PANDEMIC UPDATES: Weekly check-in #6, 8/15/2021

| Coronavirus | West Seattle news

Here’s our weekly roundup of local pandemic updates, starting with the newest local numbers.

KING COUNTY CUMULATIVE NUMBERS AS OF FRIDAY:

124,952 people have tested positive – 4,398 more than a week ago (4,416 in West Seattle, up 181)
6,916 people have been hospitalized – 142 more than a week ago (209 from West Seattle, up 4)
1,705 people have died – 17 more than a week ago (66 in West Seattle, up 1)

VACCINATION RATE:

76.2% of King County residents 12+ have completed their vaccine series (up .5% in the past week)

By West Seattle zip code:
98106 – 78.7%
98116 – 84.5%
98126 – 73.9%
98136 – 85.9%
98146 – 72.8%

(More COVID-related King County stats here)

PANDEMIC NEWS

Statewide situation – Here’s the big picture: “Prevalence is approaching levels last seen in the winter 2020 surge,” state health officials report.

Booster for some immunocompromised people: The state Health Department said this weekend that some people should get a third shot if they were vaccinated with Pfizer or Moderna. Here’s the list of situations to which this applies, from the CDC website:

-Been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood

-Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system

-Received a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system

-Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)

-Advanced or untreated HIV infection

-Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your immune response

Vaccine mandates: In case you missed it, these were announced this past week for many state, city, and county employees.

WHERE TO GET TESTED IN WEST SEATTLE

The UW Medicine testing service at the Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex parking lot (2801 SW Thistle) continues to operate; you might have to wait a few days, though – the booking site shows, for example, that Monday and Tuesday slots are all booked. Meantime, the Curative testing kiosk at Don Armeni Boat Ramp (1222 Harbor SW) is also till operating. In addition, both West Seattle Walgreens stores are offering drive-up testing (35th/Morgan and 16th/Roxbury) – more info here.

NOT VACCINATED YET?

Go here to see where you can change that.

High Point August 16, 2021 (5:54 am)

I wonder how much heads up the State/District will give us before announcing that we’re heading back to remote learning.

S.A. August 16, 2021 (2:19 pm)

How much would you want?

wcresident August 16, 2021 (9:14 am)

Does the testing site at the Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex have a line for those who don’t have appointments? The testing service website says appointments encouraged.

AMC August 16, 2021 (11:40 am)

I’m wondering that as well. The last two times I went in recent weeks it was fine just walking up.
JunctionRes August 17, 2021 (7:47 pm)

It does accept walk ups without an appointment. I walked up yesterday around 4:30 pm. I got my result by 8:30 am this morning.

Brian August 16, 2021 (9:14 am)

Dang they weekly case count keeps getting bigger. It’s probably nothing.

JamesJ August 16, 2021 (10:22 am)

Deaths continue to hold steady at a very, very low number. So the vaccines are doing their job. They don’t prevent infection, but are clearly preventing serious illness and death. Given the excellent vaccination uptake in our community, its far past time to be looking at positive tests as any kind of valuable metric.
- Brian August 16, 2021 (1:13 pm)
  
  Well it’s certainly a good thing kids are all vaccinated and there’s no need to worry!
Auntie August 16, 2021 (10:48 am)

Yeah – nothing that vaccination wouldn’t take care of!
Bandana August 16, 2021 (12:11 pm)

County health officials are comparing it to last winter’s surge in cases. The difference is the unvaccinated population who is most vulnerable. That includes children under 12 who are not eligible for the vaccine.

lowmanbeachdrive August 16, 2021 (12:14 pm)

Thank you for this information. Is there any way to learn about transmission rates on the peninsula, per capita, for the past couple of weeks? It’s great to know vaccination rate, but I’m curious how delta is spreading throughout our population. It helps me understand my risk of contracting it around here. I am vaccinated.

WSB August 16, 2021 (1:04 pm)

If you follow the link to “more King County data,” there are various geography tabs that slice and dice the information a variety of ways. When looking at West Seattle, if you choose the HRA (Health Reporting Area) view, be sure to look at both the West Seattle and Delridge HRAs, which together comprise the peninsula. – TR
- lowmanbeachdrive August 16, 2021 (10:47 pm)
  
  Thank you!