6/24: Victoria Gingrey, The Humane Society

By rebecca No comments

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Victoria Gingrey takes us on a walk through the world of dogs, cats, and critters at the Humane Society of Tacoma and Pierce County, including how to participate in Saturday’s Dog-A-Thon 5k.

STATE

  • Starting this Friday, June 26th, face coverings will be mandatory statewide for most individuals while in public.
    • Masks must be worn in any indoor public space or business
    • Masks must be worn in outdoor spaces when physical distancing can’t be maintained.
    • People who are communicating with Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing individuals, individuals with certain health problems,and children aged 5 and under are not required to wear masks.
    • Children aged 2-5 are encouraged to use masks under adult supervision.
    • Individuals also don’t need to wear masks when seated and dining at a restaurant.
  • The Federal Justice Department notes that while certain flyers featuring the Department’s official seal and ADA info have been circulating on the internet regarding face mask requirements, they were neither issued nor endorsed by the Department.
    • The Justice Department urges the public to rely only on ADA info found at ADA.gov or obtained by calling 800-514-0301 for voice and 800-514-0383 for TTY services.
  • The State Employment Security Department is restricting inbound calls to the unemployment claims center starting today, June 24, through July 2nd, to allow claims agents to focus on outbound calling to resolve complex issues for those who have been waiting the longest for benefits.
    • Customers will still be able to submit weekly claims online, use the automated telephone system to submit weekly claims at 800-318-6022, and call the questions hotline at 833-572-8400 for answers to general unemployment questions that are not available on the ESD website.
    • Claims center staff could be making outbound calls over the Independence Day holiday weekend to resolve pending claims, even though state agencies are closed on July 3rd and 4th.
  • The governor today announced plans for the reopening of university, college, and technical school campuses starting August 1st.
    • Students and staff will need to “self-certify” that they haven’t had any COVID-19 symptoms since their last time on campus
    • Anyone who does have symptoms will need to stay home or be isolated if they live on campus.
    • Visitors will be limited or prohibited.
    • All public health laws must be followed by employees
    • High-touch areas will need to be routinely sanitized
    • Food services will need to maintain social distancing, limit capacity, and require students and other customers to wear face coverings, except when they’re eating
    • The requirements apply regardless of the phase a county is in, and any campuses in Phase 1 counties may have stricter requirements per local health officials.
    • The full guidance can be read online by following links to the “news” section at coronavirus.wa.gov.
  • A total of three counties are in Phase 1, two counties are in a modified version of Phase 1, 17 counties are in Phase 2 and 17 counties are in Phase 3.
    • Benton, Franklin, and Yakima Counties all remain in Phase 1.
    • Douglas and Chelan Counties are in Modified Phase 1.
    • King and Pierce Counties remain in Phase 2.
    • Thurston County has been approved to move to Phase 3.

PIERCE

  • The Washington State Fair in Puyallup announced that it will host a drive-in summer concert series from July 16th-19th on the fairgrounds site at the green parking lot.
    • Tickets are per vehicle, with a max of 8 individuals allowed in each vehicle.
    • The concert series will comply with guidelines for drive-in events like movies screenings, ensuring 10 feet between each vehicle, social distancing markers around restrooms and food vendors, and cleaning protocols for fair employees.

TACOMA

  • The City of Tacoma reminds residents thatpersonal fireworks use is prohibited in Tacoma, and violations could result in a $257 fine
    • The City instead urges residents to celebrate with the holiday through a variety of safe outdoor activities that allow for physical distancing such as barbecues, outdoor movies, and tailgate parties.
    • Questions can be directed to the city’s Fire Prevention Division at (253) 591-5740.
    • The T-Town Family 4th, formerly known as the Tacoma Freedom Fair, and Freedom Fest at JBLM have been postponed due to the pandemic.
  • There will be drive-in fireworks celebration called “Red, White, and KABOOM” in the Blue Lot at the Washington State Fair in Puyallup on July 4, from 5 to 10:30 p.m.

TESTING SITES

  • There are numerous free testing sites in our region:
    • For Seattle locations, visit Seattle.gov or call 206-477-3977.
    • For King County locations, including Auburn City Adventist Church, Sea Mar in Federal Way, and the Kent Public Health Center,call (206) 744-0400, (253) 681-6600, or visit KingCounty.gov.
  • In Pierce County, free tests are conducted at:
    • Nearly all Kaiser networked locations, Franscican Prompt Care centers, Multicare locations, and the Hilltop, Eastside, Spanaway, and Lakewood Community Health Care centers.
    • SeaMar Community Health Center in Hilltop
    • The Pearl Street Walgreens (for adults only).
    • The Sprinker Rec Center in Spanaway will be hosting a drive-through COVID-19 testing site from June 27th through 29th. Call (253) 798-4000 for more information.
  • All Pierce County testing locations, along with their phone numbers and addresses, can be found on the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department’s website at TPCHD.org.
  • Patients can also call their health providers.
  • In general, patients should arrive at testing sites wearing face coverings and expect the process to take about 15 minutes.
  • Some of the testing sites offer rapid test results, while others have a 48-hr turnaround time.
  • All tests just listed are for active infection, not antibody serology tests.