 | Here is your Mayor's update, some COVID-19 information, some other useful information! Please forward as widely as you would like.
I want to hear from you, contact me anytime. If you're reading this because it was forwarded to you, or you saw it on Facebook and would like to receive it yourself, email me here to subscribe. | Last week, I invited a small group to discuss police procedures, equity, racism and related issues. You can view that conversation on Facebook (even without an account) or on the City website (scroll down to the July 1 video link). We had an important conversation about a variety of issues. I was inspired to continue this conversation, and am thinking about how to do that. Tomorrow, from 6-8pm, the City is holding a Community Town Hall. The purpose is for community members to share their experiences in Mukilteo related to the topic of racism. This meeting will be held via Zoom, but the camera feature is optional. I want those attending to feel comfortable in sharing their stories. You can view the event on Facebook, on the City's website, and you can find the Zoom link to view and participate here. Make sure to check out these instructions on how to raise your hand via computer or phone in Zoom here, so you can participate fully. | The state website shows the guidance for businesses, and the full Safe Start report has details on what phase 2 means. ....but when is phase 3?! Things are on hold. Check out last week's snapshot for a feel of where we're at (July 2 snapshot). I think comparing to the first one when they started these is also interesting, to see how things have changed (June 19 snapshot). Last Thursday, the Governor announced a two week pause on new phases, plus our numbers don't show that we're ready to move to the next phase. Wear your mask, pack hand sanitizer- let's all do our part to get there. King County is now in Phase 2, with additional information here. Island County is in Phase 3 (but note the ferry wait times before you think about visiting). If you are a business owner wondering which category you fit, you can ask the State via this online form. Here is an easier to read summary of what's open and what's not on the state site. The phase 1 and 2 graphics are at the bottom of this email. | The Department of Health issued a report (found here) which analyzes data for the entire pandemic to date, from the earliest cases of COVID-19 in Washington state through the end of June. It includes confirmed COVID-19 cases, hospitalization and death rates by race and ethnicity for the state as a whole and by region. The report also includes percentages of cases and hospitalizations by the patient’s primary language spoken, and will be updated regularly.
Report findings include:
• Case rates over the pandemic for Hispanic people and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander people are nine times higher than those of White people. Hospitalization rates are seven times higher for Hispanics and ten times higher for Native Hawaiians or Other Pacific Islanders than those of White people. Case and hospitalization rates for Black people and American Indian or Alaska Native people are three times higher than those of White people.
• Compared to White people, death rates are over three times higher among Hispanic people and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander people, twice as high among American Indian or Alaska Native people, and over 50 percent higher among Black and Asian people.
• Analysis of these rates by region shows COVID-19 is found in significant numbers across racial and ethnic groups throughout the state and is not confined to certain areas, such as rural, urban or suburban regions.
• While limited data on primary language must be interpreted with caution, this analysis provides additional insight into community-specific impacts and related inequities. For example, high rates of hospitalizations among people whose primary language is not English or Spanish suggests these populations may be experiencing more severe disease due to increased exposures and/or barriers to quality and affordable care.
“We know the COVID-19 pandemic has intensified the health inequities historically marginalized and oppressed communities already experience,” said Dr. Kathy Lofy, state health officer at DOH. “These data are deeply concerning and underline the critical need to address the COVID-19 impacts we’re currently seeing by prioritizing outreach, testing, education and related materials for disproportionately impacted communities in ways that are culturally and linguistically appropriate and accessible.”
DOH will monitor this data for changing trends to inform the state’s COVID-19 response. | As schools, businesses, and community organizations begin providing services, consider ways that you can protect yourself and slow the spread of COVID-19 when using transportation. When you consider your options, think about what is feasible, practical, and acceptable to you and meets your needs. If you plan to use rideshares or taxis, in addition to wearing a face covering, the CDC recommends the following precautions:
• Avoid touching surfaces
• Practice social distancing
• Improve ventilation
• Practice hand hygiene
More information can be found here. | WSF Mukilteo/Clinton run remains on one boat service over the upcoming weekends. Last weekend, each side had 1-3 hour waits throughout the day, starting before 9am in some cases. Now is probably not the time to day trip to Whidbey Island-- because travel is discouraged, and because it will take more time to get there and back. Washington State's mask order in many many languages, available here. KUOW: Black owned businesses are seeing increased support right now, but they wonder if it will be enough. Crosscut: Teaching in a pandemic: we ask and expect our teachers to do so much, including, often, all the emotional support that their students need as well as education. This is a great profile of a kindergarten teacher managing through that experience. | Reuters: Reopenings stall as U.S. records nearly 50,000 cases of COVID-19 in single day. It's been awhile since I looked at the Johns Hopkins worldwide map. It's interesting to see how it looks now, thinking about back when the numbers were closer to 400,000 worldwide. We're over 10 million now around the world. At the same time, the Washington Post interviewed the researchers behind it (article here). They quote the director, “This is the first time data has been such a central part of the narrative,” said Beth Blauer, the executive director of Johns Hopkins University’s Centers for Civic Impact. “The human connection — I think we need more of that in the larger national narrative. It just feels like the compassion is getting lost.” A good point to remember. The New York Times with great graphics on how the virus spread around the country, analyzing travel patterns and more. Hindsight is 2020. The Guardian: Coronavirus "long-haulers" show us how little we know about the virus. MotherJones.com: Historically, Native Americans have been grossly undercounted in the census, and the pandemic threatens to drive the count down even further given both historical mistrust and the inability of census workers to assess rural and tribal nation dwellers door-to-door. “If you want to have a worst case scenario on doing a census count in any state in Indian country, it’s now,” says OJ Semans, co-director of the Native American voting rights organization Four Directions and a member of the Rosebud Sioux tribe. “Everything that can actually happen to give us an undercount is happening now.” This New York Times article discusses the challenges of the pandemic on queer youth (mental health impacts with losing support networks, depression, and the challenge of quarantining and relying on caregivers who may not accept them). StatNews: Learning from Taiwan, who has 1200 times fewer deaths than the US, and a strong telemedicine health infrastructure. | All reopening guidelines can be found here. Here is the Safe Start Plan for K-12 Schools, and a new guidance document for colleges and universities. Locally, Everett's Getting to Safe Guide is a great resource. It's now available in Spanish and Russian, as well. | Check out this amazing acapella rendition of the song “Stand Up” from the movie Harriet, with images from the civil rights movement and the recent Black Lives Matter protests. The Douglas family performs this song, in their group named “DGLS,” which stands for “Do Good. Love Someone.” | 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. | Current case count is 77 confirmed or probable COVID-19 cases identified in Mukilteo (two new cases), with no deaths amongst those cases, and 71 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. | | |
