8/19: Wednesday Update

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No interview today, just updates!

STATE

  • The State Department of Health is still seeking widespread response to a survey that assesses the impact of the COVID-19 on Washington residents.
    • Washingtonians can take the survey in English, Somali, Spanish, Russian, Tagalog, and Vietnamese online at www.WAcoronasurvey.com or by phone by calling 1-855-530-5787.
    • The survey is voluntary and confidential, and no personally identifying information must be entered.
  • The governor today declared a second state of emergency, this one related to wildfires burning in parts of the Washington.
    • The state department of health has published a webpage that addresses health impacts of wildfire smoke overlapping with COVID-19 since both can impact respiratory and immune systems.
    • The information can be found at doh.wa.gov/smokefromfires.
    • The Department of Natural Resources also notes that when residents are asked to evacuate during a wildfire, it is because the fire is posing an imminent threat to the immediate area, and that refusing to leave jeopardizes your safety and that of firefighters.
  • Also today, the governor ordered that agricultural employers broadly test their labor force if COVID-19 outbreaks occur.
    • The full proclamation can be read by following links in the “News” section of governor.wa.gov.

REGIONAL

  • King County will be doing a cloth mask give-away tomorrow, Thursday Aug. 20th, at the Rainier Beach Community Center located at 8825 Rainier Ave S in Seattle.
  • Residents can walk or drive up and receive 2 masks per person for up to six people per household, for a maximum of 12 masks.

PIERCE COUNTY

  • The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department is asking all young adults to be especially cautious about limiting time spent with others outside the household in order to stem increases in elders contracting COVID-19, presumably from children and grandchildren who may have mild cases.
  • Tacoma Pro Bono is offering free services to help tenants resolve issues with landlords, develop payment plans, and generally assist anyone who may be threatened with eviction or needs help with other housing issues due to COVID-19.
    • The organization also is offering free mediation for Pierce County residents with family law issues, and legal support to those affected by domestic violence.
    • Interested individuals can call 253-572-5134, ext. 102 or visit TacomaProBono.org.

TACOMA

  • The Tacoma Farmers Market has started a mobile market on Thursdays and Fridays to deliver boxes of fresh fruits, vegetables, and proteins from Pierce County farms free of charge to individuals who verbally identify as low-income.
    • Thursdays through at least the end of October, the mobile market will be at the Ashford Fire Station from 1-2 p.m.
    • On Fridays, the truck first stops at the Asia Pacific Cultural Center on South Tacoma Way from noon to 2pm, then heads over to the Bay Terrace Apartments in Hilltop from 2:30-3:30.