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Here is your Mayor's update, some COVID-19 information, some other useful information! Please forward as widely as you would like.
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Today, We Are In Phase 2

If we are to avoid returning to a more restrictive phase, it’s up to each one of us to increase our level of compliance with mask-wearing, physical distancing and hand-washing. It is also important to limit trips outside the home whenever possible.

"Just as we need to wear seatbelts every time we’re in the car, even though we don’t expect to crash, we need to wear masks in public, even if we don’t believe we or the people we encounter have the coronavirus." (New York Times).

Changes to Phase 2 (and 3)

Yesterday, Governor Jay Inslee announced modifications to Phases 2 and 3 of the Safe Start plan, an expansion of the face covering order to include any shared spaces, and an extension of the statewide eviction moratorium until October 15.

Modifications to Safe Start Plan

Starting July 30, for restaurants, bars, taverns, breweries, wineries, and distilleries:
• Alcohol (beer, wine, spirits) service must end at 10:00 p.m. until Phase 4.
• Close down vending game areas (pool tables, darts, video games, etc.) until Phase 4.
• In Phase 3, table size reduced to 5 and occupancy reduced to 50% within restaurants.
• Bars are closed for indoor service. More information to come.
Indoor dining is limited to members of the same household until Phase 4 (I bolded this because it seems like the biggest change. We have already heard from one restaurant looking to expand their outdoor seating ASAP. The City is working with them).

Fitness guidance includes the following changes, effective July 30:
• In Phase 2, only 5 individuals (not counting staff) are allowed for indoor fitness services. These individuals can participate in group fitness classes or exercise on their own.
• Reduce Phase 3 occupancy to 25% capacity. All group fitness classes are limited to no more than 10 (not counting the instructor).

Guidance for weddings and funerals. This guidance will be in effect beginning August 6 to provide some time to for those with events to prepare accordingly:
• During all phases, the maximum indoor occupancy is 20% capacity or up to 30 people, whichever is less, so long as six feet of physical distancing can be achieved between households.
• Only ceremonies are permitted. Receptions are prohibited in all phases (that's my understanding, it might change in Phase 4, but I personally wouldn't recommend planning for that to change). They must follow all other parts of the faith based guidance

Other Changes to the Safe Start Plan:

• No indoor family entertainment/recreational centers (mini golf, bowling alleys, arcades, etc.) until Phase 4. (I think this would include Traxx Indoor Raceway, but I'm not sure)
• No indoor card rooms until Phase 4.
• Indoor movie theaters limited to 25% occupancy as a Phase 3 activity.

Expansion of the Face Covering Order

Starting tomorrow, on Saturday, the state Department of Health face covering order now includes any common areas or shared spaces. This includes condominium hallways, hotel hallways, adult family homes, assisted living situations, and other similar spaces.

Extension of the Statewide Eviction Moratorium

The Governor also announced an extension of the statewide eviction moratorium until October 15.

More details are here.

Data

Washington Post has some great data visualization of case counts, hospitalization, deaths, etc, throughout the country. It's a good go to source to understand where things are at. Link here.

Our County snapshot for the week should be posted here sometime today.

Cases in our state are doubling every two weeks right now, and social gatherings are a bit part of the problem. If you have ideas on reaching people in their 20's, let me know! (I know, I know, I should be on TikTok.... maybe one of these days I'll figure that out- there are some good videos there already! Language warning, FYI.)

Resources

Project PRIDE (Providing Relief for Individuals Dependent on Energy) was established in 1982 and has paid out over $3 million to help local people in need. The program is primarily funded by contributions from Snohomish County Public Utility District (PUD) customers. The tax-deductible donations are used to provide one-time grants for families and individuals who need help paying their energy bills. All donations are sent to St. Vincent de Paul for distribution to eligible recipients. Families or individuals whose income is less than 150% of the federal poverty guidelines. Recipients must have a notice of disconnection of service. Please call St. Vincent de Paul at 425-374-1243 to see if you qualify.

In the News

crosscut

According to this article in Crosscut, a recent Crosscut/Elway poll found that a majority of Washington voters believe the state is reopening too quickly and many support a pause in reopening, or even reimposing earlier restrictions. However, the responses varied widely depending on party preference.

NPR: Tens of millions of Americans who lost their jobs because of the pandemic are now in danger of having their incomes slashed for a second time. The supplemental unemployment benefits of $600 per week that Congress approved four months ago are set to expire at the end of this week in most states — threatening to hurt strapped households and the U.S. economy, as billions of dollars' worth in spending suddenly comes to a halt.

NPR: Coronavirus infections in the United States are far higher than what has been confirmed, although the number of Americans who have been exposed is far below what is required for widespread immunity, according to data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Covid-19 vaccine developed by Oxford University has shown tantalising results so far. BBC has an interview with a participant who describes what it’s like to be one of the volunteers in the clinical trials.

NPR: Over a third of museums in the US may close permanently by the end of the year.

Crosscut: Federal agents were in Seattle (just like Portland) over the 4th of July weekend, though the Mayor and Governor were unaware.

Routine Medical Care is Important

Make sure to get your routine cancer screenings taken care of. Don’t let the pandemic interrupt your routine health care. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, warns that over the next decade, we may see 10,000 or more in excess deaths from breast and colorectal cancer due to reductions in routine cancer screenings.

Dr. Fauci noted two recent studies that found that routine breast and prostate cancer screening rates have gone down due to Covid-19-related disruptions of care. Another study associated unemployment — rates of which skyrocketed between February and May — with drops in breast and colorectal screening compared to employed people, as the authors noted that unemployed adults often lack health insurance. Read more here.

Can Hugging Be Okay?

hugging

these techniques can be safe

From this New York Times article on how to hug or express affection during this time:
"There’s tremendous variability in how much virus a person sheds, so the safest thing is to avoid hugs. But if you need a hug, take precautions. Wear a mask. Hug outdoors. Try to avoid touching the other person’s body or clothes with your face and your mask. Don’t hug someone who is coughing or has other symptoms.

And remember that some hugs are riskier than others. Point your faces in opposite directions — the position of your face matters most. Don’t talk or cough while you’re hugging. And do it quickly. Approach each other and briefly embrace. When you are done, don’t linger. Back away quickly so you don’t breathe into each other’s faces. Wash your hands afterward."

Inspiration and Diversions

kraken

Seattle's NHL team has a name, the Seattle Kraken.

As we think about school reopening, 1919 yearbooks that reflected the Spanish Flu impacts are an interesting look back! Here is a Bay-area KTVU article and a Canon City, CA museum article

1919yearbook

State Guidance

All reopening guidelines can be found here.

Locally, Everett's Getting to Safe Guide is a great resource.

City Information

Lighthouse Park, Edgewater Beach and 92nd Street Park reopened on May 5. Bathrooms are open only at Lighthouse Park 7am-7pm. Playgrounds remain closed until either Phase 3 or when we have full staffing and ability to clean daily.

Trails and sidewalks continue to be open for your physical activity! Please respect physical distance of six feet.

All City Facilities closure: City operations will continue via primarily phone, email and online. The public is encouraged to call (425) 263-8000 for assistance with City services or visit our website at www.mukilteowa.gov. Government services are not slated to reopen until Phase 3 of the new reopening plan, which is mid-June at the earliest.

For more information on city facilities, see this link.

Case Count

Current case count is 86 confirmed or probable COVID-19 cases identified in Mukilteo (2 new cases), and 72 individuals who are recovered.

County case counts are available at this link, updated each weekday at 2pm City counts will be updated weekly starting today.

General Resource Links

City of Mukilteo COVID-19 page

Snohomish Health District
Washington State Department of Health
Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
COVID-19 Testing Guidelines from Public Health – Seattle & King County
Find information in other languages
Washington State COVID-19 Response

What to do if you are sick: CDC Resources

Watch out for COVID related scams. If you are unsure about whether something is real or a scam, the Justice Department created a central fraud hotline (1-866-720-5721 or disaster@leo.gov). You can also call the non-emergency line at 425-407-3999.

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