PANDEMIC UPDATES: Weekly check-in #7, 8/22/2021

| 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:

129,161 people have tested positive – 4,209 more than a week ago (4,581 in West Seattle, up 165)
7,112 people have been hospitalized – 196 more than a week ago (216 from West Seattle, up 7)
1,723 people have died – 18 more than a week ago (67 in West Seattle, up 1)

VACCINATION RATE:

76.8% of King County residents 12+ have completed their vaccine series (up .6% in the past week)

By West Seattle zip code:
98106 – 79.2%
98116 – 85.2%
98126 – 74.5%
98136 – 86.4%
98146 – 73.5%

(More COVID-related King County stats here)

PANDEMIC NEWS

Statewide mask mandate starts tomorrow – Face coverings are required statewide in indoor public settings starting tomorrow, as announced Wednesday. Details of the order are here, including some exceptions.

(added) School employees’ vaccine mandate: The governor’s Wednesday announcement also included a requirement for education employees to be fully vaccinated by October 18th.

Statewide situation report – Read about it here. The key points:

*Estimates of statewide transmission have continued the sharp increase noted in the previous situation report.
*COVID-19 prevalence has nearly quadrupled between July 8 and August 6.
*Hospitalizations are at an all-time high.
*Vaccination continues to prevent serious illness.
*Immunity trends saw modest increases.
*Case rates increased sharply in most Washington counties.
*Delta variant is now dominant.

Seattle Public Schools health/safety agreement – With the September 1st start of school fast approaching, Seattle Public Schools and the Seattle Education Association reached a tentative agreement on health/safety matters. Here’s the district’s announcement.

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 can make an appointment here, though readers report walk-ups have been accepted. Meantime, the Curative testing kiosk at Don Armeni Boat Ramp (1222 Harbor SW) is also still 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. Nearby pop-ups in the week ahead include 1-6 pm Wednesday (August 25th) at White Center Library (1409 SW 107th) and next Sunday (times TBA) during the Created Commons event in Westcrest Park.

JJ August 23, 2021 (11:06 am)

So, are the teachers going to be required to be vaccinated?

WSB August 23, 2021 (11:55 am)

Sorry, I forgot to include the other half of the governor’s two-part announcement, which we covered on Wednesday.
https://www.governor.wa.gov/news-media/inslee-announces-educator-vaccination-requirement-and-statewide-indoor-mask-mandate

teacher August 23, 2021 (1:18 pm)

ALL school staff are mandated to get vaccinated. Which is great! Hopefully now that it is FDA approved we mandate 12 & up to get it too.

Math Teacher August 23, 2021 (2:50 pm)

Ages 12-15 are still under an emergency use authorization, because that data set started later. The governor’s vaccine order gives school employees 2 months to finish their vaccine sequence. “fully vaccinated” means 2 weeks after the second shot. So in September and early October, there may still be teachers who are not fully vaccinated.
- flimflam August 23, 2021 (2:54 pm)
  
  Seems curious to allow that time lag between schools opening and full vaccination by staff…
  - Math Teacher August 23, 2021 (8:49 pm)
    
    I agree that it is a generous amount of time, especially for people who are already employed. But I think this lets the school bus company hire a driver who then begins the vaccination series when he starts working. Three weeks between the 1st and 2nd shot, and not considered “fully vaccinated” until 2 weeks after that. It would be difficult to open schools in September if you couldn’t make new hires.
- JJ August 23, 2021 (3:50 pm)
  
  I think I’d pick the remote option if my kid couldn’t be vaccinated. We seem to be in a nasty wave here with Delta.
  - Parent August 23, 2021 (4:36 pm)
    
    I’ve heard there are only 300 spots for remote learning district-wide. Families seeking a remote option through SPS are being waitlisted.

natinstl August 24, 2021 (2:39 pm)

98116 coming up on us 98136 folks quickly. Way to go. I’m not sure why my zip code is the most vaccinated, but thanks folks.

anonyme August 24, 2021 (4:32 pm)

Low vax rates in 98146 are due to shared zip with Shorewood & Burien. Different demographics. As for Covid, Metro continues to be a problem. I’m seeing lots of people get on without masks. If they grab one at the front of the bus, they’ve already exposed people there, but usually, they saunter back to their seats, adjust all their carry-ons, and only then deign to put on the mask. Kinda defeats the purpose as they’ve contaminated the whole bus by then – which is a small, enclosed indoor room. Lots of exposed noses. I was also in several indoor locations today where folks were not wearing masks at all. At this rate, lockdown is forever. Even fully vaccinated and always masked, I don’t feel safe in most places. Oddly, people on the street seem far more conscientious about masking, even when out in the open air. It’s inside and on the bus that’s a problem.

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