Crossposted from Public Health Insider  Holidays are going to be different this year, no question about it. But we all need to have some festivity, especially in the midst of the all we’ve had to deal with this year. Halloween has some good celebration options since many activities can be outside and mask wearing is part of the holiday, but there are still some risks with COVID circulating. Public Health has tips to prevent illness, help our community stay on track for reopening, and still retain some of the spooky and sweet flavor of Halloween. … Read More

Crossposted from Public Health Insider  Adjusting to the changes COVID-19 has imposed has been very difficult for everyone. Some are navigating different layers of grief and loss. Many are feeling varying waves of hope and hopelessness. For those with mental health conditions, this time has been a continuation and possibly, an amplification of those thoughts and feelings. Mental health affects us all, and brings with it various challenges and concerns. If you or someone you know is in need of support, you are not alone. Support is available.  We talked with Diana Cortez Yanez, a King… Read More

To provide King County residents with ready access to dozens of community service providers during the COVID-19 Pandemic, King County District Court is making available a Virtual Resource Center (VRC). Operated as part of the court’s community court program, the VRC is open to anyone in the community to visit via Zoom videoconference or by telephone. Services at the VRC include access to education, work training, substance abuse treatment, transportation discounts, Public Health/the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, and many more. Prior to COVID-19, King County District Court operated in-person community… Read More

Crossposted from Election Connection  Keeping our staff and voters safe and healthy is one of our top priorities for this upcoming election. Here are some questions we’ve encountered about how we’re handling the upcoming election in the midst of a pandemic.  How do I vote in a COVID-19 world?  The great news is that we already vote-by-mail in Washington State. If you are already registered to vote, your ballot will be mailed to you automatically about three weeks before Election Day. You can fill it out in the convenience of your home and… Read More

Crossposted from Public Health Insider  The case investigators at Public Health—Seattle & King County are able to reach the vast majority of people who test positive for COVID-19 in King County. And most people are taking the important step of isolating themselves during their contagious period.  A new data dashboard shows the numbers, and it demonstrates the rapid growth of Public Health’s contact tracing efforts. Highlights include:  Since the spring, the team has grown to 61 members who investigate over 500 cases each week (roughly 95 percent of all cases in King County).  Each week,… Read More

Crossposted from Public Health Insider  King County’s K-12 schools are back in session. For most students, the 2020-2021 school year is starting remotely and Zoom is the new classroom. Even though the majority of the county’s school districts are teaching students remotely, they are also hard at work behind the scenes to be ready to provide in-person learning once COVID-19 transmission rates are lower.  At Public Health – Seattle & King County (PHSKC), we are supporting schools and communities across the county as they prepare for in-school learning. Two crucial ways we are… Read More