1/29: Friday Briefing + “Yoga” by B.Lyte

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STATE

  • To recap yesterday’s late-breaking update, regional phases will now be evaluated and announced every two weeks instead of weekly, based on whether each regions meets 3 out of 4 community health metrics related to coronavirus.
    • Two regions will move into phase 2 starting Monday.
    • The counties in the two regions enter phase 2 are Pierce, King, Snohomish counties, Thurston, Grays Harbor, Lewis and Pacific Counties.

VACCINE INFO

  • Washingtonians can find out if they are eligible for COVID-19 vaccines online at FindYourPhaseWA.org.
  • The state dept of health had declared that individuals who do not live or work in Washington are not eligible for vaccines at any of the state’s mass vaccination sites, and warns that those who register and show up to DOH-run mass vaccine clinics may be asked to show identification documents like a driver’s license or proof of WA residency or employment upon arrival.
    • These state-run clinics, which are in Eastern WA and Clark County so far, are available only to health care workers, high-risk first responders, long-term care residents, people 65 years or older, and people 50 years or older in multigenerational households.
  • The following health systems and clinics in our region are offering vaccine appointments for eligible individuals:
    • MultiCare, Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, Kaiser Permanente, Sea Mar, Orting Family Practice, OM Life Health Clinic, University Place Medical Clinic, and UW Medicine
  • The following pharmacies also have vaccine programs by appointment:
    • Safeway pharmacies in Bonney Lake & Lakewood
    • Kirk’s Pharmacy in Eatonville
    • Lincoln Pharmacy in Tacoma
    • Alberton’s pharmacy in Puyallup
  • The governor and health officials emphasized again yesterday that even when individuals have recovered from COVID-19 or received the vaccines, masking is still essential because science hasn’t yet provided clarity on whether vaccinations can prevent viral transmission.
  • The office of superintendent of public instruction today announced that the state will be partnering with Kaiser Permanente to create up to 20 vaccination locations along the i-5 corridor and in Spokane that will facilitate vaccination of school staff once they become eligible.
    • The plan does not allow school staff to jump ahead in the vaccination queue.
    • School staff who are Kaiser Permanente members will be able to access the service without charge, and non-members can bill their insurance companies or the federal government to get reimbursed.
    • The specific sites have not yet been announced but may include some school sites.
  • On February 1, community vaccination sites for individuals age 75 and older will open at the ShoWare Center in Kent and at the General Services Administration (GSA) Complex in Auburn.
    • Beginning tomorrow, January 30 at 8:00 am, online appointment registration opens at kingcounty.gov/vaccine.
      • Registration will open only to residents of south King County from the following groups:
        • People Age 75 and older
        • family caregivers or home care workers taking care of someone age 50 or older who cannot live independently
        • Anyone who is Unable to live independently and receiving care from a caregiver, relative, in-home caregiver or someone who works outside the home.
        • Older individuals living with AND caring for kin (examples include caring for a grandchild, niece or nephew. This does not include parents living with their child.).
        • For more information by phone, call 206-263-9600
  • Individuals who recently signed up for a vaccine clinic planned for this weekend at Chapel Hill Church in Gig Harbor may be turned away due to a scheduling software error that allowed people to keep registering for appointments beyond capacity.
    • There are fewer than 700 slots, which were all filled within minutes of the event’s announcement on social media Thursday morning.
    • The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, which is administering the pop-up vaccine clinics, is in the process of changing registration software due to this glitch, and is also working on plans to facilitate making vaccination appointments by phone.
    • Regarding this weekend’s clinic, the department sent everyone who scheduled an appointment a new email, and advises individuals to check email inboxes and spam or junk folders.
    • Those who were able to schedule an appointment after all slots were full have been alerted by email.

REGIONAL

  • The Tacoma Pierce County Health Department reported 221COVID 19 cases today and 228 cases yesterday.
    • There were 7 deaths reported today, all in people age 50 and older.
    • The county has recorded 398 deaths total from COVID-19.
    • The 2-week case rate per 100,000 people is 336.
  • Because of the approval for our region to enter Phase 2 starting Monday, Feb 1, high school fall sports practices are authorized to begin practices, but individual schools and districts may have their own procedures and timelines.
  • Seatac Airport has released new COVID-19 protocols for international travel, aligned with federal mandates and rules of other countries:
    • A negative COVID-19 test is required for all international passengers coming into the U.S. with paper copy or electronic documentation of a laboratory test result
    • 3-5 days after arrival passengers should be tested again
    • Those arriving from abroad should stay home for 7 days post-travel.
    • Travel prohibitions for non-US citizens entering from South Africa, Brazil, Britain and 27 European countries.
    • This travel restriction goes into effect tomorrow, January 30th
    • Anyone traveling from the US to the Netherlands must show a negative rapid test within four hours of departure, in addition to the already mandatory negative PCR test, which must be taken no more than 72 hours before arrival.
    • Pre-flight testing is available for those flying to Amsterdam from SEA through Discovery Health MD at the South Satellite SkyClub Lounge near Gate S10 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. or four hours before departure to the Netherlands.

TACOMA

  • the City of Tacoma has issued two requests for proposal for programs serving youth and young adults.
    • The City is looking for community organizations to provide shelter operations for young adults (ages 18-24) and a daytime drop-in services for youth and young adults (ages 12-24), as well as culturally responsive programs to work with youth and young adults (ages 12-30) on violence prevention.
      • The city will hold several webinars on the requests for proposal, and will accept proposals for the shelter now through March 2 and for the violence reduction program now through March 9, 2021
      • Info available online at https://cityoftacoma.org/ncs.

TESTING SITES

  • There are numerous free COVID-19 testing sites in our region, including at Multicare, Franciscan, and Kaiser facilities; at Community Healthcare and SeaMar Community Health Centers; at Cheney Stadium, at the Lakewood State Emissions Testing Center, and more.
    • You can go to coronavirus.wa.gov and follow links for “Find Covid Testing Near Me” for specific locations.
    • In addition to permanent regular testing locations, The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Dept’s mobile testing events this weekend and next week are as follows:
      • Sat Jan 30: Tacoma Community College
      • Sunday Jan 31: Sprinker Rec Center, The Fraternal Order of Eagles building in Orting
      • Monday, Feb 1: Eatonville High School
      • Thursday, Feb 4: Pacific Lutheran University
      • Friday, Feb 5: Eatonville High School, Asia Pacific Cultural Center in Tacoma
    • No ID is required, tests are free and open to anyone, and most testing runs 10am-3pm, except the Lakewood station goes till 5:30), but check TPCHD.org for specifics
    • Results are available in 3-7 days