3/29: Wednesday Updates

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STATE

  • The governor has issued updated guidance for gatherings that include business meetings, professional development trainings, conferences, conventions, and similar types of events.
    • Such activities may resume as long as businesses can meet and maintain all requirements, including providing materials, schedules and needed equipment; and if the businesses conduct only activities that are allowed under their county’s phase status.
    • The full memo can be read by following links at coronavirus.wa.gov in the “News” section.
  • Washingtonians are likely to receive a postcard in the mail urging them to request mail-in ballots at least 15 days prior to this year’s general election day, which will be held on Nov. 3.
    • The Pierce County Auditor has clarified that the postcards are part of a national campaign, and do not apply to Washington State registered voters.
    • Residents can check their registration status online at votewa.gov, and registered voters will automatically receive their ballots by mail without any additional steps.

PIERCE

  • Students in the Puyallup School District will be given the option to return to partial in-person schooling starting September 29th.
    • Special education preschool and self-contained special education is starting four days a week, Tuesday to Friday, with online Mondays, starting Sept 29th.
    • Kindergarten and first grade students will return four days a week, Tuesday to Friday, with online Mondays, starting October 6th.
    • Second through sixth graders will return two days a week starting on October 13th.
    • Junior high and high school students will remain online through at least November 3rd.
    • Families that do not feel comfortable returning to the classroom are welcome to continue remote learning.

TACOMA

  • The city of Tacoma is providing free sandbag supplies to the public for personal use during heavy fall rainstorms.
    • While supplies last, community members can come to either the Tacoma Asphalt Plant or the Central Wastewater Treatment Plant to shovel and load their own sandbags between 8am and 4pm Monday thru Friday.
    • Due to COVID-19 guidelines, community members are required to practice social distancing, and bring & wear their own face masks and gloves at all times while on City property.
    • More details are available at cityoftacoma.org/inclementweather or by calling 311.
  • Rainbow Center’s Advocacy team will be distributing fresh boxed meals, non perishable food boxes, masks, and hygiene supplies Thursday, Sept 24, starting at 11am at 2215 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma.
    • Email advocacy@rainbowCNTR.org or call 253.383.2318 for more information.
  • The Museum of Glass is reopening this weekend after being shuttered by the COVID-19 pandemic.
    • New hours of operation are Friday–Sunday, 10am–5pm.
    • Masks are required and adherence to physical distancing protocols are expected in all locations including the galleries, the Hot Shop, and the museum store.
    • More info at MuseumOfGlass.org

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 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.
  • The University of Washington is unveiling its system-wide testing programing for all staff, faculty, and students tomorrow, Sept 24th.
    • Participants can voluntarily enroll in the Husky Coronavirus Testing program if they have a UW NetID and either work or attend classes at least once per month and live with 20 miles of UW Bothell, UW Seattle, or UW Tacoma.
    • In-person testing sites will be located at the UW Club building and the ground floor of the Odegaard Undergraduate Library building on the Seattle campus by appointment only
    • Testing for UW Bothell, UW Tacoma and South Lake Union will be conducted through self-test kits delivered to participants.
    • Those who work or attend classes remotely, or who have health or mobility limitations preventing them from visiting a test center, may be offered a mail-in home test kit.
    • UW Students, faculty, and staff can enroll by following links at Washington.edu/coronavirus.