Crossposted from Public Health Insider  Dr. Jeff Duchin, Health Officer for Public Health — Seattle & King County recently interviewed with ProPublica and The Seattle Times to discuss his and the department’s thinking related to the timing of Public Health recommendations to avoid and subsequently prohibit large public gatherings, and in particular in not prohibiting the Sounders match on March 7th. The following is an overview of information Dr. Duchin shared in his conversation and through e-mail.  Early response and initial outbreak  Starting in late January, when the first United States COVID-19 case was recognized in Snohomish County,… Read More

The Emergency Deployment Program was developed to support the critical staffing needs that are part of this emergency response. These roles do not have contact with patients but do provide the vital backbone of support needed to run our facilities, which house individuals, families, and small children during this difficult time. We also have staff who have worked tirelessly organizing emergency operations and are in need of relief. You can play a huge role in supporting the County’s ongoing response to this emergency. Please consider applying for the Emergency Deployment Program.  Work assignments include: Emergency Site Worker III – Administrative staffing for quarantine… Read More

A message from Dwight Dively, Director, Office of Performance, Strategy and Budget, and Whitney Abrams, Chief People Officer Rumors have been circulating that the July 1 1.5% general wage increase may not occur. This is not true: the increase has already been decided by leadership and bargained, and is part of the compensation awarded for 2020. It is important to recognize that the County’s ability to provide wage increases in 2021 and 2022 is much less than it was only three months ago. The COVID-19 shutdown and the ensuing recession have already dramatically affected… Read More

King County Executive Dow Constantine transmitted legislation to the King County Council today that would place a capital improvement bond measure before King County voters on the November 2020 General Election ballot.  The measure seeks voter approval of $1.74 billion in general obligation bond funding over 20 years for health and safety improvements at King County’s Harborview Medical Center, including: increasing critical health care capacity; updating and expanding infection control capability; and expanding capacity for behavioral health services.   “This is our generational obligation – to ensure our region continues to be the… Read More

First Responders and Essential Personnel are employees who report to work during an emergency. These employees are often under extreme stress as they adapt their work in response to the coronavirus pandemic.  To support these employees in managing stress and caring for their own-well-being, Balanced You has developed a Self-care Toolkit for First Responders and Essential Personnel. In this toolkit, which is designed to be printed or read electronically, you will find resources on:  Physical health  Burnout and secondary traumatic stress  Mental health resources and stress reduction techniques  Tips for integrating well-being… Read More

King County offers a variety of leaves to help employees support our community and take care of themselves and their families during the COVID-19 outbreak. You can learn more about available leaves for COVID-19-related issues and their eligibility criteria on this webpage. There is also more information about other types of leaves on our Benefits website. Leave options include: Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act MOA with unions for Paid Administrative Leave (PAL) Requesting Paid Administrative Leave – COVID-19 Find out more.

With a guiding vision of “Making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive,” King County employees are thinking about how best to support each other and our community through this pandemic. Though we are not all on the front lines, the actions we take are critical to the success of those who are.  Balanced You supports King County employees in living the “We Are One Team” value by providing tips on how you can do what you can, where you can to support the efforts of our front line… Read More

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… Read More

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… Read More

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.