West Seattle, Washington
28 Tuesday
(WSB photo, last week)
Six days after Public Health Seattle-King County closed Duke’s on Alki because COVID-19 was spreading among its staff, the restaurant says it has clearance to reopen today. (The PHSKC website confirms the reopening.) Subscribers to its email list received a message from founder Duke Moscrip, including:
… When the health authorities examined our Alki location and took the action to shut us down, we were devastated. Frankly, we thought we were following the safety protocols precisely. After cooperating with them fully over the past few days, we earned their approval to reopen today. Specifically, they approved the distance between our tables and the occupancy levels that allow us to keep everyone safe.
As a new layer of safety at Duke’s restaurants, we ordered and are installing new air purification technology over the next few weeks at all our locations to stop COVID-19 particles, other viruses, and bacteria in internal spaces.
Safety. That is the only thing important to us as we all begin to venture out more and enjoy our unique way of life here in the Pacific Northwest.
Despite every safety measure available, we expect we will see more cases of COVID-19 among our valued team. Today we are better prepared to properly react.
I know that many of you believe that Duke’s let you down. For that, we are truly saddened.
The message also says an unspecified number of staff members remain quarantined. This statement from the restaurant following last week’s shutdown noted 7 Alki employees had tested positive for the virus.
(ADDED 12:55 PM: PHSKC has since published this statement about the reopening.)
Before the shutdown announcement, after our previous report about two cases at Duke’s, we had asked Public Health some questions about how outbreaks are handled; we’d noticed while covering other businesses that no two seemed to be handling cases the same way. We have since received the replies, published below in Q&A format, with our questions and Public Health’s answers:
WSB: “What if anything are businesses required to report to PHSKC regarding employees testing positive?”
PHSKC: “Notify health department within 24 hours if you suspect COVID-19 is spreading in your workplace, or if you are aware of 2 or more employees who develop confirmed or suspected COVID-19 within a 14-day period.”
WSB: “What are they required to tell customers?”
PHSKC: “No requirements.”
WSB: “Under the new state guidance, what circumstance constitutes “spreading” at a workplace that would need to be reported?”
PHSKC: “We would consider ‘spreading’ when any person in the workplace, whether an employee, contractor or customer, might have been potentially exposed in the workplace. We would recommend that a workplace call us if they have any questions or concerns as it generally takes some investigation to try to determine the most likely location of exposure (e.g., community exposure vs. workplace exposure, etc..).”
WSB: “Once PHSKC gets a report of ‘spreading,’ what will you do with that information? How/is it investigated? Might orders for closure ensue?”
PHSKC: “- We first try to confirm any reported cases through our public health databases and if any non-household contacts have been identified already.
“- We then do an initial investigation call to (i) confirm whether transmission occurred in the workplace, (ii) identify any exposed workplace contacts (coworkers or customers), and (iii) assess steps that employers have taken to reduce the risk of transmission within the workplace and provide technical assistance when necessary.
“- If this investigation identifies conditions indicating a higher risk to employees or the public, we may schedule a site visit to the workplace. A public health order or closure could ensue if the risk level is deemed to be very high and we believe there is an ongoing risk to employees or the public that isn’t being mitigated.”
WSB: “What about employees who feel their employer isn’t taking appropriate action – is there anything they can do?”
PHSKC: “Workplace safety complaints about coronavirus or other issues can be filed with L&I (1-800-423-7233). Employees can also file a written safety/health complaint.”
(Again, we had those questions out to PHSKC *before* the Duke’s closure – the first of its kind in our area – was announced.)
Bloodworks Northwest sent this “urgent alert” for a donation event on the 4th of July:
Blood Donations Needed Over 4th of July Weekend!
Bloodworks NW has partnered with Seattle Seahawks and Seafair to host a Pop-up Blood Donor Center at CenturyLink Field. Tomorrow, July 4th, there are still 35 donor appointments available. Our state is in a blood crisis and your blood is needed to service our local hospitals and patients. Please make your blood donation for tomorrow at www.BloodworksNW.org and use code SEAF – All donors who sign up by the 11th receive a $20 grocery gift card and will be entered into win a Seahawks Swag Bag that includes a full-sized authentic helmet autographed by Tyler Lockett and a 12 Flag autographed by Bobby Wagner.
Though West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) is open for in-store shopping, its long tradition of in-person events will have to wait for a later phase before resuming. But that’s not stopping the next “Get Fit, West Seattle”! WSR proprietors Lori and Tim McConnell are offering a virtual version – and you can get ready by watching their advance video – here’s the announcement:
July 18th would be the day that Float Dodger 5K would have happened, so we are kicking off GET FIT WEST SEATTLE virtually that day to have a little something fun on the running docket.
You start with one mile and you will train to run the Seattle Half Marathon on November 29th 2020! This is a program for BEGINNER runners. We will be providing a training plan, clinics on injury prevention, run nutrition, proper running form, run/walk intervals, and all things that new runners need to know to do it safely and successfully.
Much of this may occur virtually depending on city regulations, COVID cases, and safety measures that need to be taken. We know we will be starting remotely. Once it is deemed safe, we will meet in-person and run as a group. Until then, we will offer suggestions for routes, tips, dialogue and support in an on-line format, with Facebook being our main interactive platform. Learn more about this program by watching our Informational Night video, posted on our facebook group pages: West Seattle Runner and Get Fit West Seattle. It will stay posted on those pages for you to view at your leisure. Furthermore, you can email any questions to: lori@westseattlerunner.com.
If you have trouble finding the video on either of those pages, try this direct link.
3:19 PM: Gov. Inslee is speaking right now (watch it live) and just announced that masks will be mandatory statewide as of Friday. Even though the worst outbreak right now is in Eastern Washington, infection rates are concerning on this side of the Cascades too, he says. They’ll be required in most indoor (public) circumstances as well as many outdoor circumstances in which social distancing isn’t always possible. “Until a vaccine is developed, this is going to be our best defense,” he says. There will be exceptions, he adds – children younger than 5, people with hearing challenges, people with certain health problems.
3:32 PM: Secretary of Health John Wiesman says he’s issuing the official order and that it’s how “life will be different” for a while. He’s followed by a doctor who declares, “Masks can save lives.” They protect the wearer and those around them. “We know that this appears to work for lots of respiratory-tract infections.”
3:44 PM: Asked about enforcement, Gov. Inslee says that’s not the point – he expects there will be lots of voluntary compliance because people want to stay healthy and care for their neighbors. He says Yakima – which is dealing with a major outbreak – is already up to about 60 percent mask use. — Violating the rule would be a misdemeanor, Inslee says in response to another question, but it’s “not our desire to see hara-working officers (become the mask police) – they have other things to do.”
4:09 PM: This is about to wrap up; the governor and secretary were joined by Craig Jelinek, president and CEO of Costco, and Faye Guenther, president of UFCW 21. Inslee stressed that this isn’t about your personal choice if you want to risk getting sick or not – it’s about protecting others, such as essential workers (like store clerks) who don’t have a choice – they have to be at work “to feed their families.”
5:47 PM: Here’s the governor’s full announcement.
2:32 PM: As previewed – the Seattle Fire/Airlift NW drill is under way at Alki Playfield, first of 4 drills in West Seattle this week.
2:41 PM: The helicopter has lifted off. Next drill, 2 pm tomorrow at Walt Hundley Playfield in High Point. Viewing was OK today *around the edges of the field* so it should be tomorrow too.
ADDED 5:31 PM: More details, photos, and video:
Airlift Northwest (corrected) has a base in Bremerton – its helicopter can get here in as little as six minutes and carries trauma nurses as well as blood and plasma.
(Photo by David Hutchinson)
SFD plans to use the four drills – continuing 2 pm Tuesday and Thursday at Walt Hundley, back at Alki 2 pm Wednesday – for different local SFD crews to practice a helicopter transfer. Deputy Chief Ron Mondragon talked about it after today’s drill:
The helicopter was on the ground less than half an hour (longer, though, than it would have taken for an actual patient transfer).
SFD stresses that this kind of transport is expected to be rare – if it’s required at all – but they need to be ready just in case.
(WSB photos)
10:39 AM: Brief but big – enough people to line the block outside Providence Mount St. Vincent joined in “White Coats for Black Lives” less than an hour ago, organized “to raise awareness of racial inequality and police brutality.”
(added) Reader video:
This is the first of several local demonstrations planned today and tomorrow – if you know of any not on our list, please let us know.
ADDED 6:35 PM: Caregivers and providers also participated outside Swedish West Seattle Primary Care:
Thanks to Stephanie Vogtzinn for those photos.
(WSB file photo)
We’ve reported previously on COVID-19 cases and deaths at Providence Mount St. Vincent in West Seattle. Today we have an update from The Mount’s Molly Swain:
We are grateful to share that it has been more than 4 weeks since we have had a positive case test result of COVID-19 here at The Mount. As of Monday, June 1st, we do not have any positive COVID-19 cases among residents or patients.
We are very sad to share, however, that one additional resident has passed away, for a total of 7.
There are still 8 caregivers who are positive and are recovering at home.
The Mount (4831 35th SW) is West Seattle’s largest long-term-care/assisted-living facility, with other programs on site including the Intergenerational Learning Center.
Today we welcome Trivas Family Medicine as a new WSB sponsor. New sponsors get the chance to tell you about what they offer – here’s what Trivas would like you to know:
Trivas Family Medicinee is a primary care clinic in West Seattle run by Courtney Johnson, MD. Trivas is a Direct Primary Care clinic, which is a membership-based style of care. People become members by paying a simple, affordable, monthly membership fee (similar to how you use Netflix), and then you can access your health care whenever you want or need it! Services include care of all ages, care of acute symptoms or chronic illnesses, physicals and well-child checks, primary-care office procedures, and may include Coronavirus testing.
Members enjoy open access to their personal physician by office visit, video, phone, or text. Same-day and next-day visits are almost always accommodated (and always with the same doctor!). All visits are scheduled for 30 or 60 minutes so you have plenty of time to have your questions answered. If medications, labs, imaging, or specialty care are recommended, then we preferentially refer to lower cost or wholesale options.
Trivas Family Medicine is a great option for people who have health concerns during the Coronavirus crisis! If you have lost your health insurance, didn’t have it to start with, or have a high-deductible plan, Trivas offers excellent care at an affordable price! If you have insurance, but your doctor is on the other side of an impassable bridge, consider getting amazing care locally!
Due to the personalized nature of this style of practice, we limit the inflow of new patients. High volume medicine is not our style. We are, however, eager to help those whose ability to address health concerns has been compromised by this public health crisis, economic downturn, and diminished access to downtown clinics.
You can find more details, signup information for Trivas Family Medicine, and how Direct Primary Care works, on our website at trivasfamilymedicine.com. Or send an email or call if you have questions!
We thank Trivas Family Medicine for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
As we start to proceed through reopening so much of what’s been closed because of the virus crisis, the West Seattle/Fauntleroy YMCA (WSB sponsor) has a message for its members:
We are getting ready to welcome you back to the Y.
We miss you! It’s been hard to be away from the people we care about. Thank you for persevering and doing your part to stay safe and stop the spread of coronavirus. We are so looking forward to welcoming community back to the YMCA of Greater Seattle. Visit the link on our website to learn about what we are planning for your welcome back, as well as where to find updates as more information becomes available.
Due to our Fauntleroy YMCA location being used for summer camp, it will not be reopening immediately for member use. Instead, when we do reopen, we ask that all members utilize the West Seattle location through the summer.
As we first reported last week, a new weekly COVID-19 testing site is about to start up at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) on Puget Ridge. We’ve been working all week to get additional details, and info just came in, as follows:
UW Medicine and the Seattle Dept. of Neighborhoods are opening a mobile COVID-19 testing site at South Seattle College’s main campus in West Seattle starting May 29. The testing site is open Fridays only, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. SSC agreed to be the host location to help improve testing access for the communities of south and southwest Seattle, and south King County.
Location & Time
When: Fridays only from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., beginning May 29
Where: South Seattle College’s North Parking Lot, accessed by Entry 1, located at 6000 16th Ave SW. (campus map here). Please Note: Visitors should only use Entry 1/North Parking Lot entrance. South Seattle College’s physical campus is otherwise closed to the public in response to COVID-19 with very limited exceptions for essential staff and programs approved by the state. The college is operating remotely until further notice and will run summer and fall quarter classes in accordance with public health guidelines.
Testing Site Details
Anyone experiencing the following symptoms can come to the testing site, speak with medical staff from UW Medicine and, if qualified for testing, get tested on-site:
Cough
Shortness or breath or difficulty breathing
Fever
Gastrointestinal symptoms including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
Muscle Aches
Headaches
Chills
Sore throat
Runny nose
New loss of taste or smellThere is no cost to be tested. If you have health insurance UW Medicine will bill your insurance.
Walk-up and drive-up visitors are welcome. Please note due to King County Metro bus service reductions in response to the pandemic, the college does not currently have Route 125 or 128 service to campus. Visitors should only use Entry 1/ North Parking Lot Entrance, where UW Medicine staff will direct you.
Neighborcare Health also has been doing COVID-19 testing in West Seattle, outside its High Point clinic.
2:33 PM: For the second consecutive day, Gov. Inslee is having a mid-afternoon media briefing, this time described as “an update on the state’s long-term-care COVID-19 testing plan and farmworker protections.” But with three days left in the stay-home order, that’s likely to come up in Q&A at the very least, so we’ll be adding notes as it happens.
The agricultural topic is first, and he notes that 100,000 people work in that industry in our state; he’s issuing a “proclamation with clear guidelines” for both employers and workers. He makes note that workers are striking in Yakima. He and Labor & Industries director Joel Sacks mention a few points of the new rules, including access to face coverings and more handwashing stations.
2:45 PM: Erik Nicholson of the United Farm Workers is also speaking, detailing workers’ concerns and how they’re being addressed by the new rules. He says that the governor’s action reinforces the essential nature of farm work. … The governor then moves on to the long-term-care topic. He notes that his 103-year-old grandmother is in a facility. The state is issuing an order to broaden testing requirements in LTC and assisted-living facilities. All residents and staff must be tested by June 12th, except memory-care facilities have an extra two weeks – if they haven’t been tested recently. The state will send the facilities test kits and PPE, Inslee says, and will pay the lab costs for staff (for residents, he expects that insurance will cover the cost).
2:55 PM: Secretary of Health John Wiesman is elaborating on this. He notes that they’ve continued to see a decline in outbreaks at these facilities. He says it will enable them in particular to focus on facilities that haven’t had outbreaks, to be sure no one is infected but asymptomatic.
3:01 PM: On to Q&A. First one is about penalties for violating the new farmworker-protection rules. The governor stresses that while “sanctions are available,” he expects that won’t be needed as the “vast majority” of businesspeople are complying. … Second question notes that a judge is expected to rule Monday on the governor’s stay-home order; the governor says the filing of a lawsuit is not affecting his decisionmaking, but that aside, “We believe we’re on very firm ground” as he acted on an obligation “to save people’s lives.” … Next question, Snohomish County wants to seek a variance despite not meeting the current requirements, any comment on that? The governor says he’s been talking with people there but as for what’s next, he’ll have decisions “in the days ahead” about “what happens June 1” … He also says the state’s been getting testing supplies that will allow that to be ramped up. … Is the farmworker announcement too little too late? He says, “We’re making decisions on an hourly basis with huge ramifications on people’s lives.” … In response to another question, he says he’s looking into whether the state can create a relief fund for undocumented workers without legslation … Does the Employment Security department director still have his full confidence? Yes, he said, noting that the department has recovered $300 million. … What about the ongoing reports that some deaths counted as COVID were not? The governor says even with that, it could still be higher than reported, but to some degree the specific number is irrelevant – “hundreds of deaths …is a pandemic.” He also criticizes politicians (without naming them) who have claimed the pandemic was “a hoax” and/or going to end quickly. And he goes on to say masks can be very effective so it’s dangerous when “leaders …and I can think of at least one” deride them. Other questions from there focused on the protections for farmworkers and how those will be monitored/enforced. … Last questions include, what’s to keep people from Phase 1 counties in central Puget Sound “flooding” nearby counties that have been allowed into Phase 2? The governor says that hasn’t been seen yet and they’re hoping it won’t.
In closing, he says that “masking requirements” will be an increasing component of strategy to keep the virus from spreading even as things open up. Wearing one is a sign of your love for your community, he stresses. He wraps at 3:37 pm.
Our regional blood supplies need a boost now that more health-care services are resuming. If you can donate, this month’s West Seattle pop-up drive has two more days to go this week – Wednesday (10 am-6 pm) and Friday (9 am-5 pm). at Combat Arts Academy (5050 Delridge Way SW). You can book an appointment online by going here, or by phone – call 800-398-7888, Ext 1 – or email, schedule@bloodworksnw.org.
That’s the newest city-provided “hygiene station,” installed this morning in the northeast corner of Junction Plaza Park – portable toilets with a hand-washing station. We reported in late March on the first round of installations, which included one at Westcrest Park; the second round of installations did not include any West Seattle sites. After getting a tip about this one, we asked the city if any others were being installed in West Seattle; the reply – “A hygiene station was also deployed at Salvation Army White Center, located at 9050 16th Ave SW” (in South Delridge). The original city announcement says these sites “will be accessible 24/7 and serviced daily, with waste removal, needle disposal, and supplemental cleaning.”
We start today with two notes about COVID-19 testing. First: Public-health authorities say it’s increasingly available, and urge people to get it ASAP if they start showing symptoms. That info is here. Meantime, people who need testing may be eligible for a drive-through event happening today and tomorrow in SODO. Registration is required. From the announcement:
QFC and Fred Meyer announced a partnership with the City of Seattle and the Seattle Mariners for free COVID-19 drive-thru testing. The first testing will be at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, May 13-14.
Testing Site Information:
● Dates: Wednesday, May 13 and Thursday, May 14
● Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
● Location: T-Mobile Park Parking Garage at 1250 1st Ave S. Seattle – south entrance (Massachusetts and Occidental)
● Registration is required. Register at krogerhealth.com/covidtesting or call 1-888-852-2567 (select option 1, then option 3).
Those eligible will next select a testing location and appointment time. Then, registrants will receive an email confirmation with pre-appointment paperwork to complete. When a person arrives for their test, they should have their photo ID ready and should leave their window rolled up for check-in, until a health-care practitioner comes to the car to administer the test.
For the testing, patients remain in their cars throughout the process, which is completed in just a few minutes using self-administered test kits. The test uses self-administered nasal swabs, which are less painful and designed to increase safety. This onsite testing is supported with laboratory services provided by eTrueNorth, a contractor of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Test results are expected within approximately 48 hours. The Seattle testing site is estimated to have capacity for 250 vehicles per day.
(Added: Seattle-King County Public Health graphic)
2:48 PM: We’re monitoring an online media briefing with Mayor Jenny Durkan, County Executive Dow Constantine, and city/county Public Health Director Dr. Jeff Duchin. They’ve just announced they are urging everyone to wear a mask (face covering) in public. Why now? It’s a “precarious” time, said Constantine. It’s a new public-health “directive.” Durkan, meantime, says advice and directives keep evolving because “there is no playbook” for “this virus.” Dr. Duchin says the fight against the virus is likely to last “many months.” He says his directive re-emphasizes the CDC’s recommendation. He also notes that it’s not a matter of protecting yourself, but protecting others. PHSKC’s Matias Valenzuela stresses that there won’t be penalties or law enforcement of this, and that they are working on mask availability for those who are having trouble getting them.
3 PM: In Q&A, Constantine is asked, why issue this directive if it won’t be enforced? He says he believes that as with other directives, people will comply. Dr. Duchin reiterated that people can be contagious without symptoms, and so – again – wearing a face covering is “an important strategy” to protect others, just in case. … Durkan and Constantine says the city and county will be distributing masks/face coverings to community groups – 45,000 and 115,000, respectively. … “Wearing a mask is a sign that together, we care about one another,” adds Dr. Duchin, while reiterating that his directive is “strongly urging,” not requiring masks. But: Businesses CAN require customers to wear face coverings, the mayor notes, if they choose to have that requirement. … What works best, in fabric face coverings? Snug, multiple layers, Dr. Duchin elaborates. … He’s also asked to elaborate on current trends. The number of cases/deaths has “stabilized,” he says, but they’d like to see fewer. “We’re continuing to see too many cases. … We haven’t suppressed transmission as much as we should.”
3:17 PM: The briefing is over. Video is expected soon via Seattle Channel (added below); we’ll add that and official links when available.
4:13 PM: Here’s the official news release. It also notes that while the directive is a request, face-coverings will be required on public transit – though compliance is “voluntary.”
The COVID-19 response interrupted plans for West Seattle mobile blood drives, and compounding that with the bridge shutdown, it’s been challenging for local would-be donors to be able to help. Now, there’s a way! Combat Arts Academy (5050 Delridge Way SW) is hosting “pop-up blood drives” starting today. CAA’s Sonia Sillan sent this word from Bloodworks Northwest:
Combat Arts Academy Gym in West Seattle will be hosting a new Pop-Up Donor Center, providing donors a convenient, local location to donate blood during statewide stay-at-home orders. The governors of both Washington and Oregon recognize the crucial role that Bloodworks donors fill in sustaining community health, so leaving home to donate blood is a crucial and safe activity exempt from both states’ stay-at-home orders. Local, state, and national leaders are unanimous – donating blood remains a critical and safe activity for community health.
Thankfully, the number of new coronavirus cases in our region has been declining recently, which means that soon, hospitals will once again be able to begin performing elective surgeries which were cancelled or delayed during the first weeks of the COVID-19 outbreak in a successful effort to stabilize the blood supply. The resumption of these surgeries will increase the demand on our blood supply – in addition to the cancer, trauma, transplant, and critical surgery patients we always support – and to meet that challenge, we need all our donors to step up. So pre-book your next donation to make sure patients get the fighting chance they deserve.
All donations at this Pop-Up Donor Center and our other Donor Centers are by appointment only to provide the safest donation environment and adhere to all social distancing guidelines. Additionally, no walk-ins, guests, or people under age 16 are permitted onsite. Your one-hour donation appointment is a safe and essential action to support local hospitals.
Various dates and times are available; you can make an appointment by going here. (Thanks to the readers who tipped us about this just before we heard from Sonia at CAA!)
Need health care? West Seattle’s Neighborcare Health clinic wants you to know what’s changed – and what hasn’t:
Due to the COVID-19 crisis and the governor’s stay-at-home orders, Neighborcare Health at High Point has seen a drop in demand for services in the last few weeks. Therefore, we have temporarily reduced medical clinic hours of operation from 10 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday.
(Phone hours for scheduling are generally Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm.) We are closely monitoring the demand and will expand hours as needed.
Even with changes in hours, patients do not need to delay health care. We continue to offer testing and evaluation for COVID-19, and provide for other routine and immediate health-care needs. Anyone who is experiencing symptoms and wants a COVID-19 test can likely get a test. People must first make a phone appointment with one of our medical providers.
Our care team members can also thoroughly address many other health issues through phone appointments, such as ongoing care for chronic conditions (e.g. diabetes, high blood pressure), care for new issues, and help with stress and anxiety. Neighborcare offers interpretation services and has put safety measures in place in the clinic if a patient needs to be seen in-person.
Our High Point dental clinic is closed, but other Neighborcare Health dental clinics are open for emergency dental services and are welcoming non-Neighborcare patients, as well.
We know a lot of our neighbors are facing unexpected challenges with lost income or insurance. Neighborcare Health provides health care no matter a person’s ability to pay, offers a sliding fee discount and can help people understand insurance options and enroll. The High Point WIC team is also available to help people with food assistance.
Call 206-461-6950 to make an appointment for concerns about COVID-19, emergency dental care, or any other health needs.
And for those who have the ability to support our mission, we are still raising funds through our Spring Give online fundraiser to continue our work in providing quality health care for all.
The Neighborcare clinic is at 6020 35th SW.
(WSB photo, last week)
Two Providence Mount St. Vincent residents/patients who tested positive for COVID-19 have died. The Mount announced that in an update sent today, eight days after announcing that 15 residents/patients and 10 caregivers there had tested positive. At the time, The Mount said a second round of testing was planned, and this update includes news on that:
Thank you to our West Seattle friends, neighbors, and family members of The Mount for continuing to express care and concern for the residents, patients, and caregivers at The Mount. We have been humbled by the outpouring of love we have received in the form of handmade masks, deliveries of flowers and goodies as well as messages of support. We hope you know how much this all means.
Thanks to Providence ExpressCare, we did a second round of COVID-19 rapid testing this week where we tested 732 residents/patients and caregivers. Due to the tremendous work of our team, we are doing an excellent job at controlling the spread of COVID-19 by caring not only for our patients and residents, but also in taking care of each other. The results of our second round of testing show a stabilization of the spread of COVID-19.
One new resident/patient tested positive and two caregivers tested positive. Additionally, several of those patients/residents who previously tested as positive, are now in the process of clearing with first step negative test results. These will be confirmed with a second test. Today there are 8 residents/patients who are positive for COVID 19. Caregivers will be cleared to return to work through caregiver health.
We are deeply saddened that two of our residents/patients who tested positive for COVID-19 have died. These two individuals were cherished members of The Mount family and our collective hearts are broken. We extend our deepest sympathies to their families and loved ones and we are keeping them in our prayers in their time of loss.
The safety and well-being of our residents, patients, their families and our caregivers remains our top priority, especially at this time. Even with signs of improvement, we will not let our guard down as we know how quickly this virus can spread. Our heightened infection control protocols, including the use of appropriate personal protection equipment (PPE), remain in place and we continue daily monitoring of all residents, patients, and caregivers for any signs of illness. COVID-19 has our full attention and we are committed to protecting everyone in our care. We will continue to share updates with the community as needed.
The Mount (4831 35th SW) is West Seattle’s largest long-term-care/assisted-living facility, with other programs on site including the Intergenerational Learning Center day care.
Two months into the COVID-19 outbreak in our region, health-care workers’ need for PPE (personal protective equipment) remains great. The Seattle Mask Brigade – a volunteer effort – asked us to remind you how you can help with what they’re doing = “collecting donated masks from around the greater Seattle area and delivering them to hospitals and nursing homes that are running out”:
Most donations are just a few masks (less than 20) that people have lying around in their emergency kit, but they all add up! So far we have coordinated deliveries of over 25,000 donated masks to hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, shelters, food banks, and more. We usually distribute masks within a day of receiving them.
Our small group has helped folks in over a dozen cities around the country launch their own mask brigades, from Los Angeles to New York to Louisville.
Our website is seattlemaskbrigade.org. There’s a form on our website where people can sign up to donate N95 masks, surgical masks, homemade cloth masks, and nitrile gloves (we will accept opened/unsealed boxes of masks). Our volunteers pick them up from donors’ porches within a day or two. We also have a form where health-care workers can request masks.
The need for masks is critical. Even with PPE arriving from the government, we are still receiving urgent requests and we need more donations to be able fulfill them. In the past week donations have been decreasing, but requests for masks have not. Recently we’ve received a lot of requests for homemade cloth masks that can be reused.
Questions? Email seattlemaskbrigade@gmail.com
Jason Grube just installed that window mural at Barre3 in South Admiral, and sent the photo with this explanation:
Hope Grows Here is a community-based project, supported by MultiCare and MultiCare Foundations, that promotes health, hope, and healing through art, kindness, caring, and service. Their featured project “Window Gardens,” uses floral art and words of gratitude to provide a moral boost and sense of connection for anyone who sees it. Everyone is encouraged to participate.
This particular installation is now up at the Barre3 studio on California, owned by Sarah Heitman. Rotator Creative in Tacoma contacted me to create it and DCG One in SODO donated paper for it. Anyone who participates can tag #HopeGrowsHere or send pictures to MultiCare.
stories@multicare.org is the address for photos.
(BHHSNWRE photo: Tay Krull and Rebecca King)
PPE goes from head to toe. Closer to the latter end are shoe-covering “booties,” recently collected and donated by Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Northwest Real Estate (WSB sponsor), which has also launched another community-service drive, as they explain:
The brokers from both West Seattle and Burien Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Northwest Real Estate offices pulled together their on-hand inventory of foot coverings commonly used at open houses and in homes for sale.
The booties were dropped off to an offsite location and one broker then delivered them to their destination. The shoe coverings were distributed at various locations within the Multicare Health System; the Ambulatory Pharmacy teams were the primary recipients of the booties. This was something that came together fast to help fill an urgent need. We learned of the need on a Wednesday and by Friday we had all the booties collected.
We are still able to collect and deliver donations, so if people would like to donate their unused foot coverings they can contact Tay Krull at TayKrull@BHHSNWRE.com.
They’re supporting WestSide Baby, too, with an awareness campaign:
We started our awareness campaign with the intent to support WestSide Baby and the incredible service they provide for children in need. It’s so important in times like these that our amazing charities that provide necessary services are still supported and not forgotten. Through awareness we are hoping to help fill the diaper needs for WestSide Baby.
WestSide Baby has a button on the front page of their website right now – “Give a Gift Today” – and we are encouraging our Realtors and our community to donate directly through their website to make the best and fastest impact. You can donate at WestSideBaby.org. We plan to continue to draw attention and make donations through the “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order.
After multiple tips about more coronavirus cases at Providence Mount St. Vincent in West Seattle – 2 1/2 weeks after the first case was reported – we asked Providence for comment today. We received this confirmation in response this evening:
On March 30, we reported a single confirmed case of COVID-19 at Providence Mount St. Vincent. Thanks to Providence ExpressCare, we recently conducted rapid-testing of our entire community of caregivers, residents, patients, and active volunteers for COVID-19.
Through previous onsite testing and the additional rapid testing, we have confirmed a total of 15 of our residents/patients and 10 of our caregivers have tested positive for COVID-19. All residents/patients who tested positive have been cohorted together in a separate area of the building with dedicated staff providing care. The caregivers who tested positive are quarantined at home. The Intergenerational Learning Center (ILC) continues to operate safely to support our caregivers and the community. None of the teachers nor caregiver parents tested positive.
The safety and well-being of our residents, patients, their families and our caregivers remains our top priority, especially during this time. We are committed to stopping the spread of this infectious disease. Our highly-trained caregivers are following all of our heightened infection control protocols, including the use of appropriate personal protection equipment (PPE), in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) guidelines, while providing our residents/patients expert and compassionate care.
Out of an abundance of caution, and to ensure accurate testing, we will conduct a second round of rapid testing next week for our entire community.
“Knowledge is power at a time like this,” said Charlene Boyd, Providence Mount St. Vincent Administrator. “A second round of testing will confirm an accurate count of cases at The Mount. It will also inform us of any additional spread of the virus by people not showing any symptoms. That information is critical and will enable our most fervent and directed response possible.”
We know how quickly this virus can spread. We continue daily monitoring of all residents, patients and caregivers for any signs of illness, especially a fever or cough. We are closed to visitors with the exception of end-of-life visits which are accommodated on a person-by-person basis, and we screen everyone that enters the building. In addition to our heightened disinfecting and cleaning procedures, we are wiping down high touch areas several times throughout the day.
We are working closely with state and local health authorities, as well as the CDC, to ensure we continue delivering safe, high quality care to all of our residents and patients. We have notified the families of all of our residents and patients, and the ILC families, about the situation and are sharing updates with the community as needed.
Providence Mount St. Vincent, also known as The Mount, is at 4831 35th SW and is home to more than 400 people who need either assistance or round-the-clock care.
Last week for the first time, both the Seattle Police and Fire xepartments published by-the-numbers updates on how COVID-19 was affecting their personnel. One week later, both have published updates. First, from SPD (we’ve added the comparisons from last week’s report):
The following information is accurate as of April 14, 2020 at 07:00 AM
Seattle Police Department (SPD) employees in either Quarantine or Isolation: 26 [down from 50 a week ago]
SPD employees who have returned to work based on Public Health guidelines: 235 [up from 194]
SPD employees who have tested positive for COVID-19: 7 [up 1]
SPD employees who have been tested at our First Responder testing site, but tested negative for COVID-19: 103* [up from 87]
* denotes an approximate number
And from SFD (we have added the comparisons from last week’s report):
The following information is updated as of 4 p.m. on April 13:
Quarantine and Isolation:
Members currently in quarantine or isolation: 6 members [down from 29 a week ago]
Total number of SFD personnel impacted since the beginning of tracking COVID-19: 88 members [unchanged]
Total number of SFD personnel who have completed their 14-day quarantine and returned to work: 82 members [up from 59]Testing:
This includes those who have received testing at the site designated for first responders and those who have shared their results from testing conducted at a private physician.
Total number of known SFD personnel who have tested positive for COVID-19: 16 members [unchangedd]
Total number of SFD personnel with a negative test results at first responder testing site: 70 members pup from 58]
Total number of SFD personnel who have tested positive for COVID-19 and have recovered: 6 members [up from 1]
No geographic or demographic breakdowns are available.
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