9/21: Monday Briefing

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No interview today, but Sam’s back!

STATE

  • All agritourism activities are now allowed to operate in Modified Phase 1 counties under Phase 2 guidance.
    • This includes u-pick orchards, corn mazes, and pumpkin patches, and sites that offer activities such as hayrides, animal viewing, and bonfires.
    • Full guidance can be found at coronavirus.wa.gov in the news section.
  • The State Employment Security Department notes that Mondays and Tuesdays are their busiest days for phone calls, as most claimants file their weekly claim on those days, and it may be difficult to get through to an agent.
    • The department advises that callers can continue trying to call, or can wait until later in the week when the phones are less busy.
    • Most general unemployment questions can be answered at esd.wa.gov.
  • Seismologists from the Washington Geological Survey, and preparedness experts from the Washington Emergency Management Division, will host a free webinar on Wednesday, Sept 23 at 1pm on how to prepare for an earthquake.

PIERCE COUNTY

  • In celebration of Recovery Month, Pierce County has created an online tool to help residents search for mental health and substance abuse treatment in Pierce County
  • The Behavioral Health Treatment Locator can be found at PierceCountyWa.gov/bhp

TACOMA

  • Tacoma Community House will be distributing food boxes at 11am tomorrow, Tuesday, Sept 22nd from its parking lot at 1314 L St in Tacoma.
  • Tacoma City Council will hold its weekly meeting virutally tomorrow, September 22, at 6pm
    • It will air on TV Tacoma and will be livestreamed on TVTacoma.com and on the city’s Facebook live.
  • The City of Tacoma & the Minority Business Development Agency are hosting a virtual Equity in Contracting Workshop on Wed, Sep 23rd from 10-11am.
    • Sign up by contacting Wesley Nguyen at wnguyen@cityoftacoma.org or by calling 253-344-6675
  • On Thursday, Sept 24 at 5:30 pm, Centro Latino will host a virtual event in conjunction with the Mexican Consulate and the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department about COVID-19’s impact on the Hispanic community.
    • The event will be broadcast via Centro Latino’s Facebook Live at facebook.com/centrolatinowa.
    • Centro Latino los invita a tomar parte de un evento a través de Facebook LIVE el 25 de septiembre, a partir de last 5 y media de la tarde, donde Centro Latino con la ayuda del Consulado de México y el Tacoma – Pierce County Health Department hablaran sobre el COVID-19 y como ha impactado a la comunidad hispana, junto con los detalles importantes de saber.
    • Se encuentra en facebook.com/centrolatinowa
  • On Wednesday, Sept 23rd from 9 AM to 5 PM, MetroParks Tacoma is hosting a popup blood drive at the Point Defiance Pagoda.
  • On Thursday, Sept 24th at 6 PM the Pierce College Science Dome is offering a virtual tour of the nighttime sky, focused on nebulas in our galaxy.
    • Find more info online at pierce.ctc.edu and search for the Science Dome
  • Tacoma Public Schools is reminding students and families who need support with remote learning to go to your school website and click on “Remote Learning Help” to be connected with school librarians.
  • Tacoma Public schools also announced significant changes to the previously announced phased return plan for in-person learning:
    • September 28th is slated to be the first day that all kindergarteners, along with elementary special education students through 5th grade who learn in self-contained classes, can return Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, with Wednesdays reserved for virtual home learning.
    • Preschoolers who are part of cohorts can attend after Sept 28th on a staggered schedule.
    • Middle school and high school special education students in self-contained classes will return in staggered cohorts, with case managers contacting families directly with scheduling details.
    • All other students in first and second grade will not attend school in person starting Sept. 28, as was previously planned, but will continue on the remote learning path for now.

TESTING SITES

  • There are numerous free testing sites in our region:
  • For Pierce County locations, visit TPCHD.org/covidtest.
  • This week’s mobile testing events in Pierce County include:
    • On Tuesday, Sept 22nd, testing will take place at Albertsons at 104 Military Road in Tacoma, at West Pierce Fire & Rescue in University Place, and at DeMark Apartments located at 1707 74th St Ct East in Tacoma.
    • On Wednesday, Sept 23, testing will be held at Lakewood Village apartments at 9100 Lakewood Dr SW, the University of Puget Sound in North Tacoma, at the Tacoma Urban League in Hilltop, at the Village Square apartment at 10810 Lakeview Avenue SW, at Moose Lodge at 4220 109th St SW, and at the Oakleaf apartments at 4111 110th Street SW.
    • On Thursday, Sept 24, testing will take place at Chateau Rainier apartments in Fife, at Bethlehem Baptist Church on Portland Ave in Tacoma, at Saar’s Market Place on North Pearl St., and at the Orting Senior Apartments at 307 Harman Way in Orting.
    • Next Friday’s testing sites include: Hidden Village apartments at 13862 10th Avenue South in Tacoma, the Brookeridge Apartments in Lakewood, and the City of Bonney Lake upper lot at 18302 Veterans Memorial Dr E
  • No ID is required and tests are free and open to anyone.
  • Many testing events run all day from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm, but events this week at Pierce County Housing Authority Apartment communities run for a half-day–check TPCHD.org/covidtest for times.
  • Community Health Care, with locations in Tacoma, Spanaway, and Lakewood, is offering testing for COVID-19, even if you are not a Community Health Care patient.
    • Call (253) 722-2161 for a Tele-Health Screening Appointment, and if the screening visit indicates you need a test, a Drive Thru Test will be scheduled.