43 Replies to "CORONAVIRUS: February's final check of West Seattle, King County trends and stats"

• Mj February 26, 2022 (5:42 pm)

  The CDC just updated their guidelines, King County is green and per the CDC guidelines we can ditch the mask inside.  Inslee and the County need to follow suit now, enough already.  

  • Indeed February 26, 2022 (6:29 pm)

    But that requires them to give up control…

    • Rocket February 28, 2022 (11:38 am)

      The numbers came out on a Friday and they plan to update guidance this week.  Stop it with the “Inslee is a wanna be king” nonsense it invalidates any real point you have to make.  The state has done a very deliberate job of trying to manage the pandemic in a way that keeps access to hospitals open and have done a good job of it considering all the opposition to doing the right reasonable thing by those too invested in party politics. 

  • Derek February 26, 2022 (7:59 pm)

    How many cases/deaths are tolerable to you? King County and Washington have had one of the lowest rates in the country due to our strict masking. I’m thankful for that. 

    • Adam February 26, 2022 (10:22 pm)

      What’s your magic number, Derek? I mean, I really do like your post thag places comfortably above Mj and Indeed, morally speaking. But go ahead and tell me what number, what metric, makes it ok to relax masking? You can’t just make it look like because they disagree with you they don’t care about others’ lives. Give me an actual figure, please, or whatever would make you ok with this

  • Too soon February 26, 2022 (10:40 pm)

    MJ & Indeed—
    Boohoo, boohoo; it’s so ‘sad’ that we have to wait a bit longer.
    Don’t you think everyone is sick of the pandemic?
    I’m sorry that things don’t line up with your perceived timeline (cdc recommendation or not),
    if we have to wait a bit longer so be it; it’s been 2 years, after all!

    I’m immune compromised, and while I agree that we are doing ‘well’ (or at least as well as can be) in WS, Covid ISNT done yet; and I sure as hell don’t want to get it at this point; I’m sure you don’t want to either.

    So relax and be a patient..

    • TscTsc February 27, 2022 (2:45 pm)

      I am fed up with the pandemic much like the rest of the world, but I will gladly mask for the rest of my life if it saves myself or others from getting the virus.  I mean it IS just a mask.  I will also put a diaper on my child until it can be sanitary on its own to prevent everyone else from having to deal with free range person poop! Even though my child would much rather not wear them!  Sound familiar?   I wish people would just grow up and value other lives as much as their own comfort and convenience!

  • Jort February 26, 2022 (10:52 pm)

    You can deal with it for a few more weeks, it’s not that big of a deal. Grow up.

• K February 26, 2022 (8:03 pm)

  But, but, but…I’m a teacher, and our students are still getting COVID—now! And though—always masked, careful and boosted—I did get COVID last month, as did my family. I do not think it’s time to fling off those masks in the classroom. We are too exposed.

  • Bronson February 27, 2022 (5:43 am)

    So, you were masked and got COVID? I think that makes the alternative point to masking than you think it makes.

    • WS Res February 27, 2022 (10:26 am)

      Do you understand, Bronson, that this isn’t an A/B issue?  “Perfect protection” or “zero protection”?  “Reduced odds” or “increased odds” is what we are dealing with, at multiple stages of intervention.  Masks reduce the odds of infection and transmission. Vaccines reduce the odds of infection, hospitalization, and transmission. Air circulation reduces the odds of infection and transmission. No “layer” is 100% effective, but multiple layers together make a big difference.  Teachers are extra-vulnerable because so many of the young people they congregate with are not fully vaccinated/boosted, or not vaccinated at all, so masks are extra-important as a “layer” of protection. Which itself is not 100% against either transmission or infection, but 0 masks on either end ups those odds dramatically.

    • Rocket February 28, 2022 (11:41 am)

      It’s not about getting COVID. It’s about keeping the hospitals open.update your understanding of what guides the decisionmaking then life will be less upsetting.

• Mj February 26, 2022 (10:22 pm)

  Derek/K – there is a vaccine that is very effective, 90+% of eligible people in WS, 98116 and 98136, are vaccinated.  Yes I get young children, including my daughter, are not eligible but they are low risk.  Covid is endemic like the flu and society does not foist mask’s for the flu.  Enough already.  It’s time to move forward.

  K – so you and your family got Covid, all the vaccinated people I know that have had it says it was like a cold if that, many had little or no symptoms.  

  • momosmom February 27, 2022 (7:52 am)

    MJ, But do we really know what the long term effects will be from Covid, yes it may just feel like a cold now ??? Will it be like Chicken Pox, if you had them when you were a child you’re more than likely to get shingles some time in your life. Do we really know?

  • Math Teacher February 27, 2022 (8:59 am)

    Keeping masks on for another 3 weeks allows another big vaccination push for age 5-12, boosters, etc. 

  • Math Teacher February 27, 2022 (9:23 am)

    Yes, this, AND putting up with the masks for 3 more weeks will provide time for Public Health to do one more big vaccination push for age 5-11, and boosters for 12-15. 

• C February 26, 2022 (10:27 pm)

  Happy we are heading in the right direction, but there’s a lot of unknowns still. Before people start flinging opinions and “research”, can we just take a second to consider wearing masks in places like grocery stores, post office, etc. simply for the people who are immunocompromised? There’s a large chunk of the population who are still at greater risk and it’s not a huge deal to wear a mask when you run in for milk. The world would be a better place if we all remembered at any point any of us could be diagnosed with cancer, autoimmune disease, whatever and it’s absolutely terrifying to think that people don’t care about enough about their neighbors to put on a mask for a short period. Let’s be considerate of others’ situations.  

  • Steve February 27, 2022 (6:27 am)

    Hear, hear to C’s comment. Wearing a mask takes close to no effort–come on, people.

  • C2 February 27, 2022 (8:11 am)

    Well said! I was diagnosed with blood cancer right as this started and SCCA shut down to non emergency care  the day after my PET CT. Every step of cancer has been during Covid for me all while hearing vulnerable people dismissed and selfish people complaining about anything they were asked to do to participate in public health. Whining over masks is disgusting especially when 7 million Americans are suddenly less safe without even a short window to see if cases will surge again. 

  • Curious February 27, 2022 (4:02 pm)

    Appreciate your comment. As someone with three autoimmune disorders and on a biologic medication that suppresses my immune system it’s disheartening to know vaccine testing wasn’t done on people who were immunocomprosied. And, after the vaccines came out, retrospective studies show breakthrough infections are twice as likely for this group. With four shots in me now, I think I’ll still keep a good mask handy.

  • James February 28, 2022 (9:45 am)

    C, your implication is that masks stop people from spreading an aerosolized respiratory virus. Even the experts now admit that they are little more than a “face decoration”. A high quality respirator that is properly fitted can reduced the chances of you, the uninfected person, from inhaling the virus when exposed to an infected person for long periods of time. The best thing, what we’ve always done, stay home when you are sick. Otherwise, carrying around your lucky rabbit’s foot or wearing your rosary beads are as effective as wearing  a loose fitting piece of cloth when it comes to you not spreading a virus you aren’t infected with.

    • MyThruppence February 28, 2022 (10:01 am)

      Hi James, can you please reference specifically what/which experts have said that masks are little more than a “face decoration”? Thanks.

      • James March 1, 2022 (9:24 am)

        That exact quote was from noted Covid hysteric, Leanna Wen on CNN a few weeks ago. https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/24/health/cloth-mask-omicron-variant-wellness/index.htmlAbsolutely not surprising. Anyone with a rudimentary understanding of fluid mechanics (I’m an aerospace engineer, graduate work in aerodynamics) understands that when you inhale/exhale with a loose fitting mask, the air just passes through the gaps.

• cozy mask on a windy day February 27, 2022 (6:28 am)

  I’m fine with masking indefinitely indoors in public places, and outdoors in super crowded places too. I’ve adapted and it doesn’t feel forced, inconvenient, or uncomfortable for me. Will continue to do this for my community. I could be wrong, but I’m guessing about 2/3 of people feel similarly.

  The 1/3 who feel differently about masks and choose not to wear them, won’t be allowed indoors at the places choosing to require them, and people at high risk can respond defensively and avoid these folks when they see them, and leave places that are allowing it. There is also the option of double masking, with N95 and cloth mask. Probably best we can do, until the risk is truly a thing of the past.

  I am glad that masking will be more of an option for some people and businesses, that feel so negatively impacted by them. It’s been really difficult for some to adapt to this. One thing that has been interesting in all of this is learning how some experience and tolerate things differently. Also, how political that can become.

  • NBD February 27, 2022 (9:50 pm)

    Maybe we can agree to still wear masks when we have cold or flu (or Covid) symptoms but still feel good enough to go out? That is common courtesy in many other countries. I hope the last two years has helped to reduce the stigma in the US.

    • Cozy mask February 28, 2022 (9:37 am)

      👍

      I think it would be great if people could do this. And, not out of fear, but out of care and compassionate action for one another.

  • MA February 28, 2022 (9:41 am)

    “I could be wrong, but I’m guessing about 2/3 of people feel similarly.”

    you are wrong. quite wrong.

• Lucy February 27, 2022 (10:15 am)

  If you want to continue wearing a mask, please do so.  But please allow me to choose for myself.  If you’re vaccinated, boosted and wearing your mask, what does it matter if I do or not? I haven’t had the luxury of working from home, as I work in healthcare.  Please, let me measure the risk and make my own choice.  

• Tired of it all February 27, 2022 (10:17 am)

  Once again I’m astounded by the fear level in West Seattle. To Jort – you love doling out advice. Here’s some for you. Unless you have children, I’m not interested in anything you have to say at this point. You’ll still get to ride your electric bike everywhere around West Seattle while shaming car drivers so maybe just go do that awhile. It will; make you feel better.To those worried about long term effects. It’s possible there will be but then again there might not be. No guarantees in life except we all pay taxes and eventually die. Here’s one to think about – I guarantee that most people who comment here eat junk food from the grocery store that is filled with everything from dyes to seed oils to preservatives to massive amounts of sugar and genetically modified wheat and soy. Want to know what the long term effects of that is? Obesity, cancer, diabetes, you name it. Does anyone even care? Doubt it. Want to flatten the curve – get healthier folks. This is a part of living – you accept the risk at some point. Now I know people will say, but hey that doesn’t impact others. Yes, it actually does. The more unhealthy we are as a society the more our hospital bed are filled up with people with diseases that are preventable and should not require hospitalization.To those saying hey it’s just another 3 weeks. Guess what, there’s no guarantee that will even last. Heck, Inslee’s now going off his own roadmap and ignoring the CDC – I thought the CDC was the benchmark for him – no? Should we see another strain present itself, get ready to deal with even more masks and lockdowns in the name of “saving lives”. Finally – I feel I can speak for many parents when I say that biggest disappointment in this entire Inslee/Duchin/Shah episode has been the focus on  adult things rather than children. Remember when they closed city parks, locked off tennis courts and got rid of all kids sports for a year all in the name of science? I still do. Do you all feel that was a good decision in the name of science?Notice how the focus is now on opening things like gyms, bars, restaurants, concerts and massage parlors for unvaccinated people rather than addressing SCHOOLS first and figuring out how we unmask kids and open schools fully? The latest Inlsee proclamation allowing unvaccinated people into venues without addressing schools and children first was once again a disappointment but predictable.All of you who wish to continue masking or avoiding public venues, go for it. We will all respect your choice. Private businesses – want to require masks – go for it – it’s your business.Those who are immnucompromised or with small children unable to get vaccinated – it sucks. It really does. But the vaccines will eventually come.At some point however life must go in. We were the first state to lock down and are the last to fully open.This idea that everything will somehow be hunky dory come March 21st rather than right now is yet another decision that people will look back on and shake theirs heads at. OK – done with rant.

• WS Res February 27, 2022 (10:30 am)

  Also, before the “masks harm kids’ development” thing goes around again:  no they don’t.

  • jessie February 27, 2022 (11:49 am)

    How about us ADULTS that see children wearing masks give them a big thumbs up gesture and say to them “what a cool mask you have” so to you ADULTS that say they are harmful to the kids it won’t be so harmful.

    • cozy mask, windy day February 27, 2022 (1:51 pm)

      • One recent article on the subject…
      • https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/do-masks-really-harm-kids-heres-what-the-science-says

      • momosmom February 27, 2022 (3:21 pm)

        Cozy, too bad I couldn’t read the article without the site wanting me to sign in. :>(

        • cozy mask, windy day February 27, 2022 (6:47 pm)

          Oh sorry, @momosmom! The website didn’t prompt me to log in, probably does that randomly.

          I’ve tried to copy and paste the article into a comment here so folks and read it, but it might be too much for WSB to publish as a comment.

          Hopefully some can access and read it, thought it was a good article discussion.

        • WSB February 27, 2022 (6:58 pm)

          We cannot publish copyrighted content. A short excerpt is fair use, an entire story is not.

  • Pessoa February 27, 2022 (1:11 pm)

    WS Res: No one should draw definitive conclusions without qualifying their conclusions with “maybe” or “it seems” or “according to this study,” especially in the absence of anything that can be called definitive research.  At least the author of this article seems to understand this concept.  

  • Pessoa February 27, 2022 (2:08 pm)

    WS Res: The author of the forementioned opinion piece – to their credit – does not make any definitive conclusions about the impact of masking on children, noting the absence of definitive research.   

• Pessoa February 27, 2022 (11:04 am)

  Here is a recent article from “The Atlantic” that some of you may enjoy.  It doesn’t cover every angle, and it written from a particular POV, but it is thoughtful and non-vitriolic, nonetheless.  By the way,  because one’s assessment of risk is not the same as their neighbor does not automatically make that neighbor an insensitive, callous person.    https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2022/02/covid-pandemic-immunocompromised-risk-vaccines/622094/

• Friend O'Dinghus February 27, 2022 (12:09 pm)

  I’m not going to be masking indefinitely. Nope. I do think another few weeks deeper into Spring is prudent and I will be continuing for the time being. I do expect to follow CDC guidance though, and hope to a return to a truly mask optional society, both local and across the country, as soon as we possibly can. I know I will be ditching the mask soon if the numbers continue in a downward trend then level off as anticipated.

  • James March 1, 2022 (9:26 am)

    Having travelled all over the country (except the NE), we are the only place I’ve been in the last 2 years that is universally masking. 

• Lisa February 27, 2022 (2:26 pm)

  I’m on the side of following the CDC guidelines. Mandating mask wearing sends a message of fear which keeps everyone inside, ultimately hurting small businesses. I’m not trying to be insensitive to those who are immune compromised but I do think for anyone still fearful should remain masked and for those of us comfortable not wearing them, let us get back to normal-ish, like the rest of the country. I do think the nanny-state oversight in this city and state is beyond ridiculous.

  • Derek February 28, 2022 (11:31 am)

    Ah yes because the plight of business owners is the concern and not lives… sure. 

• anonyme February 28, 2022 (5:53 am)

  When I lived in Japan 50 years ago, masking was common.  People in Asian countries have done it for decades to avoid spreading germs and as a courtesy to others. Unlike the alternative, being a little bit considerate doesn’t kill anyone.

Sorry, comment time is over.