Official insights from Public Health – Seattle & King County staff
Reductions in person-to-person contact through a variety of social distancing measures appear to be making a difference in slowing the spread of COVID-19 in King County, but those measures need to continue to succeed in decreasing and delaying the outbreak peak, according to two new reports by the Bellevue-based Institute for Disease Modeling (IDM). Working […]
Read More
Many of us have read and seen the stories of Asian Americans being harassed and berated on the streets, in parks, and on public transit. Unfortunately, our Asian- American community is now a major target in the reawakening of anti-Chinese rhetoric, affecting the elderly and the young. In this post, we offer some resources and practical tips on how to stop racism fueled by COVID-19 fear.
Read More
Under the current Health Order, restaurants may remain open for drive-through, delivery, and pick-up. Our Food Program also has a role to play in working with food service establishments so that they comply with the health order.
Read More
Washington state reported its first case of COVID-19 on January 21st. Since then, government officials and public health experts have been asking: How many more cases are there? And where will the virus show up next? These are important questions. Understanding how common COVID-19 is and how it is spreading are critical to informing our […]
Read More
When my son was just a month old — still pocket-sized and brand new to the world — I faced the decision that so many new parents dread: who would take care of him when I went back to work? I wasn’t ready to hand him over to anyone else, and wondered if I’d ever […]
Read More
Here is a great resource list for the deaf and hard of hearing community to help you stay safe during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Read More
By Erin Murphy and Megan McJennett COVID-19 is causing stress for a lot of people and that stress can manifest very differently. So parents, this blog post is for you. Because parenting during COVID-19 is HARD. Parents already worry about their kids and COVID-19 only increases those worries. Thoughts may crowd your mind like, “what […]
Read More
The Health Officer for Public Health – Seattle & King County has issued an order intended to curtail the amount of face-to-interaction in the community that can potentially spread the virus. We explain what is now prohibited and what is still allowed (if steps to minimize the risk are taken.)
Read More
By Emma McVeigh, Alanna Beebe, and Ellen Flamiatos With the closure of schools, child care is even more important to parents and to our communities than ever. Child care plays an essential role for parents who don’t have work flexibility, including those who work in healthcare, critical infrastructure, grocery stores, pharmacies, and other services we […]
Read More
How do we get on with living when life is so altered? Our best answer is that we’ll get through this outbreak by building community and making sacrifices out of love. What does that look like? It means preserving the healthcare system for those who need it most, social distancing but not social isolation, and supporting one another.
Read More
We know that new measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community are particularly stressful for parents, and for anyone who cares for kids. As we continue to work together to protect our friends and neighbors and slow the spread, we face new challenges, including showing up for our kids in a scary, […]
Read More
As COVID-19 continues to spread in King County, Public Health is asking everyone in our community to take steps to slow the spread of the virus. These actions are meant reduce the number of people who become ill, and protect our families, friends and neighbors who are at risk for severe illness. On March 12, […]
Read MoreUnder an order issued by King County Health Officer Dr. Jeff Duchin, Public Health—Seattle & King County prohibits large gatherings of more than 250 people. In addition, this local order is prohibiting public events of less than 250 people, unless measures are taken by event organizers to minimize risk. For retail businesses — such as […]
Read More
Update 3-11-20 2:30pm: See also the official News Release “New state and local Orders” Update 3-11-20 5:10 pm: Links added for schools guidance, business guidance, and large gathering enforcement In addition to Governor Jay Inslee’s Proclamation that prohibits large gatherings of more than 250 people, Public Health—Seattle & King County is also issuing a Health […]
Read More
In light of the coronavirus outbreak in King County and our current community recommendations, Best Starts for Kids shares resources and ideas to help fight social isolation in the midst of social distancing.
Read More
Now is the time to plan for how to decrease the risk for coronavirus for those who are at higher risk for severe illness from coronavirus, including people over 60 and those who have underlying health conditions. We have recommendations and guidance.
Read More
King County has its first cases of novel coronavirus, including one death. More cases have been identified in the U.S. Although the risk is increasing, there are ways to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus and decrease your risk of getting sick.
Read More
Summary: Public Health—Seattle & King County has assisted Seattle Foundation and United Way of King County to identify areas of need for over $10 million in grants to community organizations working with vulnerable workers and families impacted by the coronavirus crisis. Because of technical difficulties with a statewide database, no updates of new cases or […]
Read More
Summary Staying home and limiting contact with others is helping slow the spread of COVID-19, and those limits must continue in order to reduce the impact of the outbreak. Public Health—Seattle & King County announced 171 new cases of COVID-19 today, bringing the official case count in King County to 2,330. In addition, nine new […]
Read More
Crossposted from the Washington State Department of Health. Grocery stores are open because they are essential businesses, but we still need to limit our time out of the house. Consider using grocery delivery services, or limit your grocery shopping to one trip a week. COVID-19 is a new virus. It has been around for three months […]
Read More
Summary: King County hospitals are seeing significant pressures as the number of COVID-19 cases increase. Public Health estimates 82 new cases of COVID-19 today, bringing the estimated case count in King County to 2159. In addition, five new deaths are reported, bringing the estimated total of deaths in King County to 141. Story: King County hospitals adapt to significant […]
Read More
Summary Public Health – Seattle & King County’s Health Officer re-emphasized the need to prevent new cases with a new health order and directive. With prevention activities ongoing at shelters, individual cases have been identified and responses are underway. King County will open isolation and quarantine beds in Issaquah on March 29th, in addition to […]
Read More