COVID-19 Vashon Situation Report 
 
Weekdays the Vashon Emergency Operations Center produces a briefing for our emergency workers and for the community. The M-W-F situation report includes information on Vashon community response actions and support.

You can read the full text of today's report as a PDF here and access older ones at:
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Current Virus Statistics:
Vashon Island COVID-19 Case Count as of 9/24/20: 
  • 1,894 Total persons tested, 84 persons tested since last Situation Report Wed
  • 21 confirmed positive COVID-19 cases, 2 new cases since last Situation Report
  • Date of last positive test: September 23  
  • 1 person had been hospitalized. Date of last hospitalization: April 10
  • 0 Vashon deaths

King County COVID-19 Case Count as of 9/24/20: 
  • 21,803 confirmed positive cases, 213 new since last Situation Report Wednesday
  • 758 deaths, 5 new since last Situation Report on Wednesday

Washington State COVID-19 Case Count as of 9/23/20:
  • 84,238 confirmed positive cases, 1,046 new since last Situation Report Wednesday
  • 2,080 deaths, 10 new since last Situation Report on Wednesday

NOTE: Federal law prohibits Public Health - Seattle & King County from releasing the names of patients (HIPAA Act). For consistency of day-to-day data reporting for Vashon, the EOC uses only the Zip code data from the Public Health – Seattle & King County (PHSKC) dashboard.

Health Tips:

The recent increase in positive tests in King County and on Vashon have been linked to exposure during travel and visiting with people at travel destinations. Unfortunately, family and friends who are not part of your household fall into the same category as total strangers based, on the Safe Start rules. That means practicing social distancing, wearing face coverings, limiting personal contact, and even not sharing a restaurant table, indoors or out, except with members of your at-home household. Staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19, but if you must travel, don’t travel if you are sick. When traveling, keep social distancing – not easy with some types of transportation – and wear face coverings when in public spaces. Keep in mind that states have different requirements, or none at all. Take charge of your own safety -- following the safest practices reduces your chance of infection and makes a safer environment for your friends and family.  The CDC has more details on safe travel at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/travel-during-covid19.html

New Developments since Last Report:

King County Water Taxi will resume fare collection on Thursday, Oct.1. To minimize contact between passengers and crew when paying fare, use your ORCA card. Cash, debit/credit cards and Transit GO tickets will continue to be accepted.  Masks are required for both passengers and crew.  Visit:  https://kingcounty.gov/depts/transportation/metro/travel-options/water-taxi.aspx

Governor Inslee issued guidance for miscellaneous venues, including convention/conference centers, designated meeting spaces in hotels, events centers and other similar venues as part of Washington's Safe Start phased reopening plan. The guidance allows business meetings, professional development training and testing, and substantially similar activities to occur away from business premises and with additional attendees, as long as all requirements are met.   https://www.governor.wa.gov/sites/default/files/COVID19%20Phase%202%20and%20Phase%203%20Misc%20Venue%20Memo.pdf

Governor Inslee announced new requirements for commercial airports and recommendations for airlines. This statewide approach to the COVID-19 pandemic will help protect the health and safety of workers, passengers and crew in the aviation sector. The guidance requires face coverings, in the airport; signage, and spacing for physical distancing; protective barriers between travelers and workers; sanitizer and disinfectant protocols; and that airport vendors and businesses follow state and county health agency requirements.  https://www.governor.wa.gov/news-media/inslee-announces-new-standards-airports-washington 

Payment began on Monday, September 21st for the Lost Wages Assistance payments covering the six weeks from August 1st to September 5th. The Chamber of Commerce’s Ask the Expert person for unemployment benefits claims reported a higher than usual volume of calls because the Employment Security Department’s website had technical difficulties during these new payouts. The Ask the Expert person for unemployment benefits claims has completed 825 telephone consultations to date. For assistance with unemployment benefits claims, email deborah@vashonbeprepared.org, or call (206) 200-3236  

Department of Licensing (DOL) offices are by appointment only, and capacity is limited due to social distancing and other safety measures.  Many of the DOL services can be completed online, including license renewals.  Visit: https://licensingexpress.wordpress.com/2020/09/23/have-you-tried-online-its-your-first-option-for-licensing-services

Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler has extended emergency orders requiring health insurers to waive copays and deductibles for any consumer requiring testing for coronavirus (COVID-19), as well as his order protecting consumers from receiving surprise bills for lab fees related testing for COVID-19. Both orders are extended until Oct. 25.  https://www.insurance.wa.gov/news/kreidler-extends-emergency-orders-coronavirus-testing-and-surprise-billing

Progress on Community Support Operations:
COVID-19 testing: The Vashon COVID testing site operated by Vashon’s MRC and CERT teams will reach a new record volume this week of 70 tests, for an overall count of more than 1,000 tests administered. The team reported they have now tested nearly 10% of island residents and workers at least once. If you’re having symptoms, or think you may have been exposed to an infected person, get information on how to get tested at https://testing.vashonbeprepared.org or call (844) 469-4554.

Suicide Prevention training for teachers: Superintendent Slade McSheehy of Vashon Island School District (VISD) has asked the MRC Community Care Team (CCT) to deliver two Suicide Prevention trainings during the school district’s In-Service Day on October 9th. One training will be offered for the elementary teachers, and another will be provided for middle school and high school teachers. The teacher trainings will include information about other local events related to suicide prevention during this fall and winter season.

Vashon COVID Relief Fund: September’s disbursements to local social service agencies in support of food and rent relief are now complete. Planning is under way for another round of disbursements for food and shelter during October.

FEMA/CARES reimbursements: More progress was made this week in the application to FEMA for reimbursement of EOC costs. In a meeting the Public Assistance Program Delivery Manager at Washington Military Department, the team learned more about which costs may qualify under the FEMA definition of “Emergency Protective Measures” fir the pandemic incident.