You said the rate is declining. It is not declining.

          • Smittytheclown March 30, 2021 (6:58 pm)

            Fair enough.  Guess I didn’t mean the three day uptick but more the month-long huge downward trend. Just bugs me that the month long trend never gets reported (nationally, not you!) but the three day slight uptick is panic city. 

          • Choice March 30, 2021 (8:09 pm)

            The downward trend plateaued weeks ago. 

            The uptick has been more than a few days. 

            Don’t see anyone panicking. 

            Do hear some reasonable concern about the direction shift.

            Do you think the CDC chief is panicked, or perhaps just more knowledgeable about the data and science than you?

            As Covid-19 numbers rise, the CDC chief says she’s scared about where US is headed. But it’s not too late to change country’s course:

            https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/30/health/us-coronavirus-tuesday/index.html

    • polka dot March 30, 2021 (12:32 pm)

      There’s nothing wrong with being “less enthusiastic” about wanting to return to work in the middle of a pandemic, lol. If people don’t want to work it’s okay. 

      • Smittytheclown March 30, 2021 (5:29 pm)

         Not if the “data and science” doesn’t back it up.

        • choice March 30, 2021 (7:38 pm)

          The data and science does back up many peoples concern about returning to work.

          Things reopening doesn’t mean it’s ‘safe.’

          With reopening or fewer restrictions, when you go out and participate in things, including work, you do so at risk.

          Covid is still as potentially harmful and deadly, in fact, currently there is an increased risk of hospitalization.

          data and science

          Many people have vulnerabilities that put them at increased risk with covid, or have a household member at increased risk.

          data and science

          Some people who don’t believe they are at risk, will inexplicably have a severe case of covid.

          data and science

          I completely agree with polka dot,

          ‘There’s nothing wrong with being “less enthusiastic” about wanting to return to work in the middle of a pandemic.’

  • Kelsey M March 30, 2021 (9:47 am)

    For eligible individuals who are having difficulty finding appointments, this Facebook group is a good resource: Find a COVID shot WA

  • Over It March 30, 2021 (11:59 am)

    I would love if the state were to redistribute vaccine supply.  I understand why they put more emphasis on getting vaccines to areas where people refused to wear masks and follow distance recommendations, but it’s starting to feel like we’re being punished for taking care of each other.  Vaccination sites in Arlington, Chehalis, and other outlying areas have more vaccine than anyone cares to use in those areas while we are waiting patiently here for our turn to come.  I wish the governor would acknowledge that science isn’t going to convince some people that Bill Gates isn’t trying to microchip them, and start sending vaccines to the areas where people will actually get it.

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