Stress levels are higher-than-normal lately, due to the ongoing pandemic. A mindfulness practice can help you reduce stress at home and at work. King County employees are invited to join a free mindfulness class, or series of classes, through a partnership between Balanced You and Mindfulness Northwest. Classes are currently being hosted online. Visit the Balanced You blog for schedule and registration information. 

The 2020 Census is underway and more households across America are responding every day. Over 70 million households have responded to date, representing over 48% of all households in America. In light of the COVID-19 outbreak, the U.S. Census Bureau is adjusting 2020 Census operations in order to: 

• Protect the health and safety of the American public and Census Bureau employees. 
• Implement guidance from federal, state and local authorities. 
• Ensure a complete and accurate count of all communities. 

Under this plan, the Census Bureau would extend the window for field data collection and self-response to October 31, 2020. For more information about the census and this update, view the official press release from the Census Bureau here. 

Crossposted from Metro Matters 

As the region continues to respond to COVID-19, King County Metro will reduce weekend bus service beginning Saturday April 18, and further reduce weekday bus service starting Monday, April 20. Water Taxi and First Hill Streetcar will continue to operate on previously reduced schedules. 

This revised Reduced Schedule (below) provides a core network of public transportation services to maintain access to critical supplies, services, and worksites across the region. 

Read more from Metro Matters

Crossposted from Public Health Insider 

New research from the Institute for Disease Modeling suggests the spread of COVID-19 illness is slowing down thanks to the collective actions of residents in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties, who are broadly following the “stay home” message. 

Public policies on social distancing correlated with mobility reductions 

Newly published findings suggest the spread of COVID-19 slowing is good news, and health officials stress that continuing social distancing guidelines is the most-effective way to continue this positive trend and avoid a resurgence of the illness. 

Read more from Public Health Insider

COVID-19 is spreading in King County. But together, we can slow it down, saving lives. Everyone, young and old, should stay home and avoid all non-essential contact. 

When you must go out, limit your trips and stay six feet apart from others. Our individual actions affect the health of our entire community. And what we do as a community protects us all. 

Stay home and slow the spread. View this video featuring Public Health Health Officer, Dr. Jeff Duchin and learn more about what King County is doing in response to the coronavirus at www.kingcounty.gov/coronavirus. 

Mowing

Our Roads Services maintenance crews are continuing to keep roads and bridges in unincorporated King County safe and usable during COVID-19 and beyond.  

 In his “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order, Governor Jay Inslee listed road maintenance and construction as essential infrastructure activities. Delaying Roads’ work could cause immediate safety hazards as well as long-term deficiencies in the county’s road and bridge system. Catching up on delayed maintenance work in the future might be difficult or impossible, resulting in degraded road conditions and safety problems. 

 Roads crews are following public health guidance while doing their work. They’re avoiding close contact with one another, typically driving one person per vehicle; using gloves as needed; and following enhanced cleaning practices for shared tools, equipment, and vehicles. They’re also asking the public to stay clear of crews who are working on roadsides or in their vehicles, and to allow at least six feet of distance if they need to speak to a maintenance worker. Find out more about their essential work here. 

King County employees and their family members enrolled in Kaiser (SmartCare) and Regence (KingCare and KingCare Select) medical plans will not have to pay copays, coinsurance, or deductibles for medical services and medications related to the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19.

King County is providing this coverage enhancement to remove any financial barriers to accessing care and treatment for COVID-19. This expanded coverage takes effect immediately and applies retroactively to services and medications received beginning March 5, 2020.

The 100% coverage applies to COVID-19 testing and treatments at an office visit, emergency room, urgent care, hospital, telehealth, virtual care, or other facilities.

Seek care from network providers

As always, you should seek care from providers in your medical plan network whenever possible. If you must see an out-of-network provider due to an emergency or because of a lack of capacity at in-network facilities, your medical plan will pay 100% of the amount it would normally pay an in-network provider. If you are unexpectedly hospitalized, it’s a good idea to call your medical plan within 24 hours of being admitted, or as soon as medically possible, to avoid charges for non-network medical services.

If you receive a bill for treatment of COVID-19, contact Regence BlueShield or Kaiser Permanente for assistance.