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Situation Report #142
December 29th, 2020 - Posted in Alerts, Uncategorized
| EMERGENCY ALERT SERVICE Vashon EOC Situation Report #142, December 29 COVID-19 Vashon Situation Report The Vashon Emergency Operations Center produces this briefing for our emergency workers and for the community. The situation report is published Tuesday and Friday and includes information on Vashon community response actions and support. Note: Incident Commander Fire Chief Charlie Krimmert has ordered a rest and safety stand-down for all activated units for the year-end winter holidays. The second stand-down begins Thursday, when most of our volunteers will take four days off, through Sunday, January 3rd. Medical Reserve Corps and Community Emergency Response Team volunteers will operate the COVID-19 testing site on December 31st. A small leadership team will be monitoring and on standby in case of emergencies. There will be no Situation Report on Friday January 1st. You can read the full text of today’s report as a PDF and access older ones at: https://vashonbeprepared.org/News/SitReps =================================================== Current Virus Statistics: Vashon Island COVID-19 Case Count as of 12/29/20:* 86 confirmed positive COVID-19 cases, 7 new cases since last Situation Report on Tuesday, December 22 Date of last positive test: December 29 7 new positives in past 7 days and 8 positives in the past 14 days 3 people have been hospitalized. Date of last hospitalization: December 28 0 Vashon deaths on King County dashboard (1 Vashon death not yet posted) King County COVID-19 Case Count as of 12/29/20:* 60,799 confirmed positive cases, 2,513 new since last Situation Report on Tuesday 1,066 deaths, 54 new since last Situation Report on Tuesday Washington State COVID-19 Case Count as of 12/28/20:* 240,846 confirmed positive cases, 12,959 new since last Situation Report Tuesday 3,369 deaths, 238 since last Situation Report on Tuesday *Note 1: The statistics above are from the Public Health – Seattle & King County dashboard as of the date listed. Numbers may not be complete, as data processing lags and the actual number of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths may not yet match the dashboard. Note 2: Federal law prohibits Public Health – Seattle & King County (PHSKC) from releasing the names of patients (HIPAA Act). For consistency of day-to-day data reporting for Vashon, the EOC uses only the Zip code data from the Public Health – Seattle & King County dashboard Health Tip: The safest way to celebrate the New Year during the pandemic is at home with the people you live with, or online with friends and family. That advice comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). For those who host a celebration, CDC suggests staying outside, limiting the number of guests, making extra masks available, and keeping background music low to help prevent shouting, which expels air and could increase spread of the disease. When attending a celebration, the agency says masks should be worn indoors and outdoors, and alcohol and drugs that can alter judgement should be avoided. “While it is possible that some people may receive COVID-19 vaccines before New Year’s Eve, continue taking steps to protect yourself and others for some time to come,” the CDC says. CDC suggests wearing a mask – even under a scarf when outside – and staying at least 6 feet apart, avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated spaces, washing hands, staying home if sick, and getting a seasonal flu shot as soon as possible. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, on Sunday expressed concern that the worst may still come in America’s battle against Covid-19, agreeing with President-elect Joe Biden’s recent assessment that the “darkest days in fighting the virus lie ahead.” Fauci continued: “…the reason I’m concerned, and my colleagues in public health are concerned also, is that we very well might see a post-seasonal, in the sense of Christmas, New Year’s, surge, and, as I have described it, as a surge upon a surge, because, if you look at the slope, the incline of cases that we have experienced as we have gone into the late fall and soon-to-be-early winter, it is really quite troubling”. Everyone, Fauci said, has to be “honest and humble, nobody really knows for sure, but I think 70 to 85% [of population vaccinated] for herd immunity for Covid-19 is a reasonable estimate, and in fact, most of my epidemiology colleagues agree with me.” Local COVID Activity: VCC Resident Tests Positive: Vashon Community Care has gone into a required lockdown after receiving test results on Christmas Eve that a resident had contracted COVID-19. Based on timing of symptoms and other factors, it appears that the patient was infected during a brief stay on the mainland for medical treatment, away from the VCC facility. Vashon MRC was able to determine that there were no exposures outside VCC. The infected patient has been isolated at another site, and VCC has implemented the procedures required by the state’s Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). DSHS along with DOH have opened an infection control investigation, as is standard practice for long term care facilities with any positive cases. All residents and staff were tested on Christmas Day and will be tested again over the next 14 days. Visitors have not been allowed in the building since March and all outdoor visits have been cancelled. However, window visits are available for families, to help them stay connected with their loved ones. The facility was already at the most stringent Phase 1 COVID-19 control level, with meals being delivered to rooms and common areas closed to resident mingling. VCC will continue to randomly test staff weekly, with daily COVID screening of all residents and staff for signs and symptoms. It is fortunate that vaccinations have already begun at VCC, although the MRC testing team believes it is likely not yet providing protection against infection. First Vaccinations on Vashon: Nearly 60 residents and staff at Vashon Community Care (VCC) received dose number one of the Pfizer vaccine on December 23rd. These are the first vaccinations to take place on the island. (As reported in the previous edition, Vashon’s Dr. John Osborn was the first island resident to get the vaccine, during his duty shift in the emergency room at a mainland hospital.) Two more vaccination clinics for VCC residents and staff are planned for January and February, which will complete their required two-injection COVID-19 vaccination regimen. Finally: Vaccine, Snacks…and Hope: It took just three hours to administer almost 60 doses of vaccine to residents and staff at Vashon Community Care. One team went door to door (left photo) as Care Director Krystal Willingham gave shots and logged them into her computer, followed closely by Activity Director Tyree Escobar with oranges, cookies and juice. VCC Executive Director Wendy Kleppe got her shot at an injection station set up for staff (right photo). She said she’s looking forward to the months ahead, when staff, residents and the broader community will be protected against COVID-19. Kleppe added: “Residents, families and staff have been on a long, long road. We finally have hope.” (Photos courtesy of VCC, Susan Riemer) New Developments since Last Report: Gov. Jay Inslee announced that the state will provide funding for almost 100,000 Washingtonians who will lose a week of federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits following President Trump’s delayed action on the federal coronavirus relief package. This emergency payment, to make up for a one-week gap in payments, will be issued by the Washington State Employment Security Department (ESD) to all PUA claimants who were in active status the week ending November 21st, and will total $550 per claimant. The new federal relief package signed into law over the weekend will extend federal PUA benefits through March 14, 2021. The PUA program provides federal unemployment benefits for those not eligible for regular Unemployment Insurance, such as independent contractors and self-employed workers. Claimants on regular unemployment (UI), +13 weeks PEUC, or Extended Benefits (EB) are not eligible for the PRP payment. Visit: https://esd.wa.gov/pandemic-relief Gov. Jay Inslee extended the eviction moratorium to March 31, 2021. The current eviction moratorium was set to expire on December 31, 2020. Additional details and a full announcement will come next week. Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler has extended two emergency orders. His order requiring health insurers to waive copays and deductibles for any consumer requiring testing for coronavirus (COVID-19) and his order protecting consumers from receiving surprise bills for lab fees related to medically necessary diagnostic testing for COVID-19 are both extended until Jan. 23, 2021. The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted on vaccine priority groups for Phases 1b and 1c, now that Phase 1a is underway for vaccinations of healthcare workers and long-term care facility residents. ACIP recommended that Phase 1b include adults aged 75 years and older as well as frontline essential workers. Frontline essential workers were defined as “first responders, teachers and other education workers including daycare workers, food and agriculture workers, correctional facility staff, postal workers, public transit workers, and people who work in manufacturing and in grocery stores” who have direct contact with the public as part of their job. ACIP recommended that Phase 1c include adults aged 65-74 as well as individuals aged 16-64 who have high-risk medical conditions. ACIP recommendations go to the CDC Director for final approval. However, state and local health authorities make the final decisions on how to roll out vaccinations in their locales. https://www.cdc.gov/faca/committees/acip.html Island support is available if you are struggling to make housing payments or obtain basic supplies. St. Vincent de Paul Vashon (SVdP), affiliated with St. John Vianney Catholic Church, is open to all, and helps during emergencies to provide help with housing, utilities, and other basic needs. They coordinate closely with Interfaith Council to Prevent Homelessness (IFCH) to help cover housing costs, and with VYFS for additional social services. One special aspect of SVdP’s support is that they distribute store vouchers, so folks can make their own choices for essentials not covered by the Food Bank, such as toothpaste and diapers; this gives recipients more agency and dignity. For more information or assistance contact the Help Hotline at 206.450.7577 or email svdp.vashon@gmail.com. Progress on Community Support Operations: Emergency Operations Center (EOC): The EOC activated in response to the pandemic emergency on March 12th, nine months and two weeks ago (293 days). Four operational priorities remain our goals: health, food security, housing security and economic recovery. COVID Relief: The EOC Team continues work with our Chamber of Commerce partner to track the status of the new federal stimulus package as well as a one-time relief payment coming from the state. (See item in New Developments section.) Volunteers: A total of 31 volunteers contributed 236 hours of work to VashonBePrepared’s pandemic emergency response last week despite a four day rest and safety stand down. That means the total volunteer time has now crested over 20,000 hours. The total includes hours contributed by the Vashon EOC Team, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), and Community Care Team (CCT). VashonBePrepared also gives thanks for the many hours of work in support of the Vashon community by the staff and volunteers at local social services agencies. EOC/Holidays: The second of two rest and safety stand-downs begins Thursday and runs through Sunday, adding up to the longest break for volunteers since the pandemic began. Plans are in place for contingency coverage during the break. Contingency arrangements are needed because of the danger of another spike on Vashon from family and friend gatherings, as happened in the weeks leading up to and then through Thanksgiving week. (See stand-down note at the top of this Situation Report.) Community Care Team/Community Engagement Team: Final production steps have been completed for the nine-week video series Creating Strength, which will go live on January 5th. Community Engagement Team/Hope 2021: Final copy and photo production was completed today for the six-page Hope 2021 insert that will go into next week’s Beachcomber. USEFUL RESOURCES Voice Of Vashon VashonBePrepared Vashon Island Fire & Rescue PSE Outage Map 888-225-5773 King County Sheriff 206-463-3618 WA State Ferry Alerts Amber Alerts King County Roads VoV Alerts App VoV Facebook Thank you Windermere Vashon for helping to make these alerts possible Vashon-Maury Island Emergency Alerts Alerts are broadcast on 1650AM, KVSH 101.9FM and the VoV free streaming app. They are published in text here, as well as VashonBePrepared.org and VoiceOfVashon.org, and the VoV Facebook page. We encourage you to develop your 1650AM listening habit because an AM radio signal may be your only source of information in a serious island emergency. Voice of Vashon thanks Windermere Vashon Real Estate for their support making 1650AM and this alert possible. Keep Alerts Coming! Become a Voice of Vashon member today to help sustain the 1650 Alert Team, KVSH 101.9FM, and VoV TV Comcast Channel 21. JOIN NOW Emergency Alerts Email List You received this message because of your interest in Voice of Vashon or VashonBePrepared.You can change your subscription anytime with the links below this email. ~ Your Emergency Alert Team Voice of VashonP.O. Box 2397Vashon, WA 98070 Unsubscribe richard@rogers-graphics.com Update Profile | About our service provider Sent by sitaware@vashonbeprepared.orgpowered by Try email marketing for free today! |
| USEFUL RESOURCES Voice Of Vashon VashonBePrepared Vashon Island Fire & Rescue PSE Outage Map 888-225-5773 King County Sheriff 206-463-3618 WA State Ferry Alerts Amber Alerts King County Roads VoV Alerts App VoV Facebook | |
| Thank you Windermere Vashon for helping to make these alerts possible |
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| Vashon-Maury Island Emergency Alerts Alerts are broadcast on 1650AM, KVSH 101.9FM and the VoV free streaming app. They are published in text here, as well as VashonBePrepared.organd VoiceOfVashon.org, and the VoV Facebook page. We encourage you to develop your 1650AM listening habit because an AM radio signal may be your only source of information in a serious island emergency. Voice of Vashon thanks Windermere Vashon Real Estate for their support making 1650AM and this alert possible. ~ Your Emergency Alert Team |