Big day in pandemic news:

JUNE 30TH: That’s the day Gov. Inslee says businesses can fully reopen – or sooner if 70 percent of everyone 16+ in our state gets at least one dose of vaccine before then.(Right now, it’s at 57 percent.)

SEPTEMBER 1ST: That’s the day Seattle Public Schools will start the 2021-2022 school year – with full-time in-person learning, interim Superintendent Dr. Brent Jones announced today.

GOT VAXXED? DROP MASK! Well, it’s not entirely that simple, but close. The CDC declared today that fully vaccinated people could quit wearing masks in most situations, and the governor announced he’d align our policy with that, immediately. Businesses still have the right to require you to wear one.

NEWEST NUMBERS: Now the update from the Public Health daily-summary dashboard:

*101,881 people have tested positive, 285 more than yesterday’s total

*1,552 people have died, 5 more than yesterday’s total

*6,004 people have been hospitalized, 17 more than yesterday’s total

*1,063,643 people have been tested, 1,339 more than yesterday’s total

One week ago, the four totals we track were 104,256*/1,533/5,924/1,051,030. (*Last Thursday’s case total turned out to be a King County typo.)

STATEWIDE NUMBERS: Find them, county by county, on the state Department of Health page.

WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 161.1 million cases worldwide, 32.8 million of them in the U.S. See the nation-by-nation breakout here.

VACCINATION OPPORTUNITIES: Saturday in The Junction or High Point – updated details here … City-run West Seattle hub remains open Monday-Saturday 9 am-5:30 pm at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle), no appointment needed … Campus clinics for Seattle Public Schools students 12+ start Monday … Check this lookup for other sites such as local pharmacies.

NEED A RIDE TO GET A SHOT? Free and discounted transportation is available.

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

In his briefing today, Gov. Inslee said the key to getting more people vaccinated is convenience. So here’s the latest on three upcoming opportunities:

WEST SEATTLE JUNCTION ON SATURDAY: Two updates on the pop-up in the 42nd SW parking lot, 10 am-1 pm this Saturday – the city’s Mobile Vaccination Team will bring Pfizer too, so ages 12+ are eligible, and the West Seattle Junction Association has doubled the number of coupons for free Husky Deli ice cream cones – they’re now available to the first 100 to get vaccinated. Enter the lot just south of SW Oregon for free parking if you’re going to the clinic, too.

HIGH POINT EVENT ON SATURDAY: Pliable LLC is returning to Neighborhood House High Point (6400 Sylvan Way SW) for a first-dose Pfizer clinic, 8 am-2 pm. Go here to sign up.

‘A SHOT AND A BEER’: Washington Beer Blog (headquartered in West Seattle) reports that breweries are hosting clinics – including The Good Society in The Admiral District, on Saturday, May 22nd. More details forthcoming.

SIDE NOTE: West Seattle is already at the statewide goal, at more than 70 percent of 16+ people having had at least one dose of vaccine. Choose the maps tab on this page of the King County website – scroll down to the zip-code maps, and you’ll see that 98136 leads the way with 83 percent, followed by 98116 with 81 percent, and 98126 with 70 percent. (West Seattle also has parts of the 98106 – 74 percent – and 98146 – 67 percent – zip codes.)

With big news today including new CDC guidance on masks for vaccinated people and Seattle Public Schools’ plan to fully reopen this fall, plus days to go until the end of the 2-week pause in the reopening plan, we’re carrying Gov. Inslee‘s pandemic briefing live. Notes as it goes.

He starts by saying “a huge number of business restrictions … will be lifted June 30th.” This is because of a move to “full focus” on vaccinations as the primary weapon against COVID-19. He says cases and hospitalizations are “both coming down … and we’re very pleased. … And there is universal access to the vaccine now.”

In the “immediate future,” the governor says that as of next Tuesday, every county “will have the opportunity to be in Phase 3,” even if they are now in Phase 2, but it’s up to local decisionmakers. “The basic bottom line is that most of our businesses will stay at 50 percent indoors,” until that full reopening on June 30th – or earlier if the state gets to 70 percent vaccination (at least the first dose) of people 16+. Right now, he says, trends suggest that won’t happen until late June, but it could happen sooner, with capacity/supply for more vaccinations to be given every day than are being given right now.

2:52 PM: Inslee says the new CDC mask guidance for fully vaccinated people will be adopted by our state, effective immediately. That’s two weeks after the second shot if you got Moderna or Pfizer, or after the one and only shot if you got Johnson & Johnson. However, he says, businesses can require workers/customers to wear masks – the new guidance just means that if you’re fully vaccinated, the state won’t require it in most places.

Again, he says, regarding vaccination, “this is a different pandemic strategy, but we need the same level of commitment.”

2:56 PM: He moves on to schools, saying he expects that all will fully open for in-person learning this fall – an announcement that Seattle Public Schools made earlier today. Whether they’ll have any rules depends on the vaccination rate. COVID testing will be “ramped up” in the fall, he says. He also mentions more money for business relief.

3 PM: Now on to media Q&A. The first two questions are for clarification of the new mask guidance. Again, they’ll still be required some places – including health care and public transportation. But businesses CAN still require masks if they choose to. How would businesses check someone’s vaccination status? he’s asked. The state is not planning to require that they check – “but again, they are legally entitled to do so” if they choose, he says. State health secretary Dr. Umair Shah added that what the CDC said today is further recognition that vaccines are effective in both protecting the vaccinated person and preventing people from spreading the virus to others. If you’re still uneasy about getting vaccinated, the governor added, talk with your health-care provider “and get their advice.”

Will the governor follow what Florida is doing and canceling fines/penalties for business violators of COVID rules? No, Inslee says.

Will our state follow what other states are doing and offer incentives (like the Ohio lottery)? The governor “would not rule out these kind of incentives. It is something we’re giving some thought to.” He says to wait and see for possible news “next week.”

The state is not planning to call for “vaccine passports,” but again, individual businesses have the right to ask for proof.

3:27 PM: The briefing has wrapped up with the governor making one more pitch for vaccination, saying there’s no reason to not do it. “We’re looking for leaders here” – if you’re vaccinated and know someone who isn’t, talk to them about it. Overall, today he declares today “one of the most remarkable days” since the start of the pandemic.

The window atop this story will soon feature the archived video. Here’s what the governor’s office has published online about today’s reopening announcement.

10:30 AM: Seattle Public Schools‘ new interim superintendent Dr. Brent Jones has just announced the district is preparing to fully reopen schools this fall. In an open letter published on the district website, Dr. Jones said, “My staff know how to successfully open school across 104 sites and that is exactly what we plan to do in September, while continuing to follow public health and state guidelines.” District schools closed in mid-March 2020 and reopened for part-time in-person learning less than a month ago; (corrected) June 18th is the last day of this school year, while the 2021-2022 school year is currently scheduled to start for most SPS students September 1st (see the calendar here).

11:31 AM: More details from the official news release, which has since arrived:

… While the focus is on in-person instruction for all students, the plan does include a remote option for students who may be unable to attend full-time in-person for health-related or other significant reasons. …

… Dr. Jones identified important areas of collaboration and partnership that will be prioritized as the plan is developed:

• Working in partnership with the SPS Board of Directors to approve the final plan for submission to the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI);

• Working in partnership with the Seattle Education Association during development of the best possible instructional environment that will ensure the highest student outcomes;

• Including input from key stakeholders, community groups, students and families, with a particular focus on students and families furthest from educational justice.

With the return to full-time in-person instruction, Superintendent Jones plans a range of student and staff-focused supports:

• Focus on student mental health – SPS will use federal emergency funds to invest in additional mental health services, trauma-informed practice and working with families and staff to create a “culture of care” as students return to classrooms.

• Supporting student growth – Focus on each student’s individual learning path in collaboration with parents and caregivers. Additional academic supports, community partnerships, and learning opportunities will be in place to support those students with the most need.

• Robust wellness supports for SPS staff.

• Continuing to use new and innovative instructional practices that have evolved over the past year.

Fall implementation planning teams will be convening to design the plans for the full-time in person model.

The SPS Board of Directors will hold a special board meeting on May 26, 2021 to review the Washington LEA Academic and Student Well-Being Recovery Plan, which is required by OSPI. On June 1, 2021, SPS will submit the board-approved plan to OSPI.