6/5: Friday Update

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No interview today!   Just a lot of updates, including a scheduling change for the now inaccurately named “Daily Briefing.”

STATE

  • The governor has issued guidelines for sporting activities for counties in phases 2 and 3 of reopening.
    • Professional sports organizations, teams, and leagues must follow league-wide and team-specific ‘return to play’ safety plans, which must be approved by players’ unions or associations
    • Spectators are not allowed.
    • Outdoor youth and adult recreational sports are still be subject to phased reopening requirements.
  • A template for written safety plans for businesses and entities operating in Phase 3 has been posted online at governor.wa.gov under the “news” section.
    • Businesses are still required to follow the state’s industry-specific guidance.
  • Links to all memos and guidelines are available at coronavirus.wa.gov/news.
  • A collaborative musical event called “All In Washington,” organized as a statewide event to benefit COVID-19 relief, has announced that the event will be pushed to June 24.
    • Organizers postponed the event out of a need to honor ongoing marches and protests addressing systemic racism and violence
    • The concert will be live-streamed and broadcast across multiple media platforms and will feature high-profile Washington-based performers
    • More details are available at AllinWA.org.
  • The Washington Employment Security Department notes that they continue to work at verifying identities in the wake of unemployment fraud schemes targeting the state, but that many applicants are still facing long, stressful waits to receive unemployment benefits.
    • All claims are now being held in “processing” status for 2 days before being paid in order to verify payments as valid.

KING COUNTY

  • King County remains in Phase 1, with the following modifications:
    • Indoor dining at restaurants is allowed at 25% capacity, with outdoor dining at 50%.
    • In-store retail can resume at 15% capacity.
    • Barbershops, salons, nail salons, and tattoo parlors are allowed to operate at 25% capacity.
    • All businesses must follow industry-specific safety protocols as outlined by the state.

PIERCE COUNTY

  • Pierce County has been approved to move to Phase 2 of reopening.
    • Outdoor recreation like camping, biking, running, or trips to the beach are allowed, with 6-ft distancing from people outside one’s household.
    • Outdoor faith-based gatherings for up to 100 people, excluding staff, may occur. Indoor faith-based gatherings are limited to 50 people or 25% capacity, whichever is less, excluding staff.
    • Travel is allowed.
    • All manufacturing, construction, in-home and domestic services, retail, real estate, professional services, salons and barbers, pet grooming may resume, following state guidelines.
    • Restaurants and taverns may welcome patrons at less than 50% establishment capacity, with tables hosting no more than 5 people. Bar-area seating is not allowed.
  • Until a vaccine becomes available, the county Health Department advises continuing to:
    • Wear face coverings in public, especially when you cannot easily keep physical distance from others.
    • Maintain physical distance of six feet from others.
    • Wash your hands frequently.
    • Regularly sanitize surfaces that are touched frequently.
    • Stay home when you’re sick, or waiting for a COVID-19 test result.
    • Continue to spend time with family and those you live with.
    • Take care of health and medical issues like routine vaccines and keeping up with regular medication.
    • Stay home as much as possible and limit non-essential travel.
    • Telework, if possible.
    • Check in with family, friends, and coworkers by phone, social media, or video calls to make sure they are OK and to offer encouragement.
  • In phase 2, the department recommends choosing 5 friends or non-household members to see and socialize with regularly, and try to limit your close contacts to this group in order to reduce the risk of viral transmission.
    • Those with medical conditions, compromised immune systems, or advanced age may need to continue to stay home per individual health care provider recommendations.
  • The Health Department also stated its support for community members coming together at demonstrations and protests to mourn, process, and heal, and urges protestors to stay safe, wear cloth face coverings, and maintain safe physical distance whenever possible.
  • The County Health Officer also stated that an estimated 99% of people in Pierce County have not been infected with the coronavirus and have no immunity, and he urged anyone experiencing symptoms to get tested.
    • A list of testing sites in the county is available online at TPCHD.org in the COVID-19 section under “testing information.”
  • The United Way Pierce County and the Greater Tacoma Community Foundation have launched the Pierce County Connected fund, focused on delivering rapid funding to organizations to support continued services to vulnerable populations.
    • Funding requests will be accepted from Pierce County-based tribal governments, local governments, school districts, and 501c3 nonprofit organizations.
    • Guidance and applications are available at GTCF.org.

TACOMA

  • Drive-through COVID-19 tests will be available at the Tacoma Dome on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through the month of June.
    • Patients must pre-register online for an appointment time at TheLittleClinic.com or call 1-888-852-2567 and select option 3.