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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Free Masks

There is a supply of free face coverings on the tables outside near the front doors of the Mukilteo Library, for anyone to pick up during their Contact Free Pickup Hours:
Monday-Tuesday; Friday-Saturday:10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Wednesday-Thursday: 11:00 am - 7:00 pm
Sunday: 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Drive-thru testing, information for employers and employees

The Snohomish Health District will continue drive-thru testing at the 3900 Broadway site in Everett next week, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday thru Friday.
In addition to the Everett site, the Health District will also be offering testing at the Lynnwood Food Bank on Tuesday, October 6. Appointments will be available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 5320 176th St SW.
For a step-by-step look at the Health District’s drive-thru testing, check out a new video release this week: https://youtu.be/5tmSEPt5Nis
Testing remains strongly encouraged for individuals that fit the following criteria:
• Anyone with any of the following COVID-19 symptoms (fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headaches, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea); or
• Close contact of a confirmed case; or
• Anyone who lives or works in a congregate setting; or
• Work in healthcare, EMS, law enforcement or other fields where work settings have a higher risk of catching or spreading COVID-19; or
• Part of a family or social network that has had a case.

Registration is now open here. Insurance information is collected and the lab will bill insurance. There are no co-pays for COVID-19 testing through the Health District. If you do not have insurance, the test will be provided at no charge.
A new phone line has been established for test registration help, particularly those without internet access or needing language interpreter services. That number is 425.258.8425, with calls returned from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday thru Friday. This number is not for checking on test results.

Nonprofit Relief Fund

The Washington State Department of Commerce is partnering with School’s Out Washington to implement the Washington Youth Development Nonprofit Relief Fund. This one-time investment will provide $9.3 million to youth development programs/organizations that have been most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and which support young people who are furthest from educational justice. The deadline to apply is tonight at midnight. The application (in various languages) may be found here.

CARES Act emergency funding for Everett CC students

Are you an Everett Community College (EvCC) student with expenses related to the disruption of EvCC operations due to the COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) pandemic? You may qualify for a federal CARES Act grant, which provides emergency funding for college students. Learn more here.

K–12 Internet Access Program allows more students to learn from home

This week, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) finalized contracts with three internet service providers — Ziply, Presidio, and Comcast — to provide the service to up to 60,000 students and their families through the end of the 2020–21 school year at no cost to the family. The program is reserved for students who are low-income and did not have internet access before August 2020. To participate in the program, potentially eligible families should receive information, including a promo/offer code from a provider, from their local school district. Families may also contact their district to request information. Learn more here.

Art Grants

The Washington State Department of Commerce and the Washington Arts Commission have partnered to provide federal CARES Act funding to art and cultural organizations impacted by COVID-19. Grants are available up to $10,000 each, no funding match is required. Applications will be accepted between September 28th and October 23rd and the funds must be expended by December 31, 2020. Application guidelines are available here (pdf).

We have reopened the application window for City of Mukilteo small business and nonprofit grants. You can find information on this page: https://mukilteowa.gov/mukilteo-cares-for-businesses-program/

If you applied before, you do not need to apply again. But- you can fill out a new application if your circumstances have changed or if you just want to make your case differently in some way.

Initial unemployment filings in Snohomish County down five percent

During the week of September 20 through September 26, there were 17,734 initial regular unemployment claims (down 9.4 percent from the prior week) and 530,360 total claims for all unemployment benefit categories (down 1.8 percent from the prior week) filed by Washingtonians, according to the Employment Security Department (ESD). Snohomish County’s initial regular claims filed decreased from 1,986 to 1,881 down 5 percent from the week before.

Burn ban is lifted

Due to recent rains and cooler weather, the burn ban in the County has been lifted. Recreational fires are allowed in approved fire pits again (including at Lighthouse Park!).

Ski Season News

Seattle-area ski resorts will reopen this fall with COVID-19 precautions. Here’s what to expect. The Seattle Times

COVID-19 Updates for Employees and Employers

Workplaces are doing things differently during the coronavirus pandemic to prevent the spread of illness. It can be confusing and frustrating at times for workers as well as supervisors and business owners.
There have been cases of COVID-19 in workplaces in Snohomish County, and there will be more as businesses reopen or expand operations. The Health District’s business and employer response team have worked with more than 80 employers on COVID-19 outbreaks, plus dozens more on single cases and implementation of workplace precautions. More people going back to work means more in-person contact, which is how this disease spreads.
Creating safe and healthy workplaces is crucial if we want to increase and sustain economic activity during the pandemic. However, even with best efforts, cases can happen. This disease is good at getting around.
The Health District published a new blog with important information and resources for both businesses and employees. T

New Information and Updates from the State

A few state agencies released additional information and updates this week:
• Employer Health & Safety Requirements for School Scenarios
• COVID-19 vaccine update from DOH
• DOH prepares to deploy new rapid COVID-19 tests
• Flu vaccine should be considered “essential” this year

Tips for the Fall and Winter Weather

As the season changes, cooler temperatures mean more time indoors. Everyone's risk from COVID-19 increases indoors, but there are ways to reduce the spread and stay healthy indoors. King County Health Officer Dr. Jeff Duchin about COVID-19 risks indoors and what to do about it. Read more here.

Local COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Planning

The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) continues to make progress with COVID-19 vaccine distribution planning efforts. The State has received $5 million in federal funding for COVID-19 vaccine response preparation. This funding will support DOH partnerships with local health jurisdictions, tribal entities, health partners and community organizations. It will support vendor contracts, and staffing as we all prepare for vaccines to arrive sometime in the next several months. The department is also using this funding to hire several new staff members to support the vaccine effort.
Should an approved vaccine become available by November, DOH expects this funding to be sufficient to launch a vaccine distribution plan. They will to start enrolling medical providers this month. They will also be ready to turn in the state's vaccine plan to the CDC by the October 16 due date.

A non-peer-reviewed preprint examined the genetic sequences of over 5,000 SARS-CoV-2 strains, “the largest single aggregation of genetic sequences of the virus in the United States thus far,” and found that the virus is continuously mutating. While one mutation may have made it more contagious, researchers have not found any mutations that make the virus deadlier or change clinical outcomes.

Johnson and Johnson’s (J&J’s) single-dose vaccine has entered its Phase 3 (efficacy) trial, for which the company intends to enroll 60,000 volunteers. This vaccine could be logistically easier to distribute to a large population and has the advantage of not requiring a sophisticated chain of -20 or -70 degrees Celsius freezers as it is shipped and stored.

Novavax’s vaccine is also entering a Phase 3 trial. The study will enroll patients in the United Kingdom as well as the United States, which might be a fortuitous decision given the recent increase in COVID-19 in the United Kingdom.

STAT: Regeneron’s Covid-19 Antibody May Help Non-hospitalized Patients Recover Faster, Early Data Show

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced an expansion of ongoing clinical trials testing convalescent plasma to treat COVID-19 in hospitalized patients. These studies using blood plasma from patients who have recovered from COVID-19 to treat severely ill patients were launched in the spring with funding from Operation Warp Speed.

New York Times: A COVID-19 Vaccine for Children May Not Arrive Before Fall 2021

New York Times: Moderna and Pfizer Reveal Secret Blueprints for Coronavirus Vaccine Trials

Nature: Who Gets a COVID Vaccine First? Access Plans Are Taking Shape

STAT: A Layperson’s Guide to How — and When — a COVID-19 Vaccine Could Be Authorized

In a truly disappointing finding, a large serological survey of 28,503 patients on dialysis found that fewer than 10% of Americans had antibodies consistent with past SARS-CoV-2 infection. The low rate of past infections demonstrates the lack of utility of herd immunity in the epidemic at present, since effective herd immunity generally requires that more than 60% of a population be immune. Herd immunity is, as a general principle, more easily achieved by vaccination. The study also further confirmed other studies showing that people living in predominantly Black or Hispanic neighborhoods are more likely to get infected — this study determined it was four times more likely.

A Bloomberg opinion piece featured a chart of the lingering symptoms plaguing people who have recovered from COVID-19 months after their bout with the virus.

Nature: How COVID-19 Can Damage the Brain

The government released a sweeping plan to provide free COVID-19 vaccines to all Americans under the umbrella of Operation Warp Speed. The report highlighted that most vaccines will require two doses 21 to 28 days apart and that the vaccination campaign will initially be limited to protecting health workers, other essential employees, and people in vulnerable groups.

While outbreaks have been common in college settings, they have been lower than expected in K-12 schools, suggesting “that opening schools may not be as risky as many have feared and could guide administrators as they chart the rest of what is already an unprecedented school year.”

NBC: 25 Percent of Asian American Youths Have Been Victims of Racist Bullying, Report Says. I'm not including the quote from the lede of this article, but read it. As they note: "Asian American youths have also been affected by the growing racism around the country, fueled by President Donald Trump's racist rhetoric, such as calling the coronavirus the "China virus" and "kung flu." Nearly half of those interviewed expressed sadness or depression about the situation, and one-quarter said they were scared for themselves and their families."

Kids, families and businesses have had to approach a number of traditions and favorite pastimes differently this year. That will continue with fall and winter holidays ahead, particularly with Halloween quickly approaching.
Similar to tips released by the Washington State Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Snohomish Health District recommends opting for household-only and/or virtual activities. From scavenger hunts or movie marathons, to costume or pumpkin carving contests online, sticking with ghouls and goblins at home is best.

For those going trick-or-treating:
• Remember that this is considered a high-risk activity for COVID-19 transmission and is discouraged by public health officials.
• Wash hands before and after, and bring hand sanitizer along just in case.
• Only go with household members.
• Wear a cloth face covering that fully covers the nose and mouth. Halloween masks are not a substitute.
• Maintain at least six feet from others.
• Limit the amount of time away from home, and do not travel to another neighborhood or housing complex.
• Stay home if you aren’t feeling well.

For those passing out candy:
• Remember that this is considered a high-risk activity for COVID-19 transmission and is discouraged by public health officials.
• If you aren’t feeling well, skip the candy and stay inside.
• Wear a face covering at all times.
• Wear gloves, plastic baggies over hands or tongs when handling candy.
• Avoid having people come to the door and/or ringing the doorbell. Sit in a chair in the driveway, garage, yard or porch.
• Do not use a communal candy bowl where people reach in for their candy. Instead, place candy in treat bags or spread out on a table or in the yard. Or maybe try a new trend—candy sticking.
• Use tape, signs or mini-pumpkins for directions and to keep kids six feet apart while waiting.

For businesses, organizations or neighborhoods:
• No indoor trick-or-treating, activities, parties or gatherings with multiple households.
• No “trunk-or-treat” events that draw large gatherings. One option to consider could be a drive-thru event where pre-packaged candy is given out. Everyone must wear face coverings, including those in the car, and people handing out candy must be more than six feet apart. Stay tuned for a drive-through style event in Mukilteo-- more to come.
• Hold virtual events and contests.

All guidance can be found here.

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

Getting to Safe Toolkit for Businesses

As reported in this KOMO News story, “Lucy Paredes and Gregorio Mendoza were sitting there in a park in Bothell alone and frightened with no money or food and no place to go.” They had arrived in January from Lima, Peru to visit their daughter but couldn’t fly home due to COVID-19.
As the months passed, the situation with their daughter and her husband apparently worsened, to the point that it was affecting Mendoza’s health. Feeling they had no option but to leave, despite having no money, Paredes and Mendoza packed their suitcases and headed first to a nearby church to pray, and then went to sit under a gazebo in a local park.
“And that is when a neighborhood and then a larger community got involved.” First one local spotted them and, learning they spoke only Spanish, he reached out for help on the local Facebook page. A nearby bilingual couple saw the post and walked over to the park at 9 p.m., spoke to the couple, and then contacted the Sheriff’s office. Sheriff’s Deputy John Krajcar responded to the call, and tried to locate shelter space for the couple. According to the KOMO story, “There were no spots available. So the deputy drove them to the Extended Stay America hotel.” And he paid for three night's lodging out of his own pocket.
In the meantime, the Spanish-speaking neighbors set up a GoFundMe page for the couple, and someone at the Snohomish County Sheriff's office called the Peruvian consulate. The consulate contacted a Peruvian woman who runs an AirBNB and had a room available. The GoFundMe effort raised $6,000. According to KOMO, “[Paredes and Mendoza] haven't decided what to do yet. The relationship with their daughter is fractured. Maybe time will heal [it]. Maybe it won't. But they're no longer alone, or broke, or hungry, and their hearts are full.”

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 144 confirmed or probable COVID-19 cases identified in Mukilteo (5 new cases), and 116 individuals who are recovered.

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