CORONAVIRUS: Saturday 3/13/2021 roundup

Last pandemic update before Daylight Saving Time arrives:

NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: Here are the cumulative totals from Public Health‘s daily-summary dashboard:

*84,031 people have tested positive, 225 more than yesterday’s total

*1,437 people have died, 2 more than yesterday’s total

*5,175 people have been hospitalized, 9 more than yesterday’s total

*927,326 people have been tested, 398 more than yesterday’s total

ONE WEEK AGO: Last Saturday, those numbers were 82,941/1,415/5,137/914,177.

STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.

WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 119.5 million people have tested positive, and more than 2,648,000 people have died; U.S. deaths exceed 534,000. Most cases: U.S., Brazil, India, Russia, UK (Brazil and India have traded places since last Saturday). See the breakdown, nation by nation, here.

MASS VACCINATION SITE OPENS The mayor returned to the Lumen Field Event Center today as it went into service as a mass vaccination site:

The Seattle Times reports ~2,160 shots were given today. The city says that’s just a fraction of what the site could handle if and when enough vaccine is available.

ELIGIBLE BUT NOT VACCINATED YET? Here’s our list of where to look for an appointment:

*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

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

17 Replies to "CORONAVIRUS: Saturday 3/13/2021 roundup"

  • John March 14, 2021 (12:39 am)

    This is the first update in a while in which the 7 day “tested positive” number has been over 1,000. Admittedly I haven’t paid as close attention to the “tested” number so this could simply be caused by an increase in tests, thus better reflecting the true number of cases, or it could be indicative of actual rising numbers again. I know western Washington has had a bit of an uptick recently.

    • Bandana March 14, 2021 (7:15 am)

      The new case numbers are concerning. If this positivity rate continues, King County will drop down to Phase 2 restrictions after the next evaluation period.

      • flimflam March 14, 2021 (3:01 pm)

        i don’t know. It sure seems like Inslee is set on “reopening” all of the sudden…I think he’s done a good job but as a restaurant worker i feel he’s finally caved to pressure form the industry rather than truly be “safety first”.

  • Smittytheclown March 14, 2021 (7:20 am)

    Nationwide cases and deaths still falling and over 4.5 million shots administered Friday.  They will be begging people to get shots by mid- April.  Hopefully people do.  

    • AMD March 14, 2021 (10:50 am)

      Nationwide cases have mostly plateaued.  It’s inching down some weeks, but it has been largely the same for the last month.  Death numbers alone do not tell the whole story because long COVID and other complications are real, and happen to a lot of people.  I hope you’re right that there is enough excess vaccine that they’re begging people to get it in a month.  The Biden administration has exceeded all promises with regard to the pandemic so far so I have hope that will be true.  I also think people are right to be concerned that the number of people getting vaccinated isn’t resulting in less COVID circulating among the population, particularly because the increases in infections right now are largely among young adults (20-39) which were a harbinger of a bigger wave of infection in each previous spike.  

    • wsperson March 14, 2021 (1:45 pm)

      I also think people are right to be concerned that the number of people getting vaccinated isn’t resulting in less COVID circulating among the population” It will result in less COVID circulation soon, so far the vaccinated have been mostly older people and others who aren’t out there working and interacting with a lot of people.  “They will be begging people to get shots by mid- April” At some point this will happen. I’m thinking then the incentives or restrictions will start, not sure what they’ll be, maybe you can’t fly without being vaccinated or work places will require it…

  • WS RN March 14, 2021 (9:57 am)

    Who are the eligible people who haven’t received a shot yet? What are the current barriers? I’m happy to assist seniors to get appointments but I don’t know any in need. If you see this, please comment if you need help and we can connect. Are there other ways to assist? All of the teachers I know were able to get appointments as soon as they became eligible so I’m having a hard time understanding why the city is claiming to have hundreds of appointments open that are not being filled. Maybe that has changed in the last week? This is a race against the variants and we cannot continue to leave appointments open. 

  • St. Anne Hospital in Burien March 14, 2021 (10:59 am)

    It is extremely easy to go online and get a shot at HighLine Community Hospital in Burien. The hospital has changed it name. Hospital at 16251 Sylvester Road SW in Burien right by Sylvester Middle School.    ( St. Anne Hospital ). If you don’t have a car maybe call public access van to pick you up at your home or take bus?

    • Bandana March 14, 2021 (6:08 pm)

      I had a parent vaccinated at St. Anne’s this month. A well run vaccination clinic that I would recommend.

  • Pessoa March 14, 2021 (2:41 pm)

    You are looking at this the wrong way.   The age group you mention, 20-39, are at extremely low risk of developing life-threatening complications and/or death.  The number of infections is far less important than those who have, or will be soon, vaccinated – in this case the elderly and physically compromised.  

  • JJ March 14, 2021 (5:37 pm)

    20-39 seem to be at pretty fair risk for Long Covid even if they do tend to live. Those are prime productive and reproductive years. It would be a shame to have more of those young people debilitated for who knows how long, perhaps forever.

    • Pessoa March 14, 2021 (8:49 pm)

      I agree, the long haul syndrome can be debilitating, though it effects a small number.  Coincidentally, I just happened to have a conversation with someone who came to buy a piece of furniture a few days ago, a woman probably in her mid-50’s. She told me she was fatigued for months after Covid, though the good news is she recovered.   Same story from a from a former female co-worker in Florida.  

  • Reality check March 14, 2021 (6:43 pm)

    The higher the rate of infection in the community, even in younger age groups, increases the likelihood of transmission for all. It won’t just stay within this age group.

    Not all of higher risk or exposure risk have been vaccinated yet.

    Also, there are many people within that younger age group who may be more vulnerable to the virus, due to pre-existing conditions.

    And, even though some may not be concerned about a small percentage of younger folks who may have serious complications, long term impacts, or who may die, some of us are concerned.

    We see these as actual people, not just an insignificant number or data point.

    • Pessoa March 15, 2021 (11:58 am)

      Reality Check:    When are the suicides, depression, drug OD’s associated with lock downs going to be accorded the same concern, the same empathy, of those who are directly effected by Covid-19?   When do we start talking honestly about the  cost-benefit analysis, the  “elephant in the room” which is the staggering downstream toll on society that doesn’t show up on daily Covid-19 stats?  It’s not enough to repeat superficial truisms about the virus – facts all of us already know – without applying any deeper analysis.  

      • Reality check March 15, 2021 (9:50 pm)

        I hear your concern about the toll pandemic mitigations have on people, it concerns me too. However, the mitigations have been necessary. The majority of scientists and leaders and the public have agreed on this.

        Also, the pandemic itself, this damn covid, is what we should all be blaming for the increased stress on society, not the mitigation measures to protect people. If everyone understood that and had accepted lockdowns better, we could have gotten through the lockdowns faster. 

        Furthermore, the ‘lockdowns’ may be a contributing factor to mental illness, suffering, drug abuse, suicides, however, it is not the cause. It may be one of many possible stressors that could lead to these issues. These folks may have struggled this year even without the closures or ‘lock downs.’

        And, you might also consider, just how many of these people who may be depressed from the lockdowns, have actually been spared a covid death because of the lockdowns.

        You mentioned on another post feeling frustrated by others lack of flexibility in perspective, but I am not hearing your flexibility here, @Pessoa.

      • Reality check March 16, 2021 (8:59 am)

        … @Pessoa, if you’re coming from a place of suffering, I want you to know I do empathize, a great deal. Even if my perspective differs some from yours.  This has been incredibly hard, and for me too. Take care, and hope you have a great day.

        • Pessoa March 16, 2021 (9:19 am)

          Thank you for your post (and concern), I think you come a perspective of genuine concern for all.  I won’t belabor anyone with my particular situation, it’s just not my style.  

Sorry, comment time is over.