CORONAVIRUS: Friday 4/23/2021 roundup

Tonight’s pandemic headlines:

J & J VACCINE UN-PAUSED: The FDA decided the Johnson & Johnson one-dose vaccine can be used again – with a warning about potential, rare side effects. Read the full announcement here. The special Western states review group was scheduled to meet tonight to decide whether to go ahead and clear it for use in our state and others – no word yet how that went,

COUNTY HEALTH OFFICER’S BRIEFING: Dr. Jeff Duchin talked about the J & J unpause and a variety of other topics. He warned that King County is at risk of having to roll back to Phase 2 when the next state assessment happens a week from Monday – King County’s cases are over the state-set maximum for Phase 3, and hospitalizations are almost there. Case numbers this week are 11 percent higher than last week; hospitalizations are up 25 percent. More of those needing hospitalization are 20-29 than 70+. Virus variants are an increasing problem, too; they only test a sample of cases but even with that, more than 1,400 variant cases have been detected. Watch his entire briefing here.

KING COUNTY NUMBERS: Now, the daily stats from the Public Health daily-summary page, cumulative totals:

*95,470 people have tested positive, 408 more than yesterday’s total

*1,502 people have died, 2 more than yesterday’s total

*5,645 people have been hospitalized, 24 more than yesterday’s total

*1,023,092 people have been tested, 4,537 more than yesterday’s total

On to our weekly check of key numbers on the COVID Vaccination Among King County Residents dashboard:

*1,076,724 people have received one dose

*681,274 people have received both doses

*1,511,775 doses have been allocated to King County (not counting pharmacy programs)

One week ago, the first four totals were 93,046/1,493/5,532/1,003,142, and the vaccination totals were 962,030/596,525/1,380,455.

STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.

WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 145.6 million cases, 3,086,000+ deaths – see the nation-by-nation numbers here.

CITY GETS MORE VACCINE: The city expects to give more than 50,000 shots next week, with its biggest allocation of vaccine yet. The announcement urges everyone in King County who’s seeking vaccine to sign up for the Seattle notification list. (We have reason to believe they’ve opened appointments – two people we know who have been on the list got notification tonight of a code they could use to sign up.)

IF YOU’RE SEARCHING FOR VACCINE – here are links to try:

*Here’s how to sign up for the aforementioned city notification list – go here.
*Reminder that if you’re 60+ you can just walk up to the West Seattle hub (2801 SW Thistle) 9 am-4 pm Mondays-Saturdays and get vaccinated – the “Good Neighbor” who brings you, regardless of their age, can too.
*Health-care providers (particularly bigger ones like UW Medicine (one reader specifically recommends Valley Medical Center), Franciscan, Swedish, Kaiser Permanente, Neighborcare, etc.)
*covidwa.com (volunteer-run aggregator) – you can also follow its tweets for instant notifications
*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
And if travel time is not a barrier – reader recommendation: Try this lookup for potential appointments within a few hours’ drive.

GOT INFO OR PHOTOS? westseattleblog@gmail.com or text/voice 206-293-6302 – thank you!

25 Replies to "CORONAVIRUS: Friday 4/23/2021 roundup"

  • flimflam April 24, 2021 (12:00 am)

    i know i sound like a broken record but has Inslee specifically said anything about why he considers indoor dining  to be safe? or why, exactly, he decided to change the state’s metrics several times? i recall him telling everyone to not have super bowl parties while simultaneously reopening indoor dining/drinking – a week (more or less) before.

  • Chemist April 24, 2021 (12:31 am)

    For what it’s worth, things are really getting rolling with the city’s vaccination sites.  At the beginning of the month I qualified due to co-morbidities and really wanted to get my vaccination at the SW Athletic Complex (a place that had handled my prior COVID testing and I was comfortable going to).  I put my name on the notification list and, one lucky day, was able to schedule for Tuesday Apr 13.  That same morning they switched from doing J&J to the Pfizer vaccine and were giving audible instructions about coming back in 3 weeks at the same time for the 2nd dose.  It was a little concerning to not have an appointment of the same text/email style though.  Today, a text finally came through this morning that specifically outlined the 2nd dose appointment and time.  Why I’m saying they’re really pushing forward is this evening I also received an email from the city related to the waitlist and a scheduling code (that I no longer needed).

  • Matt P April 24, 2021 (9:16 am)

    Highest cases for Washington since Feb 8.  We’re going in the wrong direction.

  • anonyme April 24, 2021 (10:33 am)

    I wonder if anyone can (or is willing) to do anything about it?  That genie would be difficult to force back into the bottle.  It seems as if the plan was based on consistent progression without a lot of guidance on inevitable surges and setbacks.  A virus is way less predictable than Wall Street.

  • Steph April 24, 2021 (11:04 am)

    If you are not comfortable going out, please stay home. The Governor and Duchin should not continue to close  limit, punish small business owners and their employees. Many people are on their way to being fully vaccinated. Working in restaurants, we have heard from 1 guest this entire time, that they tested positive within a 2 week period of them coming into eat. They said they may have gotten it from a birthday party at a neighbors, but called to let us know. We had all staff that worked that day stay home until they had a negative test.  Not a single worker tested positive. Again, if you are concerned, stay home, stay safe. Many employees in the hospitality industry do not qualify for unemployment.  It is heartbreaking. We aredoing everything in our power to keep our employees and guests safe, and it is working.

    • Fast foodie April 24, 2021 (4:44 pm)

      Popeye’s in White Center has reopened indoor service.

  • TJ April 24, 2021 (11:27 am)

    We are not far off to where everyone over 16 will have had the vaccine. Everyone has also known that 25-30% of people have said they will not get the vaccine (I am one). It makes no sense to go back now when we are getting to the point we were told we needed to be at to get back to normal. States that are fully opened up are seeing cases going down. Inslee needs to open up back to completely normal (schools, that means you too come fall) here. Can’t keep hiding and masking up after the vaccine has been distributed

    • WestSeattlite April 24, 2021 (12:00 pm)

      TJ, what is our source for the statement that “states that are fully opened up are seeing cases going down.”?  A quick search comparing current covid cases and restrictions in states shows nothing to support what you said.  It is irresponsible to say things that you wish were true as if they were true.  After states open up fully, they see an increase in cases following about 10 days behind.  We are all tired of the pandemic.  Apparently, we don’t see the same way out of it.

    • anonyme April 24, 2021 (2:34 pm)

      It is a complete contradiction to say that “everyone over 16 will have had the vaccine” followed by the admission that “25-30%” of the population will refuse the vaccine.  You do understand that both words and numbers have meaning, right?  That 70-75% does not equal “everyone”?  Not a single line of this post is either logical or accurate; the fact that a substantial number of Americans follow a similar line of non-thought does not bode well for halting the progression of this virus. 

    • Matt P April 24, 2021 (6:06 pm)

      Why aren’t you getting the vaccine?

  • Barb Z April 24, 2021 (2:47 pm)

    TJ, it’s people like you who refuse to get the vaccine and yet promote everything going back to normal who will keep spreading the virus & keep us in this back & forth situation.  In the same sentence you say everyone over 16 will be vaccinated, but 25-30% will not get vaccinated.  That’s a far cry from “everyone”, and we’ve still got a way to go for the 70% to be fully vaccinated. 

  • TJ April 24, 2021 (3:49 pm)

    It’s everyone who will want the vaccine will have had the chance to get it. 25-30% of adults aren’t going to get it. Not sure where people are confused on the math in that. If you are vaccinated then you have nothing to worry about. If people want to use those, like me, who aren’t going to get the vaccine as a reason to hold society back then they are to blame. I follow my own regiment on taking care of my body, including supplements to build the immune system and working out (which my friends that include doctors are following). After more than a year of this, where is the end now? Sit back and see what happens next? Yes, I am done with it

    • flimflam April 24, 2021 (5:56 pm)

      with all due respect, you’ve been done with it since the beginning. I recall you declaring your annual trip with friends to wherever (can’t recall that part) so important, etc way back at the start. i can only assume you also flout the mask stuff too – only a guess.

    • SL April 24, 2021 (6:21 pm)

      Seriously, West Seattle Blog, why you not moderating this junk? This ain’t just “someone’s opinion” this is a dangerous way to think and really not helpful for those who are on the fence about getting vaccinated to see. You have the power to not publish these comments, use it. 

      • Anna April 24, 2021 (9:10 pm)

        I don’t see TJ’s comments as dangerous. I’m not totally sure what WSB sees as the purpose of these comments, but I’m assuming they are trying to facilitate a discussion of news that affects people in West Seattle. I think by now everyone knows that some people are planning on not getting vaccinated, and I don’t know how having them say that poses a threat to anyone. It would feel very strange to me if the WSB only published comments from people who planned to be vaccinated. 

      • let's not do censorship April 24, 2021 (9:31 pm)

        I agree Anna – SL’s comments are the kind that make me suspicious and cynical.  So we’re only supposed to be able to read one opinion?  Good grief.  I think the real danger is suppressing speech and requiring everyone to think the same way.  No thank you.

        • Pessoa April 25, 2021 (5:10 pm)

          Bravo.  I couldn’t agree more.  

    • sunbreak April 25, 2021 (1:21 pm)

      ‘I follow my own regiment on taking care of my body, including supplements to build the immune system and working out…’

      This plus the vaccine would make the best sense for the vast majority of people.

      This virus is different in many ways from a typical cold or flu that we are used to. Taking supplements and exercising isn’t enough to avoid a severe case or even death, for some individuals. 

      I’ve personally seen enough stories of younger and fit people with no known preexisting medical conditions dying or being seriously sick from this virus, to believe in it’s seriousness and the necessity of the vaccines.

      I respect peoples individual choices but hope those who are on the fence will give it thorough consideration.

      Here is just one well known story, 41 year old broadway actor who died from covid. 

      https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yC7oCEyTW4s

      What if he had been given the opportunity to be vaccinated before contracting covid, and had said ‘no thanks, I take supplements and I’m young enough and healthy.’ I bet he wouldn’t have guessed he would die.

  • CuriousQuestioner April 24, 2021 (4:10 pm)

    Does anyone know what the current mortality rate is for Covid infections? 

    • Matt P April 24, 2021 (6:08 pm)

      If you get the vaccine and reach the fully vaccinated point, it’s effectively zero – only 1 or 2 reported deaths from covid out of 10 of millions of vaccinated and they were elderly with comorbidities.  If you don’t get the vaccine – it depends on your age and those comorbidities.  Higher the older you are.

    • wsperson April 24, 2021 (7:08 pm)

      You can get that info here:https://kingcounty.gov/depts/health/covid-19/data/daily-summary.aspxIt says currently on average, one death per week in King County, and 1.6% of all positives cases have died.

      • CuriousQuestioner April 25, 2021 (10:37 am)

        Thank you for the stat! Although 1.6% isn’t zero…it is better than I had expected. Probably why we are opening things back up despite a rise in cases. It just isn’t as big of a threat as it once was. 

        • Pessoa April 25, 2021 (2:15 pm)

          The last 14 day averaged mortality rate is actually even lower,  at .2%.   The 1.6% is the cummulative mortality rate.   

  • anonyme April 25, 2021 (7:07 am)

    Saying that doctors are eschewing the vaccine in favor of supplements and working out is yet another falsehood. .  This is one of many alternative facts being spread on the internet.  There was an interesting program on KUOW yesterday addressing vaccine fears, how they originate, what the facts are, and how many people change their minds once presented with real data.  As an example, 95% of physicians have been vaccinated.  It’s disturbing that so many people are willing to accept unsubstantiated rumors and conspiracies when facts are not that hard to find.  Ironically (and shamefully IMO) the USA has hogged the lion’s share of the vaccine while leaving the rest of the world begging for it – only to have that gift and privilege rejected by a chunk of the US population who have deluded themselves into thinking they have superior, insider knowledge.

    • Anna April 25, 2021 (12:56 pm)

      I’m sure there are some doctors choosing a healthy lifestyle over vaccination, but I don’t even think TJ was saying that explicitly that. I myself am hesitant to be vaccinated with either of the available covid vaccines, and it’s not because I have accepted unsubstantiated rumors. I am happy that the vaccines are here and want everyone who wants one to get one, but I also resent the narrative that everyone who is hesitant has simply been swayed by rumors. 

Sorry, comment time is over.