Yesterday Governor Jay Inslee issued a proclamation that temporarily suspends several of the requirements of the Open Public Meetings Act and the Public Records Act until April 23 — though practically speaking, until the end of the COVID-19 crisis. The changes are allowances for the fact that most government employees are telecommuting, and many legislative bodies (including the Seattle City Council) are holding their public meetings by conference call.
Continue readingCategory: public health
New coronavirus research sheds light on outcomes for patients, effectiveness of efforts to slow spread
Over the weekend, a research group led by a team at Imperial College in the UK published a paper looking at the effectiveness of various efforts taken by governments to stem the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak. It has been credited with convincing UK and US government officials to get serious about moving quickly and decisively — but it also points to the rough road ahead of us.
Continue readingA trio of COVID-19 response announcements from the city (UPDATED 3/18)
Today the City of Seattle made three separate announcements of actions it is taking as part of its response to the COVID-19 outbreak. (UPDATE 3/18 — see below on encampment cleanups)
Continue readingNotes from today’s Council meeting
This week the City Council meeting switched from Skype to a good old-fashioned conference call, featuring automated announcements every time someone entered or dropped the call and plenty of background chatter as the Council members called in from home. And yet they still managed to get a few things done.
Continue readingSeattle Municipal Court, City Attorney’s Office closed due to COVID-19 exposure
Both the Seattle Municipal Court and The Seattle City Attorney’s Office announced today that they will be closed to business March 16 through 20 due to employees testing positive for COVID-19.
Continue readingMayor temporarily suspends permitted events, places moratorium on evictions (updated)
This afternoon, Mayor Durkan announced two new actions in the city’s ongoing effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Continue readingCity closes libraries, most community centers, parks buildings, and recreation programs
This afternoon Mayor Durkan announced the city’s latest move to combat the spread of COVID-19: effective at 6pm tomorrow, all Seattle Library locations will be closed. In addition, Seattle Parks and Recreation will “cancel all programming, rentals, and permitted events, and close all community centers, pools, environmental learning centers, and other recreation facilities,” with the exception of preschool programs and hygiene services.
Continue readingHow to help us all get through the coronavirus outbreak
The coronoavirus outbreak is scary for those most at risk of severe health consequences. It’s also scary for all of us with friends and loved ones who are at risk. And it’s disrupted everyone’s lives here in the Seattle area. But we’re in this together, and we’ll get through it together. Here are nine ways that you can help your friends, family, neighbors, and community as we all deal with this public health emergency for the next several weeks.
Continue readingDoes King County have enough hospital beds to deal with the coronavirus?
Now that the first first healthcare crisis for COVID-19, the lack of testing, is starting to get addressed, it’s time to ask the next question: when the outbreak hits its peak, will there be enough hospital beds in King County for all the people who need them? Let’s dive in.
Continue readingMayor announce relief measures to address impact of COVID-19
This afternoon, Mayor Durkan announced a list of initial efforts to address the economic impacts that businesses and workers are feeling from the response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
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