Health officer statement on new COVID-19 measures
Crossposted from Public Health Insider
Statement from Dr. Jeff Duchin, Health Officer for Public Health – Seattle & King County, on Governor Jay Inslee’s announcement of new measures to control the surging outbreak of COVID-19 in Washington state:
COVID-19 transmission and the number of people being infected are at all-time highs in King County and the outbreak is growing in size faster than ever. In the past week, hospitalizations have increased by 70%. Cases are on a trajectory to continue to increase and will be followed by even more hospitalizations and deaths.
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Featured Job: Fare Policy Lead (Transportation Planner IV)
Salary: $100,134.11 – $126,926.18 Annually
Location: Seattle, WA
Job Type: Career Service, Full Time, 40 hrs/week
Department: MTD – Metro Transit
Job Number: 2020MC12281
Division: Mobility
Closing: Continuous
Learn more about this position or view all available positions.
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Representation of Native Americans in Law and Justice webinar tomorrow, November 18
Please join the King County Superior Court in celebration of Native American Heritage Month at a Presentation of Native Americans in Law and Justice Panel Presentation. The event will feature a facilitated question and answer session with guest panelists, including keynote speaker Justice Raquel Montoya-Lewis, Ms. Sarah Roubidoux Lawson, Professor Gregory Silverman, and Mr. Rion Ramirez. This presentation is sponsored by the Superior Court’s 2020 Courts and Community Committee.
- Wednesday, Nov. 18 from 12:15-1:30 p.m. Register here.
Space is available and pre-registration is required. For more information view this flyer or contact Beth Taylor at Beth.Taylor@kingcounty.gov.
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Join the Executive Department at the Harvest Festival II: Ultimate Zoom tomorrow, November 18
The Executive Department Senior Leadership Team is excited to invite employees to Harvest Festival II: Ultimate Zoom, which includes a drawing to benefit organizations doing important work in the community and on issues critical to King County’s priorities.
Donations can be turned into drawing tickets until 11 a.m. tomorrow. Make a donation and be entered into the drawing here. Prizes include bottles of wine and a tasting voucher, state and national parks passes, board games and puzzles, and a stay at the downtown Fairmont Olympic. Winners will be announced tomorrow.
Hear from Executive Constantine, the Senior Leadership Team, and enjoy a special performance local songwriter and activist Cameron Lavi-Jones of King Youngblood.
This event will be held tomorrow, Nov. 18, from noon to 1 p.m. Join the Zoom here, meeting ID: 959 9158 1775, passcode: 157392.
For information on how donations and about the drawing contact Sarah Dickmeyer at SDickmeyer@kingcounty.gov, or view this flyer.
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Training Spotlight for November 17
- Race: The Power of an Illusion – Online – This training is provided by an external consultant, and will use the three-part video series “Race: The Power of an Illusion” to explore the construct of race, how it has been used to channel benefits to those viewed as white, and why racial inequities persist. This training takes place on Nov.19 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The cost is $150.00 and space is limited. Register here
Please visit our King County Eventbrite page website for more opportunities. Winter courses will be posted soon. For more information, contact the Learning and Development Team at KCTraining@kingcounty.gov or visit Learning and Development at www.kingcounty.gov/learning.
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Pet of the Week: Elvis
Hi! My name is Elvis and I am available for adoption. I am a very smart dog! At the shelter I am practicing how to sit. I also know how to open chain link gates! I am an independent dog who likes to do my own thing! I enjoy affection, but I really love to use my sniffer to smell all the smells! I am full of energy! I tend to calm down more when the people around me stay calm. I do best when I have lots of exercise and something to keep my mind busy. I would love to show you my beautiful singing voice!
Read more and view all available pets at www.kingcounty.gov/adoptapet. Have you or someone you know adopted a pet from RASKC? Let us know. We’d love to tell your story.
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We can make a difference through the Annual Giving Drive
Dear fellow King County employee,
This year’s Annual Giving Drive comes at a time of enormous need. Communities around the world are struggling to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. Here in the United States, more than 240,000 people have already lost their lives to the virus, and the numbers continue to grow at an alarming rate.
Devastating wildfires once again raged across California and Oregon this year, and hurricanes ravaged communities around the Atlantic. Just this month, Hurricane Eta killed more than 150 people across Central America and the southeastern United States, while Typhoons Goni and Vamco claimed dozens of lives in the Philippines.
The Annual Giving Drive brings King County employees together to help people and support the causes that we care about. Whether it is advancing education, expanding access to safe, warm shelter, buying food for some of the 1 in 6 Americans that struggle with hunger, or providing clean water to villages all over the globe, our donations make a real impact on people’s lives.
Already this year, hundreds of employees have participated in the Annual Giving Drive, and you still have time to take part. You can go online or use a paper form through Friday, Nov. 20, to make a pledge to your favorite Employee Giving Program nonprofits by:
- Payroll donation: One-time, once–per-month, or twice-per-month.
- Time donation: Eligible vacation or comp time. See your department Lead Ambassador for details in your office.
- Check or credit card: Made out directly to the nonprofit.
- Volunteering: Up to three sick days per calendar year at a nonprofit in the EGP (for non-represented and employees whose union has approved this benefit, including those covered by the Master Labor Agreement).
For more information, contact your Employee Giving Program Ambassador, visit www.kingcounty.gov/giving, email EmployeeGiving@KingCounty.gov, call 206-263-9405, or attend an online Nonprofit Expo.
Thank you for all you do, both here and outside of work, to help our community and communities around the world thrive.
Sincerely,
Dow Constantine
King County Executive
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Resolved: KCIT Customer Support delays
KCIT Customer Support Services has resolved its intermittent outages with its phone system.
If you have a technical issue, you may open a ticket in the Cherwell portal for support or call our support desk staff. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
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Guidance on temporary statewide restrictions announced by Governor
On Sunday, Nov. 15, Governor Jay Inslee announced temporary restrictions to be in effect statewide until Dec. 14 to slow the recent rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus. The new restrictions, with the exception of changes to restaurant operations, go into effect on Monday, Nov. 16 at midnight (12:01 a.m. Tuesday); restaurant changes go into effect on Wednesday, Nov. 18.
Indoor gatherings with people outside the household will be prohibited unless they quarantine for the 14 prior to the social gathering or quarantine for the seven days prior to the gathering, and receive a negative COVID-19 test result no more than 48-hours prior to the gathering. Outdoor gatherings are limited to no more than five people. Get the full guidance here.
These new restrictions are in addition to the protocols in place for King County employees. Mandatory telecommuting remains in effect through July 5, 2021, for those employees who are currently telecommuting, except where there is an operational need to physically return to the workplace. In-person customer services that are currently suspended also remain suspended through July 5, 2021.
First responders and mission critical employees continue to deliver vital in-person services, with heightened safety measures and protocols in place. Employees must wear face masks over their noses and mouths if they are likely to be in contact with another individual and distancing of six feet is not able to be maintained. The County has cloth masks available for all employees to use in the workplace. Individuals should use County provided masks or substantially similar masks in the workplace. Bandanas, gaiters, buffs, vented masks and face shields are not permitted substitutes for masks.
King County Executive Dow Constantine said that the Governor’s announcement is the right thing to do under the dire circumstances we now face.
“The number of hospitalizations in King County last week increased by over 70 percent compared to the previous four weeks,” Executive Constantine said following the Governor’s announcement. “There are twice as many people in local hospitals with COVID-19 as there were just a month ago. This is the most critical issue: We have to reverse this trend before our hospitals become overwhelmed.” You can read the Executive’s full statement here.
Please see the County’s Guidance for Workforce, Operations, and Customer Service Recovery and Temporary COVID-19 Personnel Policy for full workplace guidance. For additional questions, talk to your department’s Human Resources Manager (employee access only).
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2020 Employee Giving Drive ends Friday, Nov 20
King County’s annual Employee Giving Drive ends this Friday, Nov. 20 (2020). This week, we’re featuring nonprofits whose work supports the LGBTQ community:
- Gay City: Seattle’s LGBTQ Center (9216) – As the leading provider of HIV/STI testing in King County, our mission is to cultivate access and connections to promote self-determination, liberation, and joy in our communities
- Lambert House LGBTQ Youth Center (9332) – Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth programs for ages 11-22. Develops leadership, social, and life skills through 48 programs in 9 locations in King County.
- LGBTQ Allyship (0971) – Builds power among LGBTQ communities and allies in Washington State to work towards economic, racial, and gender justice.
See all participating nonprofits
Go online or use a paper form and pledge to support your favorite Employee Giving Program nonprofits. There are many ways to donate:
- Payroll donation: One-time, once–per-month, or twice-per-month.
- Time donation: Eligible vacation or comp time. See your department Lead Ambassador for details in your office.
- Check or credit card: Made out directly to the nonprofit.
- Volunteering: Up to three sick days per calendar year at a nonprofit in the EGP (for non-represented and employees whose union has approved this benefit, including those covered by the Master Labor Agreement).
For more information, contact your Employee Giving Program Ambassador, visit www.kingcounty.gov/giving, email EmployeeGiving@KingCounty.gov, call 206-263-9405, or attend an online Nonprofit Expo.
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