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COVID-19 case rates are continuing to decrease. We’re at 48.3 cases per 100,000. While this is good progress, this decline is less than recent weeks. Continue to wear a mask, social distance, and wash hands to prevent our case rate from plateauing.

There is a now recommendation from the Snohomish Health District Health Officer to begin a return to in-person school for elementary schools. The full release is here. Some highlights:

This does not mean schools should immediately go to full, in-person attendance in all elementary school settings.
Schools have been asked to wait for at least three weeks to allow observation following both the Labor Day holiday and the re-opening of schools in their current configuration. If at that time COVID-19 activity in the school and community remains stable or improving, and the schools feel prepared, then they can proceed with bringing elementary school students back incrementally for in-person learning.

After one group of students have resumed in-person learning, schools should allow for at least three weeks before bringing in the next group. This allows some time to detect any impacts to disease transmission prior to making the next move in a planned sequence. Local conditions, resources, and other factors within the school’s domain may lead a school or district to decide to move slower than this framework allows for.

In line with DOH guidance, the Health District continues to recommend against holding school-based extracurricular activities in-person until all students have had at least some access to in-person learning, and COVID-19 activity in the community is otherwise so permitting.
For more information on the updated recommendations for schools, please see this summary: Considerations to Inform Schools’ Planning for Return to In-Person Learning.

Economic Alliance Snohomish County (EASC) will be accepting applications for emergency grants up to $10,000 each, intended to cover a variety of expenses associated with the impact of COVID-19. For-profit businesses located in Snohomish County with up to 20 employees, especially those in unincorporated areas of the county, are encouraged to apply.

A pool of $580,000 is dedicated to businesses in Snohomish County. EASC will accept applications starting Sept. 21, 2020. For additional details and to apply, visit https://www.economicalliancesc.org/grant/.

They're going to assess applications as they come in, and will stop awards once they hit the level of funds available. So apply early, starting next Monday.

Do you need to be tested for COVID-19 and are unable to access the internet? Do you need language assistance? Call the Snohomish Health District Testing Information Line at 425-258-8425 for help pre-registering for a testing appointment, or if you have other testing-related questions. The line is open from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. weekdays only.

UW Medicine says it's safe to see your doctor during the pandemic. As they note: hospitals and clinics are safer places than many businesses and social settings, because they enforce rigorous safety protocols like mask usage and physical distancing. It’s important to keep medical appointments for your health and quality of life.They also advise, consider postponing other types of appointments unless they are following the same rigorous protocols.

NPR: our new habits have shaken up the cost of living. Food prices have risen, but the rest of the usual "cost of living" changes go unnoticed as we travel less and don't engage in other normal entertainment activities.

Why Firefighting Alone Won't Stop Western Mega-Fires (NPR)

Unemployment claims jumped by 25 percent in Snohomish County, up from 1,911 to 2,509 compared to the week before, according to data released Thursday by the state Employment Security Department.
Statewide, there were 20,006 initial regular unemployment claims (up 10.1 percent from the prior week). The data was collected during the week of August 30 through September 5.

Every fall, Sound Transit publishes the upcoming year’s draft service plan with the major changes being proposed for the coming year. This process includes collecting public feedback to help guide planners in making any necessary adjustments.
Sound Transit is now collecting feedback on the 2021 Service Plan until September 25. The public can comment via:
• A survey posted online at soundtransit.org/sip. The survey is also available in Spanish, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Russian, and Korean.
• Call 800-201-4900 / TTY Relay: 711 to take the survey via phone.
• Attend a virtual public hearing at 11 a.m. on September 24 and provide public comment.
• Submitting public comment at servicechanges@soundtransit.org or leave a public comment at 866-940-4387

All guidance can be found here.

Indoor Fitness and Training Facility guidelines were updated last week.

King County guidance on what to do when an employee is diagnosed with COVID-19.

Getting to Safe Toolkit for Businesses

The Seattle Times tells the story of an orphaned horse taken in by grieving mom, who is now ready to begin a racing career at Emerald Downs.

Lighthouse Park, Edgewater Beach and 92nd Street Park reopened on May 5. Bathrooms are open only at Lighthouse Park 7am-7pm. Playgrounds are now open, with warnings about cleaning schedules and advise to use at your own risk posted.

Trails and sidewalks continue to be open for your physical activity! Please respect physical distance of six feet, and put your face covering on as you pass others.

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 120 confirmed or probable COVID-19 cases identified in Mukilteo (6 new cases), and 106 individuals who are recovered (6 new recoveries).

County and city case counts are available at this link, updated each weekday at 2pm.