Vashon Emergency Operations Center COVID-19 Pandemic Situation Reports
Published 1:30 am Thursday, June 4, 2020
THE VIRUS
Status Quo on Vashon: It has been six weeks (April 13th) since the last confirmed positive case on Vashon. According to Public Health – Seattle & King County (PHSKC), there have been only four confirmed positive cases in zip codes 98070/98013 and zero deaths. (Note: Federal law and PHSKC privacy policies prohibit access to individual patient outcomes.)
Re-Opening Progress:
Still in Phase 1.0: As this edition went to press, Governor Jay Inslee had allowed his Stay Home, Stay Safe order to expire over the weekend as scheduled. However, King County – including Vashon Island – remains in Phase 1 of the Governor’s updated four-phase reopening strategy. The updated strategy that replaces the expired Stay Home, Stay Safe order opens up some middle ground between Phase 1 and Phase 2 by allowing the possibility of reopening a few types of businesses in limited ways.
Moving toward Phase 1.5: Following the Governor’s news conference on Friday, King County Executive Dow Constantine announced that King County will apply for what’s being called Phase 1.5. The move would require State approval. If approved, King County would be able to allow minimal opening of fitness facilities, in-store shopping, barbers and salons, pet grooming and a few other types of businesses. Indoor dining would not be allowed at restaurants but limited outdoor dining would be permitted.
Workers must wear masks: Part of the Governor’s latest order was a new requirement that all workers must wear masks unless they work alone and have no interaction with others. Employers are required to supply the masks. The mask requirements take effect on June 8th.
The Phase 2 standards to meet: The metrics to reach full Phase 2 status have not quite been met in King County although the County has moved within striking distance. Eight metrics have been set up to measure when counties can go to the next step and King County does not meet the standard in two of them.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENTS
Outdoor religious gatherings permitted: The Governor announced new guidelines for religious gatherings last week, allowing outdoor gatherings of up to 100 individuals with requirements for physical distancing and face coverings. Since King County is not yet at Phase 2, indoor religious gatherings are not yet permitted. For more information, visit coronavirus.wa.gov/what-you-need-know/safe-start
VCC gets tested: Vashon Community Care has accepted an offer of help from Vashon Medical Reserve Corps and VashonBePrepared to conduct COVID-19 testing for VCC staff and residents. The testing is required under new guidelines issued last week for care facilities. Vashon MRC offered to take their testing operation to VCC since it would be difficult to transport some residents to the regular testing site. Testing costs for patients not covered through other means will be taken care of by VashonBePrepared.
Unemployment rises again: The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Unemployed Worker Support Branch reports 45 more island residents filed unemployment applications in the past week according to the state Employment Security Department (ESD). That is a smaller number than filed the previous week. However, it brings the total of unemployed Vashon residents to 1345, over one-fourth of the island’s workforce seeking unemployment aid. To access free assistance for obtaining unemployment benefits, email deborah@vashonbeprepared.org or call (206) 200-3236.
There will be a parade: Vashon Chamber of Commerce plans a COVID safe parade. At 10 a.m. on July 4, representatives of Vashon Island businesses and community organizations will gather in decorated vehicles and floats, then form a caravan through island neighborhoods. Social distancing and safety rules will be followed. Visit vashonchamber.com/pop-up-safety-guidelines/
Reopening workshop seats still available: Reopening workshops kicked off last week and continue through mid-June. The Chamber of Commerce program is being funded by the Vashon COVID Relief Fund. The sessions are designed to help local businesses and organizations open up when the county moves to Phase 2 conditions. The planning workshops will help businesses reduce risk to staff, ensure customers feel safe and secure, and give business operators confidence that they are following best practices to protect our community’s health. Each participant receives a toolkit that includes masks (provided by Masks for Vashon), hand sanitizer, floor signs for six-foot distancing, and signage for the establishment’s safety commitments. One option in the free toolkit will be Plexiglas sneeze shields fabricated by volunteers from the Makerspace/Tool Library group. Visit vashonchamber.com/re-opening-round-tables/ to sign up for one of the workshops.
Protect yourself from unemployment fraud: The first step is to check to see if someone has set up an unemployment account in your name. You can create an account or check if an account is in your name at Washington State Employment Security Department at secure.esd.wa.gov/home/. If it says your Social Security Number is already in use, your identity may have been stolen. If so, follow the website’s instructions to report identity theft. For more information on identity fraud visit content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WAKING/bulletins/28cf81c.
Get PPP forgiveness: The Small Business Administration released instructions and the application to request forgiveness of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. The document can be found at the Vashon Chamber of Commerce website under COVID-19 resources, PPP Forgiveness Application at vashonchamber.com/55752-2/.
EMERGENCY OPERATIONS
EOC operations: This is Day 84 since EOC activation on March 12. Over 50 volunteers have so far logged more than 8,600 hours of work time for the response.
VashonBePrepared: By the end of this week, VashonBePrepared will have spent more than $125,000 on the emergency response since activation. An additional $50,000 has been set aside to ensure long term operation of the Medical Reserve Corps COVID-19 testing site. Nearly $240,000 has been raised for the Vashon COVID Relief Fund, about 55% of the total goal of $425,000.
Household and Neighborhood Support Branch: Planning has been completed for funding Disbursement #4 for Vashon social service agency partners who are responding to the increased needs for food and shelter during this emergency. VashonBePrepared funds the support via the Vashon COVID Relief Fund. By the end of this week, the Relief Fund will have paid for a total of:
- Nearly 10,000 meals.
- Over 1,000 bags of groceries
- Over 200 cases of rent and other household relief
Medical Support Branch: The COVID-19 testing site has been relocated to the Open Space for Arts & Community from Mukai Farm & Garden. The move was accomplished with the support of Vashon’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and the EOC Logistics Section.
Unemployed Worker Support Branch: The Branch experienced a spike of demand due to a slowdown in processing unemployment benefit applications. The State discovered that a massive fraud ring operating out of Nigeria had stolen thousands of applicant identities and fraudulently obtained payments. The slowdown allowed time for the State to verify identities before approving benefits.
ABOUT
This information has been compiled from the daily Situation Reports produced by the EOC Situation Section. Situation Reports are normally internal updates, but for this emergency, VIFR Fire Chief Charlie Krimmert ordered the EOC to share these reports with the public to help islanders stay informed and safe. This partnership with the Beachcomber helps achieve that goal. To receive daily reports and other emergency information emails, go to VoiceOfVashon.org/Alerts.
