Official insights from Public Health – Seattle & King County staff
Preventable COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are at extremely high levels in King County, and deaths are increasing. A new Public Health—Seattle & King County (Public Health) policy, announced on September 16, 2021, will create an additional layer of protection from COVID-19. Public Health Officer Dr. Jeff Duchin has issued a Health Order that will require […]
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Health Officer Dr. Jeff Duchin held a special press briefing on Thursday, September 2, to discuss his Local Health Officer Order requiring masks at outdoor gatherings of 500 or more people and strongly encouraging masks in other outdoor settings. Although the risk for spread of COVID-19 is much lower outdoors than indoors, the risk is […]
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Delta has put us in a more difficult position we were not wanting to be in at this point in the outbreak. New information has led to recent changes in indoor masking and testing guidance. We’ll need to continue to adapt to the changing reality and adjust our guidance and personal behaviors appropriately to help us stay as healthy as possible. Layered protection remains the best protection. We have great tools to fight COVID-19 – first among them are vaccines – but until we’re in a more stable and safer place, it makes sense to take advantage of other easy and effective measures to reduce our risk.
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During his July 23 press briefing, Health Officer Dr. Jeff Duchin discussed the recent increase in COVID-19 cases and new Public Health – Seattle & King County recommendation that all residents age 5 and older – regardless of vaccination status – wear a face covering in indoor public spaces. “The Delta variant presents a significant […]
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On July 1st, in his weekly press briefing, Health Officer Dr. Jeff Duchin provided and update on COVID-19 trends and the latest on COVID-19 vaccination efforts, as well as the health impacts of climate change following the recent heatwave.
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Dr. Jeff Duchin, Health Officer for Public Health — Seattle & King County, issued the following statement in response to the current extreme heat event in our region: The record-shattering extreme heat we’re experiencing is just the latest example of our climate crisis and how it’s impacting human health now. Extreme heat is the leading […]
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