SitReps

Items from Previous Situation Reports:

PDF Archive of items from January here (previous months available to the right)
See Food and Housing security items below Previous Developments

Previous Developments:

Vashon Island School District is one of the 46 districts invited to participate in an expansion of the state's Return to Learn COVID-19 testing program for schools. The Return to Learn program began with a pilot program of about a dozen districts. As reported this week in the Seattle Times, Vashon has been put on the list of possible participants, but the District has indicated that many fundamental details remain to be worked out, such as who would be tested and what type of test might be used. The District has told the Return to Learn managers that all available resources are tied up at this time getting kids back into classrooms, and it will be a month or more before Vashon schools will be able to make a decision about proceeding. The state-sponsored school testing program is part of the ongoing effort to expand in-person learning to more Washington students. Read more at https://www.doh.wa.gov/Newsroom/Articles/ID/2627/DOH-expands-school-testing-initiative-to-encourage-more-in-person-learning (2/19/21)

The Biden administration is announcing more federal funding to expand Covid-19 testing in different sectors and "better prepare for the threat of variants." The administration will invest $650 million in federal funding for Covid-19 testing for schools, $815 million for domestic manufacturing of testing supplies, and nearly $200 million toward genome sequencing. “We need to test broadly and rapidly to turn the tide of this pandemic. But we still don’t have enough testing and we don’t have enough testing in all the places it needs to be,” said Carole Johnson, White House COVID-19 testing coordinator. (2/19/21)

Special enrollment period for health insurance is now open through May 15 for people who are uninsured. Anyone who doesn’t have health insurance can buy a plan directly from an insurer or through the Washington Health Benefit Exchange. If you buy a plan through the Exchange, you may qualify for federal help paying your premium. https://www.wahealthplanfinder.org/ (2/19/21)

On Vashon, the Brown Agency is one of the Chamber of Commerce Ask the Expert providers. The agency offers free health insurance consultations and assistance for applications and coverage options through the Affordable Care Act or Washington Apple Health. Call (206) 567-4600 (2/19/21)

Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler has extended two emergency orders 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 March 21, 2021. https://www.insurance.wa.gov/news/kreidler-extends-emergency-orders-coronavirus-testing-and-surprise-billing-march-21 (2/19/21)

Employment Security Department data shows that Vashon’s unemployment has dropped about 6% over the past two weeks, from 402 to 378 active claims. If you need assistance filing claims for unemployment benefits, or have questions on eligibility with the COVID-19 relief programs, the Chamber of Commerce’s Ask the Expert is available for free consultations, and will guide you on how to proceed with filing for unemployment, PPP loans, or tax returns. Email deborah@vashonbeprepared.org, or call (206) 200-3236. (2/19/21)

Creating Strength, the island-wide resilience campaign, aims to help all of us become stronger against the stresses of the pandemic, which ripple outwards into related personal crises such as unemployment, housing and food insecurity, racial injustice, isolation, and political unrest. This week’s feature focus is on ‘Discover’. This nine-week campaign of mental health communications and videos is produced by VashonBePrepared’s Community Care Team, which is a unit of the Medical Reserve Corps, with support from the EOC’s Community Engagement Team. Mental health tips and videos are available online at: https://VashonBePrepared.org/CreatingStrength(2/19/21)

Coping with COVID: Depression and anxiety, is a Washington State Department of Health behavioral health podcast on coping with COVID-19. In the latest episode, Kira Mauseth, PhD and Doug Dicharry, MD discuss how depression and anxiety can show up during a disaster, and simple steps for managing those feelings. Visit https://medium.com/wadepthealth/coping-with-covid-depression-and-anxiety-4c958282a9e5 (2/19/21)

Washington Listens helps people manage stress and anxiety they may be experiencing because of COVID-19. If you or anyone you know is having difficulties managing stress, call the Washington Listens support line at 1-833-681-0211. Hours are from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. TTY and language access services are available by using 7-1-1 or their preferred method. Resources and self-help tips are available athttps://waportal.org/partners/home/WaListens. (2/19/21)

King County Executive Dow Constantine submitted his sixth supplemental budget relating to the COVID-19 pandemic. The $91 million budget includes $45 million in additional rental assistance and $5 million to support community organizations. The budget also includes funding for COVID-19 vaccination sites, purchase of PPE, and funding for COVID-19 testing and tracing. https://www.kingcounty.gov/elected/executive/constantine/news/release/2021/February/18-covid-supplemental-budget.aspx(2/19/21)

Gov. Jay Inslee signed legislation Friday distributing $2.2 billion in federal money for COVID-19 relief. The bill includes funds for:

$714 million for K-12 schools
$618 million for public health, including testing and contract tracing
$100 million for epidemiology and laboratory grants, and vaccines
$365 million for rental assistance and other housing-related programs
$240 million for business assistance grants
$91 million for other income-assistance programs
$50 million for a variety of childcare-related items; and
$26 million for food banks and other food related programs. (2/19/21)

New coronavirus variants could lead to a rapid rise in the numbers of Covid-19 cases, warned a report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Researchers from the CDC and Minnesota health department detailed cases of the B.1.1.7 variant, first identified in the United Kingdom. Earlier modeling data suggested this variant, which may be more transmissible, could become the predominant variant in the United States in March, and the CDC has urged people to take action to reduce spread. Dr. Anthony Fauci said in an interview with Spectrum News, “We hope we can contain this particular outbreak and all of its ramifications throughout the world in a way that doesn't have the ... cycling of various versions of the virus so that you have to address it differently each year.” There are a number of new variants that have emerged recently. Here are the top four that are most worrying:

B.1.1.7 was first seen in the UK. It appears to be transmitted the same way -- but is more contagious and easily spread, experts say.
B.1.351 was first seen in South Africa and has since been reported in more than 30 other countries, according to the World Health Organization.
P.1 is suspected of fueling a resurgence of viral spread in Brazil. It has since been reported in the US and Japan, carried by travelers from Brazil.
L452R was seen in California as well as a dozen other states. Experts are still investigating the significance of this strain. (2/19/21)

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continue to underscore that there is no credible evidence of food or food packaging associated with or as a likely source of viral transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus causing COVID-19. Read FDA statement at https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/covid-19-update-usda-fda-underscore-current-epidemiologic-and-scientific-information-indicating-no (2/19/21)

COVID-19 guidance for farmers markets, food pantries, grocery stores, restaurants, and other food establishments has been updated. This guidance is now combined into one document for all Food Workers and Establishments (PDF). The individual links on DOH’s Resources and Recommendations page for farmers markets, food pantries, grocery stores, and restaurants will soon be redirected to the Food Workers and Establishments document. The new guidance document is at https://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/1600/coronavirus/FoodWorkerEstablishment.pdf (2/19/21)

The governor’s office also released a new FAQ on Outdoor Seating Requirements and Open-Air Structuresas part of theHealthy Washington – Roadmap to Recovery plan. Visit https://www.governor.wa.gov/sites/default/files/COVID19%20Outdoor%20Open%20Air%20Seating%20Guidance.pdf (2/19/21)

Vashon Community Care (VCC) Executive Director Wendy Kleppe reported that a third round of COVID-19 tests of residents and staff were negative. “Today marks 14 days since our positive cases. The Department of Social & Health Services does require a 28 day period without any positive cases before we can move into our Safe Start Re-opening plan”, Kleppe reported. This means that their communal dining, activities, and salon services will be delayed until March 3^rd, regardless of current test results. VCC will hold a Town Hall Meeting on March 9th. Hosted by Torsten Hirche, President and CEO of Transforming Age, the event will engage industry experts on the topic of COVID-19. For more information and the Zoom link, visit https://www.transformingage.org/vashoncommunitycare/upcoming-events/ (2/19/21)

Vashon Pharmacy: If the allocated shipments arrive, virtually all of the Pharmacy drive-through vaccinations will be for approximately 1,500 second doses. Much of the next week's schedule was supposed to take place this week and some days next week are being doubled up, due to the weather delay mentioned above, as well as some issues revolving around access problems for the new state online ordering process. MRC and CERT volunteer shifts have been expanded to accommodate what promises to be the greatest number of projected vaccination injections since the drive-through site opened. The current record for injections has grown from 60 per day when the site first opened, to a one-day record last week of 240 injections. Two days next week have 280 injections scheduled, again assuming the vaccine arrives in spite of the bad weather around the country. Given the emphasis on second doses, the online appointment portal will probably not be open to schedule first doses during the coming week. (2/19/21)

Sea Mar at Sunrise Ridge: Sea Mar continues to primarily serve the second dose needs of patients who had previously been vaccinated at the clinic. Like the Pharmacy, Sea Mar has had to reschedule a number of appointments into next week because anticipated vaccine doses did not arrive due to the severe weather back east. Patients are being notified by phone if they are being rescheduled. (2/19/21)

Vashon Natural Medicine: VNM reports that it has been told it will not receive any shipments until the vaccine is available in much greater supply. (2/19/21)

It is important to note that no Social Security number or other government identification is required in order to receive a vaccination. The state Department of Health has confirmed that vaccination is available regardless of citizenship or immigration status, assuming patients are eligible in the current vaccination priority phase. DOH issued the guidance to help reduce fears that Immigrations and Customs Enforcement might use vaccine clinics to detain and deport people due to their immigration status.https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/COVID19/HealthcareProviders/VaccineInformationforHealthcareProviders/ToolkitandResources (2/19/21)

Washington State Department of Health (DOH) announced that as of Feb. 15, more than 1,201,120 doses of vaccine have been given across the state, which is nearly 83 percent of the 1,453,425 doses that have been delivered to our providers and long-term care programs. Washington is currently averaging 26,204 vaccine doses given each day, still short of its goal of 45,000 per day. As mentioned above, winter storms are causing vaccine shipment delays across the nation. DOH estimates that more than 90% of the state’s allocation for this week is arriving late due to severe weather around the country. Moderna vaccines have not shipped yet this week in Washington state. Pfizer vaccines did not ship as usual on Monday, and only a limited number of vaccine shipments were processed Tuesday and Wednesday.. https://www.doh.wa.gov/Newsroom/Articles/ID/2632/COVID-19-vaccine-distribution-update-from-the-Washington-State-Department-of-Health (2/19/21)

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said on Wednesday that “discrepancies and difficulties” in vaccine distribution from state to state are going to disappear as more vaccine supply becomes available. Every state is handling who gets the vaccine differently and Fauci said there’s a need “to respect the ability and the right of the states who know their own situation well to make their own decisions,” and avoid dictating from above, but “there should be some sort of consistency, not necessarily identical, from state to state.” “Hopefully that will smooth out as we get more vaccine doses,” he said. “The cure of all of this is when the supply-demand gap closes because right now the demand far exceeds the supply. As we get into the later months, April, May, June and July ... I think those kind of discrepancies and difficulties are going to disappear.” (2/19/21)

Is the COVID-19 vaccine safe for me? It’s normal to have questions and concerns. Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has a website with answers to common vaccine questions and concerns, based on the science behind the vaccinations. Visit https://medium.com/wadepthealth/is-the-covid-19-vaccine-safe-for-me-b7457a60f1fa (2/19/21)

Overview: Washington state continues to prioritize completing second doses for all patients who have received their first dose. However, vaccine supplies to Washington state are currently falling short of the overall demand for vaccine doses. This is resulting in statewide second-dose allocation challenges. System changes also led to delayed delivery of this week's anticipated second-dose vaccine supply to Vashon Pharmacy. Consequently, appointments for second-dose vaccinations from Vashon Pharmacy are being rescheduled to next week. Second doses (also known as vaccine boosters) that are received next week will still be administered within the CDC's recommended window after the first dose, for both Moderna and Pfizer.

Vashon Pharmacy: After two snow-day cancellations, operations resumed today at Vashon Pharmacy’s vaccination drive-through operation. The anticipated supply of second-dose vaccine was delayed (see Overview, above), resulting in second-dose appointments being postponed to the same times and days next week. Patients are being notified via automated phone messages about the rescheduling. The small supply of vaccine left over from the two snow-days will be used to administer first doses to folks whose appointments got rescheduled from last Saturday and Monday to this Wednesday. The drive-through vaccination site hours this week will remain 9am till noon, and 1pm to 4pm, as in past weeks.

Sea Mar at Sunrise Ridge and Vashon Natural Medicine do not have vaccine available for the general public this week, although Sea Mar did receive a small quantity to do the required second doses for patients who received their first injections at Sea Mar.

Washington Department of Health (DOH) will focus on second doses of COVID-19 vaccine this week, meaning appointments to get a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine will be extremely limited in Washington State the week of Feb. 14. Vaccine shipments in Washington have been delayed this week due to weather conditions. DOH will prioritize state and local mobile vaccination teams for long-term care facilities and adult family homes; mass vaccination sites in King, Pierce, Snohomish, and Spokane counties; and other sites throughout the state that address equity. Dr. Umair A. Shah, Secretary of Health said, “While the limited availability of first doses will be challenging this coming week, focusing on second doses will help pave the way for an improved and more sustainable allocation of vaccines in future weeks.” https://www.doh.wa.gov/

Researchers at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington have released their latest model, which predicts a COVID-19 death toll of 614,503 Americans by June 1 -- down slightly from the previous forecast released last week, which projected 631,000 deaths. Warmer weather and wider vaccination could help drive transmission down between now and August, according to the IHME.Progress could also be reversed if people let their guards down, said IHME. “Transmission has been contained over the winter through mask wearing, decreased mobility, and avoidance of high-risk settings such as indoor dining,” IHME said. “As daily case counts decline and vaccination increases, behaviors are likely to change towards increased risk of transmission.” https://covid19.healthdata.org/united-states-of-america (2/16/21)

Governor Inslee also authorized the Department of Commerce to distribute another $87 million for additional rental assistance and business assistance programs. That distribution will be split evenly toward those goals, about $43.5 million each, funded through the state’s Disaster Response Account. The additional $43.5 million going to business assistance grants can be used to provide for expenses for businesses impacted by the pandemic. These funds can be used for rent, mortgage and utility assistance, technical assistance, and to help prevent permanent closure of a business. Visit https://www.commerce.wa.gov/(2/16/21)

Governor Inslee’s Healthy Washington – Roadmap to Recovery has made some clarifications for child care, youth development, and day camps. The guidance includes license-exempt programs operated in a manner that complies with the child and staff cohorting and group size, and not programs where parents remain on-site for purposes other than employment, or Play and Learn groups where parents and caregivers remain on-site. The full guidance is at https://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/1600/coronavirus/DOH-OSPI-DYCF-SchoolsChildCareGuidance.pdf (2/16/21)

President Joe Biden is extending a ban on housing foreclosures to June 30 to help homeowners struggling during the coronavirus pandemic. The moratorium on foreclosures of federally guaranteed mortgages had been set to expire on March 31. The White House says more than 10 million homeowners are behind on mortgage payments and Biden's actions are to help keep people in their homes amid “a housing affordability crisis” triggered by the pandemic. (2/16/21)

Vashon Community Care (VCC) Executive Director Wendy Kleppe reported that the results of last Friday’s COVID-19 tests of residents and staff were negative. That makes three rounds of tests with no further positive COVID-19 cases. Kleppe noted that they await instructions from Public Health - Seattle & King County as to whether any further testing or other steps will be needed. (2/16/21)

Vashon Vaccine Doses Reported: Because Public Health - Seattle & King County’s data reporting tends to lag behind what has actually occurred, the correct number of vaccine doses received on Vashon may be higher than reported by the county. As of February 16th, 20.2% of Vashon’s residents over age 16 have received at least one dose. That percentage increases with age groupings, to 59.8% over 65 and 58.1% of Vashon residents over 75 having received at least one dose. COVID-19 data for King County shows that on a per-100K basis, Vashon has by far the lowest rate of positive tests, hospitalizations and deaths, and the highest rate of vaccinations. https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/covid-19/data/vaccination.aspx (2/16/21)

Vashon Community Care (VCC) has completed two rounds of building-wide testing (residents and staff). Wendy Kleppe, Executive Director, announced that all tests to date have resulted in negative results, outside of the two initial cases of the current outbreak. As requested by Public Health, they have completed additional testing of all residents and staff. Once they receive those results, VCC will meet with Public Health, which will determine next steps. The facility must be clear for 28 days since the last positive test, which was on Feb 19^th, before they can follow the Safe Opening plan. This week, in an unannounced visit, a King County Public Health and Department of Social and Health Services investigative nurse reviewed infection control practices, and found no errors or shortcomings with VCC’s infection control practices and protocols. So far, more than 92 percent of staff and residents have been vaccinated, far surpassing the national average in long-term care facilities. (2/12/21)

Vaccine Fear Health Tip: Vashon is no different than other areas when it comes to fear. Vaccine fear has arrived in several ways, and our Community Care Team (CCT) wants you to know how to get help. "The fear comes in two ways," said CCT leader Jinna Risdal. "Some people are afraid of the vaccine, often because of misinformation circulating on the Internet. Other people, a lot of people these days, fear that they will not be able to get vaccinated and put the pandemic behind them." If you have vaccine fear, or know someone who does, check out the Coping with COVID page: VashonBePrepared.org/COVID-Resources/For-Our-Mental-Health/Coping-with-COVID "It helps to remember that everyone who wants the vaccine will get one," Risdal said, "We also worry that it's easy for fear to turn into anger, and we need everyone to treat our VashonBePrepared volunteers and Vashon Pharmacy staff nicely. They are working hard in challenging conditions to serve Vashon. The Vashon Community Care Team Helpline is available to help. (206) 701-0694 and is open from 8:00am-8:00pm daily.

Epidemiologist Dr. Zach Miller of Vashon MRC advised that the COVID variants we’re hearing about, from Brazil, South Africa, and the UK, are likely already here in greater numbers than are being reported, because in the United States, sampling of virus material is not yet as widespread as in some other countries. Mutations are likely also occurring with the virus that’s active here in the US, so even if we don’t travel far, we may be exposed to new, more infectious variants. As Dr. Miller noted, “That’s a compelling reason to protect our communities with continued safety steps, such as masking up, maintaining distance, avoiding crowded indoor spaces, and washing hands frequently.”

Dr. Jim Bristow of Vashon Medical Reserve Corps remarked that we need to re-dedicate ourselves to maintaining safe behaviors. “We sympathize with folks feeling a pent-up desire to be free of all these annoying restrictions and hygiene measures, but the fact is that we still have a long way to go before it’s safe to let down our guard. Even after someone has gotten their second dose of the vaccine and waited two weeks for fullest immunity, there’s still a chance they can spread disease to friends and family, and a chance they’ll get sick with the virus despite the vaccine, because it’s only 94-95% effective, meaning as many as five or six percent of vaccinated patients are still susceptible to infection.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced new guidelines that include wearing well-fitting face masks or two masks at a time to help curb the COVID-19 pandemic. The new recommendation says wearing tight-fit masks or double-masking with cloth and surgical masks increases protection. New research by the agency shows that transmission of the virus can be reduced by up to 96.5 percent if both an infected individual and an uninfected individual wear tightly fitted surgical masks or a cloth-and-surgical-mask combination. Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky, director of the CDC, announced the findings during a White House coronavirus briefing, and coupled it to President Biden’s challenge for Americans to wear masks for the first 100 days of his presidency. Dr. Walensky said that masks were especially crucial, given the concern about new variants circulating. There is clear evidence that the more of us who wear masks and the better the mask fits, the more each of us benefit individually. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/effective-masks.html

Winter mask tip: Wet masks won't protect you. Change your mask when it becomes wet. A wet mask is harder to breathe through, is less efficient at filtering, and vents more around the edges of the mask. Keep a spare mask to replace one that becomes wet from the moisture in your breath, snow, or rain.

Vashon Pharmacy: With the help of CERT and MRC volunteers, the drive-through vaccination site is setting new records for the number of patients served. From Tuesday through Thursday of this week, over 600 vaccination doses were administered. Next week’s activity will be dedicated to administering second doses of both Moderna and Pfizer vaccines.

Sea Mar at Sunrise Ridge: For the third week in a row, Sea Mar received only a small number of doses to support providing second doses for patients who had previously been vaccinated at the clinic. A request for a large shipment of primary doses has still not been fulfilled, and the Sunrise Ridge health center does not plan to conduct a public vaccination clinic next week.

Vashon Natural Medicine: VNM continues to be on hold for shipments until the vaccine is available in much greater supply.

Washington Department of Health acknowledges that there has been confusion surrounding second COVID-19 vaccine doses. DOH is committed to ensuring there is a second dose of vaccine for everyone who receives their first dose. They have asked providers to prioritize vaccine series completion. This may mean using first doses to vaccinate people who need second doses. Providers are encouraged to schedule second dose appointments when patients receive their first dose. The second dose should be administered as close to the recommended interval as possible.

Two doses of Pfizer-BioNTech should be given 3 weeks or 21 days apart.
Two doses of Moderna should be given 1 month or 28 days apart.
If people are not able to get a second dose appointment following the recommended interval, the second dose of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines may be scheduled for administration up to 6 weeks or 42 days after the first dose. https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/COVID19/Vaccine

State-level adjustments: As mentioned above, the federal government announced this week that it will be providing states with three-week advance forecasts of how much vaccine will be shipped. The state Department of Health (DOH) reacted positively to the news, saying it would be a big help to planning vaccination operations. One major challenge around the state, and particularly on Vashon, has been the difficulty of being able to reliably offer first dose appointments more than one week at a time. The DOH at the same time warned that it would be taking steps to even out distribution statewide, that vaccination phases and tiers would be rolled out simultaneously in all counties, not a county at a time. The state also indicated that it may reallocate vaccines so counties that are having trouble meeting the phase and tier targets would be brought along to catch up. This could mean that some areas get less vaccine for a while, until the county vaccination rates have been equalized.

Vashon Island School District Healthy Start plan has announced a timeline for reopening in-person education. Dr. Slade McSheehy has said that with full consideration of WA Department of Health and L&I safety protocols, in-person learning can be accomplished in a way that limits the spread of infection, and in a way that improves student well-being and learning. VISD knows this because of new information based on experience, data, and science. Dr McSheehy said he remains fully committed to following the DOH recommendations and at the same time, is in full support of school staff getting immediate access to vaccinations and will continue advocacy efforts until each and every staff member has access. The timeline for the return to in-person learning is currently planned as:

March 1st - preK - Kindergarten
March 15th - Grades 1-3
March 29th - Grades 4-5
April 16th - Grades 6-12 (Still in planning phase)
Each of these phases are allowable when trends in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are flat or decreasing and the school can demonstrate the ability to limit transmission in the school environment. (2/12/21)

New report furthers understanding of COVID-19 transmission in schools. On February 11, DOH released the “COVID-19 Outbreaks in Washington State K-12 Schools” report. The report is yet another tool that school districts and local health jurisdictions (LHJs) can use to inform decisions about when and how to bring students, educators and staff back for in-person learning. https://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/1600/coronavirus/data-tables/420-312-K12SchoolsOutbreakReport.pdf(2/12/21)

Nonessential travelers entering Canada at the U.S.-Canada land border will need to provide proof of a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) COVID-19 test beginning Feb. 15. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that the test must be taken within 72 hours before arrival at the border. He said that while border agents can’t legally deny entry to Canadian citizens or permanent residents, those who fail to present a negative test could face fines of C$3,000 (US$2,360) or other penalties. (2/12/21)

Nonessential air travelers arriving in Canada will have to quarantine in a hotel at their own expense beginning Feb. 22, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Friday. They will require nonessential air travelers to be tested for the coronavirus upon arrival and to await their results in a government-approved hotel for up to three days. Those who test negative for the coronavirus will complete the rest of their mandatory 14-day quarantine at home. Those who test positive for the virus will be transferred to a different facility for the rest of their quarantine. The cost could exceed $1,500 per person. (2/12/21)

King County Metro encourages riders to be prepared, or to wait until the storms subside to travel. When Metro’s service area is affected by snow or ice, there could be service disruptions including reroutes, delays or individual trip cancelations, due to vehicle, staffing or other resource shortages, or due to road conditions in specific areas. Unlike regular service days when Metro staff can send Transit Alerts about some individual trip cancelations, it may not be possible to proactively send those alerts for all canceled trips during a snow event. Known canceled trips are shown in the Next Departures tool in Metro’s online trip planner at: https://tripplanner.kingcounty.gov/#/app/nextdeparturesMetro’s Text for Departures tool is another quick way to find the next departures at your bus stop. Text your transit stop ID (on the sign at your bus stop) to this number: 62550, and you will receive a message a few seconds later with up-to-date schedule information. https://kingcounty.gov/depts/transportation/metro/alerts-updates/winter.aspx (2/12/21)

Creating Strength, the island-wide campaign, aims to help all of us become stronger and more resilient against the stresses of the pandemic which ripple outwards into related personal crises such as unemployment, housing and food insecurity, racial justice, isolation, and political unrest. This week’s feature focus is on ‘Move’. This nine-week campaign of mental health communications and videos is produced by VashonBePrepared’s Community Care Team, which is a unit of the Medical Reserve Corps, with support from the EOC’s Community Engagement Team. Mental health tips and videos are available online at: https://VashonBePrepared.org/CreatingStrength(2/12/21)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has adjusted quarantine requirements for those that have been fully vaccinated. The most notable update addresses quarantine requirements for vaccinated individuals after exposure to known COVID-19 cases. The new guidance largely eliminates quarantine recommendations for fully vaccinated individuals. Individuals who meet all of the following requirements do not need to quarantine after a known exposure:

●Received all required doses of the vaccine (ie, 2 doses for a 2-dose vaccine; 1 dose for a single-dose vaccine)
●Received their final doses 2 weeks or longer before the exposure
●Are within 3 months since their second dose
●Remain asymptomatic following the exposure
The guidance indicates that the timing associated with these requirements will be updated as additional information becomes available. Presumably, this will include extending the 3-month limit as new data are reported from clinical trials regarding the duration of immunity conferred by the vaccines. Notably, the CDC continues to emphasize that vaccination is not recommended as post-exposure prophylaxis, and that eligible individuals with known exposure should wait until after the completion of their quarantine period to schedule their vaccination. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/info-by-product/clinical-considerations.html (2/12/21)

President Biden said Thursday that his administration had finalized deals for another 200 million doses of the two coronavirus vaccines authorized in the United States, giving the country enough vaccine by the end of July to cover every American adult. The federal government has purchased 100 million more doses from Pfizer and German company BioNTech, as well as 100 million more from Moderna, using options built into existing contracts with those companies. (2/12/21)

Warning, do not post your vaccine confirmation card online. “Unfortunately, your card has your full name and birthday on it, as well as information about where you got your vaccine,” the Better Business Bureau said last week. “If your social media privacy settings aren’t set high, you may be giving valuable information away for anyone to use.” Scammers can sometimes figure out most digits of your Social Security number by knowing your date and place of birth, and can open new accounts in your name, claim your tax refund for themselves, and engage in other identity theft, said Maneesha Mithal, associate director of the Federal Trade Commission’s Division of Privacy and Identity Protection. https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2021/02/social-media-no-place-covid-19-vaccination-cards (2/9/21)

Call 2-1-1 for emergency shelter. The National Weather Service has forecast a potential for cold and snowy weather this week. But, unlike in past winters, there's no emergency shelter at Vashon Methodist Church, due to the pandemic. Anyone on Vashon who's experiencing homelessness and wants to get space in a shelter will have to go to the mainland. The best resource for finding a space is to call 2-1-1, because shelter status may change, depending on the weather and the demand for space. Right now, the nearest active shelter is the Jefferson Day Center (420 4^th Ave. Seattle, WA 98104). This shelter is currently serving men, and has space for 25. No reservations are needed, but calling 2-1-1 is still the best first course of action. Transportation vouchers are available from VYFS and other agencies. Warm clothes, hand warmers, and blankets collected by community members are also available at the community grab and go dinners, hosted six evenings per week at the Methodist church. (2/9/21)

The Department of Health sent a message to all approved vaccine providers across the state which said in part, “VIP scheduling, reserving doses for inequitable or exclusive access, and similar practices will not be tolerated. If we find out a provider is giving out vaccine inequitably or is doing behaviors listed above or similar, we may reduce or stop allocations to that provider.`` The Department of Health issued a statement calling this practice “egregiously inappropriate behavior,” and that this kind of practice is inequitable, wrong, and must stop immediately. https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/health-department-to-vaccine-providers-we-may-cut-your-supply-if-you-allow-vip-scheduling/ (2/9/21)

Washington State hospitals find fake N95 masks in their inventory. The Washington State Hospital Association (WSHA) said that 300,000 counterfeit masks were purchased and distributed to some 40 member hospitals. N95 masks are considered the gold standard for mask usage, but counterfeit masks may threaten Americans' safety. Masks that do not meet US safety standards may not filter out airborne particles effectively, the CDC said. N95 masks can also be mistaken with KN95 masks, which meet standards in China yet are not certified by the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). https://www.wsha.org/articles/alert-from-3m-leads-to-discovery-of-counterfeit-n95-respirators-in-washington-state/ (2/9/21)

When buying masks online, there are a few things you can ask yourself, according to CDC guidance on spotting fake PPE. The most important thing: NIOSH approval. If you are buying online, look for these warning signs on the website:

Are there typos, bad grammar or other errors on the site?
Are there website flaws, like unfinished or blank pages, dummy text, broken links and misspelled domains?
Does the listing call the product "genuine" or "real"? Legitimate companies don't need to tell buyers their products are real -- at least not in the product name.
Have reviews been left on the product, or on the seller?
For more on counterfeit masks visit: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/usernotices/counterfeitResp.html (2/9/21)

●Employment Security Department data shows that Vashon’s unemployment remains steady at 402 active claims. If you need assistance filing claims for unemployment benefits, or have questions on eligibility with the COVID-19 relief programs, the Chamber of Commerce’s Ask the Expert is available for free consultations, and will guide you on how to proceed with filing for unemployment, PPP loans, or tax returns. Email deborah@vashonbeprepared.org, or call (206) 200-3236. (2/9/21)

Rapid vaccination and early reactive partial lockdown could minimize deaths from emerging highly contagious SARS-CoV-2 variants. A study based on a mathematical model calibrated to King County suggests that rapid vaccination (8,000 people per day) and more case-sensitive partial lockdowns are the two most influential factors that would lower COVID-19 adverse outcomes, considering a more contagious variant may become the dominant strain by summer 2021. The study by two scientists has not yet been through the peer review process for publication in a journal. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.02.02.21250985v1 (2/9/21)

Washington State Ferries (WSF) is hosting a series of upcoming virtual public meetings so staff can be available to answer questions and give an update on WSF COVID-19 response. New director Patty Rubstello will lead the webinars and report on progress made on key projects in 2020. Register for the 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10, meeting at: bit.ly/WSFWinterMeeting2. If you miss the meeting, a video will be available at http://bit.ly/WSFCommunityParticipation (2/9/21)

Vashon-Maury Chamber of Commerce will host a new Chamber Chat on SBA Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loans. Heather Russell, Branch Manager at US Bank, will review the details of submission and forgiveness of PPP loans, and field questions. The 45-minute Zoom meeting will be held Thursday February 11 at 9:00 am. Register at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIkcOqrpjMjGd2XGmxQw-HDaXKXemyxNgSK (2/9/21)

The Washington State Department of Health recently created an Isolation and Quarantine Calculator tool to take the guesswork out of knowing how long to stay quarantined. When your time in isolation or quarantine ends, don’t forget to continue protecting others. Even though you may have antibodies in your system, it’s still important to wash your hands, wear your mask, and maintain distance, to prevent spreading the virus to others. https://medium.com/wadepthealth/check-out-the-isolation-and-quarantine-calculator-189cccc584eb (2/9/21)

The Washington State Department of Health recommends that employers screen staff and visitors (excluding customers in retail) at the beginning of each shift or each visit to the business location, to reduce the spread of COVID-19. They have published a screening tool with a checklist and log for employers. Visit https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/covid-19/~/media/depts/health/communicable-diseases/documents/C19/employee-screening-tool.ashx (2/9/21)

Gov. Jay Inslee signed legislation providing relief for businesses and workers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. SB 5061 will increase minimum unemployment benefits for workers and provide significant tax relief for businesses over the next five years, to support recovery from the economic impacts of COVID shutdowns. The bill relieves employers of individual benefit charges for claims that occurred between March 22 and May 30, 2020, the period of the governor’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order, and increases the minimum unemployment benefit starting July 1. https://medium.com/wagovernor/inslee-signs-bipartisan-bill-to-support-business-and-workers-d550a3a52551 (2/9/21)

Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler issued an emergency order directing state-regulated health insurers to open a special enrollment from Feb. 15 through May 15 for people who are uninsured. “Over 600,000 people in Washington State don’t have health insurance,” said Kreidler. Anyone who doesn’t have health insurance can buy a plan directly from an insurer or through the Washington Health Benefit Exchange. If you buy a plan through the Exchange, you may qualify for federal help paying your premium. https://www.wahealthplanfinder.org/ (2/9/21)

Vashon Community Care (VCC): The Island’s residential care facility reports it has received two positive COVID test results. A staff member tested positive during VCC’s weekly random safety testing. That triggered a full testing sweep for all residents and staff, and the follow up testing produced an additional case. VCC completed its vaccination program last week, and nearly all staff and residents opted to get the vaccine. However, the COVID vaccinations are not mandatory, and the staff member who tested positive is yet to be vaccinated. (A report last week that all had been vaccinated resulted from a misunderstanding by EOC staff.) The two cases fit the state’s technical definition of an “outbreak.” Therefore, VCC has fallen back to strict quarantine and outdoor visits. Communal dining and communal activities have been cancelled until the state Department of Health provides an all-clear. After proactively reporting the cases, VCC implemented the strict Department of Health and Department of Social and Health Service protocols for outbreaks, including repeated testing of staff and residents for 14 days, and monitoring residents for COVID symptoms three times a day. (2/9/21)

Vashon surpassed 100 positive tests on Sunday and is now at a total of 103. This gives us a 7-day average of 6.7 per 100K, up from an average of 3.4 so far this year. While this compares very favorably to the county as a whole at 212 per 100K, it still reflects a short-term rise in Vashon transmission. (2/9/21)

Public Health – Seattle & King County (PHSKC) has revised the vaccine dashboard to provide some age-based data for the county, including Vashon. County data still continues to lag in reporting, so the actual number of doses received is higher than reported. As of February 4^th, 13.4% of Vashon’s residents over age 16 have received at least one dose. That percentage increases with age to 37.1% over 65 and 35.8% over 75 having received at least one dose. COVID-19 data for the county shows that on a per-100K basis, Vashon has by far the lowest rate of positive tests, hospitalizations and deaths. https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/covid-19/data/vaccination.aspx

Vashon Island School District (VISD) sent a note this week to all school student families indicating that no final decision has been reached yet on when to launch the District's plan for a return to in-person classroom teaching. The District management is working with staff, including the two District unions, to finalize its Healthy Start reopening plan. Initially, the plan would bring back Chautauqua elementary students in three phases of two weeks, starting with Kindergarten, then first through third grades, and then the rest of the elementary students. A key contribution to the District's decision making, according to Superintendent Dr. Slade McSheehy, has been meeting earlier this week with Vashon Medical Reserve Corps, the Vashon Emergency Operations Center, and the local Public Health Seattle & King County health officer. McSheehy said “I'm committed to our collaborative process and will communicate more once we've had a chance to meet and discuss what we learned and how we would like to move forward.” (2/5/21)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday that teachers do not need to get vaccinated against Covid-19 before schools can safely reopen. “There is increasing data to suggest that schools can safely reopen and that safe reopening does not suggest that teachers need to be vaccinated,” said CDC Director Rochelle Walensky. The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted to put “frontline essential workers,” which include teachers, next in line to receive a Covid-19 vaccine after first prioritizing health-care workers and long-term care facility residents. However, it may take a while for most teachers to get their shots as U.S. officials work to pick up the pace of vaccinations. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7004e3.htm (2/5/21)

Gov. Jay Inslee outlined support for a return to on-site learning in a letter to the president of the Washington Education Association (WEA), detailing his support for educators and students to return to in-person learning. The governor included data and research that he and other leaders have used to help determine when and how to safely return to the classroom. https://www.k12.wa.us/about-ospi/press-releases/novel-coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-resources (2/5/21)

This year, every taxpayer should electronically file a 2020 federal income tax return as early as possible. Even if you are not required to file, because you only have Social Security, you could get any additional stimulus payments sooner based on your tax record. Filing electronically is faster, more secure, and allows more accurate processing. Taxpayers who file electronically can also have their refunds directly deposited into their bank accounts for faster access to these funds. For free assistance with e-filing, contact deborah@vashonbeprepared.org or call/text Deborah at 206-200-3236. (2/5/21)

How Puget Sound Energy (PSE) prepares for power outages throughout the year. Join PSE for this local outreach presentation, co-sponsored by VashonBePrepared. PSE will share information on the work it does to minimize the frequency and impact of power outages due to climate related events such as windstorms, and share customer emergency preparation tools, best practices, and safety education and awareness guidelines. The presentation will be held on Tuesday February 9th at 6:30pm on Webex, log in at https://pse1.webex.com/pse1/onstage/g.php?MTID=eb9ecf39a33600a9f87c7242f0e4cc830, Event ID: 177 648 8839, Event password: PSE@Storm1. Video Address: 1776488839@pse1.webex.com You can also dial 173.243.2.68 and enter your meeting number. (2/5/21)

King County Local Services offers free help to eligible low-income RV residents to properly dispose of septic waste without leaving Vashon Island. COVID-19 restrictions highlighted a longstanding problem on Vashon Island – the island lacks a public facility that allows RV residents to properly and legally dispose of sewage from RV blackwater tanks. Local Services worked with the Interfaith Council to Prevent Homelessness to establish a partnership in which eligible RV residents can have their septic waste collected once a month. To determine whether they qualify, low-income RV residents can contact Hilary Emmer, Program Coordinator for the Interfaith Council to Prevent Homelessness, at 206-463-7277. Waste collection will be scheduled after a resident is determined to be eligible. (2/5/21)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a forecast that projects 496,000 to 534,000 coronavirus deaths in the United States by Feb. 27. Unlike some individual models, the CDC’s ensemble forecast only offers projections a few weeks into the future. The previous forecast, published Jan. 27, projected up to 514,000 coronavirus deaths by Feb. 20. At least 446,910 people have already died from Covid-19 in the United States, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/covid-data/forecasting-us.html (2/5/21)

While there is no official recommendation on double-masking, or layering two masks on top of each other, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said, “If you have a physical covering with one layer, you put another layer on, it just makes common sense that it likely would be more effective.” Studies have shown that a single-layer mask is helpful for preventing spread of infection but isn’t really effective in protecting the wearer from aerosols. Even two and three-ply fabric masks are only partially protective, somewhere in the 50% to 60% range of effectiveness. A 2020 study found surgical masks were about 50% effective at protecting the wearer and about 60% to 70% in protecting others. But if you put a surgical mask under the cloth mask, experts believe it’s more than 90% effective at removing particles. CDC is currently evaluating the science and is looking at its recommendations on double-masking based on the latest science. https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/28/health/double-masks-covid-19-wellness-trnd/index.html (2/5/21)

Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler extended his emergency COVID-19 order until March 7. Under this order, health insurers are required to continue coverage for providing telehealth, to cover all medically necessary diagnostic testing for flu and certain other viral respiratory illnesses billed during a provider visit for COVID-19 with no copay, coinsurance or deductible, and to treat drive-up testing sites for COVID-19 as provider visits with no copay, coinsurance or deductible. As a reminder, the COVID-19 vaccine is free to all recipients. https://www.insurance.wa.gov/news/emergency-order-telehealth-coverage-extended-march-7 (2/5/21)

The Washington State COVID-19 Assistance Hotline is a general information line related to COVID-19. If you need information or have a general question, call 1-800-525-0127, then press #. You can also text 211-211 for help. You can also text the word “Coronavirus” to 211-211 to receive information and updates on your phone wherever you are. You will receive links to the latest information on COVID-19, including county-level updates, and resources for families, businesses, students, and more. (2/5/21)

Creating Strength, The island-wide campaign aims to help all of us become stronger and more resilient against the stresses of the pandemic which ripple outwards into related personal crises such as unemployment, housing and food insecurity, racial justice, isolation, and political unrest. This week’s feature focus is on ‘Plan’. This nine-week campaign of mental health communications and videos is produced by VashonBePrepared’s Community Care Team, which is a unit of the Medical Reserve Corps, with support from the EOC’s Community Engagement Team. Mental health tips and videos are available online at: https://vashonbeprepared.org/creatingstrength(2/5/21)

Self-Care Practices for Parents. VYFS Family Place and The DOVE Project are offering a virtual event to care for the parents in our community. You can join DOVE Advocate and yoga teacher Nyn Grey to explore practices to calm your mind and care for your body during the stress of COVID-19. She will share some simple breathing practices and gentle stretches to help you relax. She will also share ideas about how to create small pockets of self-care in daily life. The free online workshop will be held on February 17th from 7 to 8pm. Email familyplace@vyfs.org for the Zoom link. (2/5/21)

There was an encouraging development today regarding supply of vaccines to retail pharmacies, and it may help Vashon Pharmacy have a more consistent supply. The White House announced that shipments would begin from federal stocks directly to pharmacies. That’s the beginning of a long-planned vaccine supply program, and the pharmacy signed up for it some time ago. Up until now, the pharmacy has relied only on supplies from the state, but this program, which will be on a slow ramp-up, offers another potential source of vaccine.

King County has two mass vaccination clinics that will provide vaccinations to eligible residents, although all appointment slots are currently full. Two clinics, one at the accesso ShoWare Center in Kent and the other at the General Services Administration (GSA) Complex in Auburn, expect to deliver 500 doses per day at each site. Appointments are required and can be made on the Public Health website (https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/covid-19/vaccine/distribution.aspx). Note that at these sites, the eligibility age for getting vaccinated is 75, unless the resident is unable to live independently or resides in a multigenerational household. This change is to get vaccines to those most at risk. https://publichealthinsider.com/2021/01/29/king-county-opens-covid-19-vaccination-sites-in-kent-and-auburn-to-provide-access-for-vulnerable-older-adults-and-their-caretakers/

A new federal mask requirement order, signed by Dr. Martin Cetron, director of CDC's Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, says people must wear a mask that covers the nose and mouth while on public transportation and while waiting for their ride. The mask needs to feature at least two layers of breathable fabric and be secured to the head with ties, ear loops or elastic bands. Masks need to fit snugly and should not have exhalation valves or punctures. If someone chooses to wear a gaiter, it must be made with two layers of fabric or folded to have two layers. Face shields and goggles can supplement a mask, but cannot be worn in place of a mask. Scarves and bandanas do not fulfill the new requirement. (2/2/21)

Multi-layer Masks with a snug fit protect you and those around you.More evidence keeps showing that wearing a mask protects the wearer from COVID-19 infection as well as others they are around. The basics of an effective mask are that: 1) It is made of 2-3 layers of fabric, 2) It has tightly woven fabrics like cotton and cotton blends, 3) It is breathable, and 4) It fits snugly without gaps. When a mask fits correctly, your breath should go through the mask instead of through gaps against your face. Wearing masks, limiting time with those from outside your household, avoiding crowded indoor places, and maintaining as much physical space as you can when you are around others, will prevent the spread of all known COVID-19 variants. The CDC has stated that N95 and other medical grade masks are currently needed for the healthcare workforce. The agency provides a guide to masks at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/about-face-coverings.html (2/2/21)

Masks For Vashon offers Vashon residents and workers handmade cloth masks. Masks can be picked up in person at VARSA at 9920 SW Bank Rd, across from ACE Hardware and next to Northwest Sports. VARSA’s office hours vary, but it is typically open Mon-Fri 10 am to 1 pm.. If you're unable to visit VARSA during its business hours, email to masksforvashon@gmail.com to make other arrangements. Suggested donation is $5 or more per mask, but there is no financial requirement to receive masks. (2/2/21)

Understanding Phase Finder & Vaccine Distribution. Washington recently introduced Phase Finder, an online tool that determines if you’re currently eligible to receive the vaccine. With limited vaccine supplies, high demand and a new scheduling system with an unprecedented amount of web traffic presented some new challenges to the rollout of the online tool. Phase Finder is still a great tool to get vaccine assistance and information. https://medium.com/wadepthealth/understanding-phase-finder-vaccine-distribution-581d873bdd9d (2/2/21)

The Office of the Washington State Auditor (SAO) was recently made aware of a security breach of the personal data files of those who filed for Washington unemployment benefits in 2020. The breach occurred as the State Auditor's office was investigating the massive fraud that occurred in March 2020. It is anticipated that free credit monitoring services will be offered for anyone affected. In the meantime, you can also take other actions to reduce the chances of identity theft or fraud on your accounts, including reviewing your account statements and credit reports, notifying your financial institutions of any suspicious activity, and promptly reporting any suspected incidents of identity theft to law enforcement, the state attorney general, and/or the Federal Trade Commission. Claimants should follow the guidance at https://sao.wa.gov/breach2021/ to protect your identity to the extent possible. (2/2/21)

The Vashon Library has received a supply of IRS Form 1040 booklets (Form 1040, Schedules 1 - 3, and Form 1040-SR). The Form 1040 Instructions (covering Form 1040, Schedules 1 - 3, and Form 1040-SR) have not arrived yet. These are the only forms/instructions the Library will receive from the IRS this year. Forms can be requested through the Library’s Curbside to Go. If patrons want any forms other than the Form 1040 booklet, they can request that the IRS mail them directly, or print off downloadable copies from the IRS website irs.gov. Patrons can use their weekly print allowance (10 black and white copies) and/or pay for copies outside of the free allowance ($0.15 per side of a page). An all-access library card and an appointment are needed to use library printing services. Form 1099 (multipart can be ordered from the IRS: https://www.irs.gov/businesses/online-ordering-for-information-returns-and-employer-returns (2/2/21)

IRS encourages filing taxes electronically, citing faster returns and more secure processing. Paper forms should be used as worksheets to prepare returns. Information on electronic filing options is at the IRS website: https://www.irs.gov/filing/e-file-options If you need tax preparation assistance, The Chamber of Commerce’s Ask the Expert is available for free consultations, and will guide you on how to proceed if you need help filing for unemployment, PPP loans, or tax returns. Email deborah@vashonbeprepared.org, or call (206) 200-3236. (2/2/21)

Public Health - Seattle & King County (PHSKC) dashboards of key metrics and data trends are showing post-holiday reductions in case numbers for both King county and Vashon. Health Officer Dr. Jeff Duchin attributes the reductions in new positive cases, hospitalizations, and deaths to high adherence to safety protocols: wearing masks, social distancing, and frequent hand washing. Our latest tool is the vaccinations, which are initially going to the most vulnerable segments of the population. As the vaccine rollout continues to expand availability, it is important to note that getting the vaccine is not the end of the pandemic. Until a sufficient percentage of the population is vaccinated (likely in the 80-90% range), we must continue to be vigilant in following the safety protocols for the health and safety of those around us. Hear Dr. Duchin’s comments at https://publichealthinsider.com/2021/01/29/video-dr-jeff-duchin-on-covid-19-trends-vaccine-rollout-2/ . (2/2/21)

COVID-19 vaccine is for everyone, even the Terminator. Watch Arnold Schwarzenegger get his COVID-19 jab. Yes. He says THE line from the movie! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Hf1iM6dhUU (2/2/21)

Housing Security:

St. Vincent de Paul Society on Vashon (SVdP) offers assistance to all in need, regardless of creed, race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation or citizenship. Since the start of the pandemic, they have provided nearly $50,000 of rent, utility and food assistance to 37 island households, including 56 children. All are individuals or families whose livelihood has been adversely affected by COVID-19. For rental assistance, SVdP has coordinated with Interfaith Council for Prevention of Homelessness (IFCH). In addition to rental assistance, SVdP has been helping islanders throughout the pandemic with other types of support, including for utilities as well as store vouchers for folks to purchase non-food necessities such as diapers and toothpaste. SVdP is among the social service groups this year that received support from the Vashon COVID Relief Fund. If you or a neighbor you know needs help with rent, utilities, food, or other basic needs, leave a message in English or Spanish on the St. Vincent de Paul help hotline at 206-450-7577.
The King County Library System provides a service that helps point King County residents to the financial assistance programs they need—such as business loans, unemployment claims, and rent assistance. Residents looking for guidance may visit the website to complete an online form detailing their small business and/or personal financial needs. Visit https://kcls.org/find-financial-assistance/ or call 800-462-9600 for assistance.
Home Base, the United Way Rent Relief program, offers assistance for those needing help paying rent due to the COVID-19 virus, for information in English visit: https://www.uwkc.org/renthelp/ or for Spanish: https://www.uwkc.org/renthelp-spanish/
The Washington State Department of Commerce’s Eviction Rent Assistance Program (ERAP) is distributing approximately $100 million in state Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding through its existing network of homeless services grantees and organizations serving homeless youth to operate the rental assistance program. The program has been extended until Dec. 31. The program will focus on preventing evictions by paying up to three months of past due, current and future rent to landlords for eligible participants. https://www.commerce.wa.gov/serving-communities/homelessness/
Eviction Rent Assistance Program (ERAP) for Vashon residents is administered by King County Department of Community and Human Services. They have recently created $41 million in funding for a new rent assistance and eviction prevention program. Visit https://kingcounty.gov/depts/community-human-services/COVID/eviction-prevention-rent-assistance.aspx
Gov. Jay Inslee has extended and expanded the moratorium on evictions and imposed a new freeze on increases of residential rents. The temporary statewide ban on evictions has been extended through October 15. The order includes a ban on residential and commercial rent increases during the public-health emergency. https://www.governor.wa.gov/sites/default/files/proclamations/20-19.3%20Coronavirus%20Evictions%20%28tmp%29.pdf

Food Security:

The Vashon Maury Community Food Bank has been nourishing our community for over forty years. The Food Bank’s mission is to ensure that no one on Vashon goes hungry, so the Food Bank is available for anyone who needs food. In 2019, before the pandemic, one in seven households on Vashon (about 14%) depended on the Food Bank to get by. As of last week, that number has risen to about 20% of Vashon households have shopped at the Food Bank. Due to the pandemic, in-person shopping was replaced by COVID-safe drive-up ordering or home delivery. Last week, 148 households received food delivery by Food Bank volunteers, while 111 households went to the Food Bank to place their grocery orders at Sunrise Ridge. Customers can pick up groceries at Sunrise Ridge on Wednesdays between 10am and 2pm, or between 4pm and 7pm. If they prefer, they can request home delivery on Thursdays, by calling (206) 463-6332 or emailing admin@vashonfoodbank.org.
Meals on Wheels offers relief to older adults and caregivers by delivering reliable, nutritious meals on a weekly basis. For many older adults, circumstances can make shopping or preparing food difficult and that may have been exacerbated by the pandemic. The Meals on Wheels program serves King County residents aged 60 or more, who have difficulty shopping or cooking. For those under 60, a private pay option is available at the cost of $7 per meal. On Vashon, Meals on Wheels currently delivers an average of 100 meals per week to about 20 clients. You can order 7 to 14 meals per week. Meals are delivered frozen once per week and packaged in trays that are ready to heat in a microwave or conventional oven. Many meal options are available including vegetarian, vegan, low-sodium, kosher, and halal-certified. Vashon folks who want to apply and who speak English should call the Vashon Senior Center at 406-463-5173. The local Meals on Wheels representative will call them back and fill out their application online while talking with the client on the phone. Non-English speakers should call Sound Generations at (206) 448-5767 or 1-888-308-6325 or email them at mealsonwheels@soundgenerations.org. For more information visit: https://soundgenerations.org/our-programs/food-security/meals-on-wheels/
Since March 11, the Senior Center has been delivering hot, nutritious lunches to seniors three days a week, totaling almost 4000 meals. This fall the meal delivery program will continue. Regardless of household income the program delivers lunch to anyone age 55 and older who requests it. Just as with their on-site meals pre-COVID, the Senior Center asks for a donation of $5.00 per lunch to help cover actual cost of $10.38 per meal, but no one will be turned away due to inability to pay. The delivery program has a secondary benefit of helping with seniors’ feeling of isolation that can have a negative impact on a person’s mental well-being and can lead to depression. You can sign up for lunches, via phone at (206) 463-5173, by email to lunch@vashoncenter.org, or by using a form at the website https://www.vashoncenter.org/lunch-delivery.
Food Access Partnership (FAP), a part of Vashon Island Growers’ Association, provides a channel for island farmers to help feed island residents. FAP provides two programs. The original of the two programs, Farm Bucks, provides scrips (like vouchers) that can be used for shopping at participating island farm stands. Farm Bucks require shoppers to find a farmer source, and also to affiliate with a social service agency such as VYFS or the Food Bank. A new program provides a more convenient way for folks in need of fresh local food to shop at participating farm stands. The new Farmstand Credit program launched on August 30^th. It operates on the honor system and you can opt in right at the farm stand. To use the Farmstand Credit program find the FAP Credit clipboard at one of the seven participating farm stands. Choose the foods you need, then record the foods on the Farmstand Credit sheet. FAP will pay the farmers for the foods that are recorded on the Farmstand Credit sheet. For more information or participating partners, email foodaccesspartnership@vigavashon.org or visit: https://foodaccesspartnership.vigavashon.org/
Vashon Island School District food service will offer breakfast and lunch every school day for all VISD students, even during this pandemic remote learning period. Island-wide meal delivery service begins tomorrow September 1^stand meals can also be picked up at High School for all VISD students, between 8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. on scheduled school days. Delivery locations, pricing for meals and applications for free meals can be found at https://www.vashonsd.org/Page/2516

Situation Report for February 23, 2021

Items from Previous Situation Reports:

Vashon's COVID Resource Center

Situation Reports