This holiday season is going to look and feel different than any other. This year has been difficult for many people in our region with the pandemic and resulting economic crisis that has impacted our families, residents, and businesses.
Although our cases and hospitalizations are still at high levels, our efforts in recent weeks are beginning to bend the curve of the virus, save lives, and keep our stressed hospitals from becoming overwhelmed. A new report by the Department of Health today found travel and gatherings were substantially lower than in previous years, with King, Pierce, Snohomish and Spokane counties seeing greater than 60% reductions in contacts on Thanksgiving compared to Thanksgiving 2019. This reduction appears to have been sufficient to prevent a large Thanksgiving-related increase in transmission in early December.
But it will be up to all of us to continue to follow public health guidance to decrease the number of cases in our community. As we continue to work to curb the spread of COVID-19, it is important that you stay home and celebrate only with your household. Please do not travel this holiday season or host holiday gatherings.
COVID-19 case count in Washington State
The Washington State Health Department shows that our cases statewide are decreasing, but we still need to remain diligent. This means keeping our most vulnerable neighbors, and community members healthy by staying home and continuing to practice social distancing during these next few weeks. While it is hard to stay away from loved ones and family members during this time of year, it is crucial that we continue to do everything we can to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our communities.
Testing continues to be one of the most important things we can do in response to the COVID-19 crisis. Since June, our free Citywide testing sites led by Seattle Fire have been a critical to slowing the spread of the outbreak in our City and our region. This week, we surpassed 500,000 tests at our sites, and we also announced the opening of three new Curative testing kiosks. These additional Curative kiosks enable us to reach more people in more neighborhoods all across our City - the tests are free, and require pre-registration online. Use the Curative website to make an appointment at a location near you.
In the midst of the pandemic, Seattle also experienced some winter weather this past week. Our City departments have been preparing for flooding, ice, extreme cold, and snow. Below are some tips to ensure you and your household is prepared for a Seattle winter.
Stay Safe, Healthy, and Happy Holidays,
 
December 21st was the official start of winter, and winter brings plenty of hazards, including rain, snow, wind, and landslides. Being prepared for winter hazards is important, especially as we all spend more time at home as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Winter Hazards
The winter months bring us plenty of weather, and with that, the potential for emergencies. Click the links below to learn more about our Seattle-area winter hazards.
Being prepared for winter emergencies is as easy as understanding the hazards and planning for how you and your family will deal with them. Click here for information about creating an emergency plan for yourself, your family, and your neighborhood.
This week, City of Seattle testing sites have administered over 500,000 tests across four Citywide testing sites. Since launching in June, Seattle Fire Department staff have administered tests free of charge for everyone, regardless of insurance status. Accessible, widespread testing has been a crucial component of our City’s response to COVID-19 testing, helping public health experts and City leaders better understand the spread of this virus in our communities.
To learn more about the Seattle's free tests, please visit our website.
COVID-19 testing site
Seattle was the first major American city to be impacted by the virus. Nearly 10 months after the first case, Seattle has the lowest rates of COVID-19 related hospitalizations, infections, and the second-lowest death rate. As communities across the country await widespread availability of COVID-19 vaccines, individual behavior and testing remain the best way to mitigate virus spread within our communities.
Mayor Jenny Durkan issued a statement following passage of the Federal coronavirus relief package in the House of Representatives:
“For months, small businesses, workers, and residents demanded Congress act for basic relief at a time of record unemployment and closures of small businesses. Our Congressional delegation has been on the frontlines of fighting for important relief for our city and its residents and businesses, but the Republicans in Congress continue to hold this country hostage by not taking the bold action needed during this unprecedented public health and economic crisis. More relief is desperately needed.”
Mayor Jenny Durkan announced that the City of Seattle will be getting three new Curative COVID-19 testing kiosks at locations across the City. Two of the new kiosks had an initial launch on Tuesday, December 22, with the third launching on Saturday, December 26. All kiosks will initially operate from noon to 3:00 p.m., and afterwards from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Mondays through Saturdays. These additional walk-up kiosks will be placed in locations in north, central, and south Seattle to provide more testing for residents across the City.
City of Seattle testing coordinators have chosen the following sites based on demand, rate of positive cases, and with a focus on serving underserved populations:
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North Seattle: Lower Woodland Park
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Uptown/Seattle Center: 2nd Ave and Republican, near the Seattle Repertory Theatre
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South Seattle: Old UW Laundry site west of Mt. Baker Light Rail Station
The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) updated quarantine guidance for some travelers and planning to test flight crews arriving from some countries where a new variant of COVID-19 is circulating.
Governor Jay Inslee issued a proclamation requiring all people who travel to Washington state from these countries, which include the United Kingdom and South Africa, to quarantine for 14 days after arriving. The proclamation follows a travel advisory the governor issued last month recommending a 14-day quarantine for all interstate and international travel.
Additionally, people who enter Washington after travel to the U.K. or South Africa should get tested if they develop symptoms. If no symptoms develop, they should get tested five to seven days after leaving the U.K. or South Africa.
In the longest, shortest year in most of our lives, a lot happened. Recap the year with us and look ahead to 2021.
The word of the year has to be “unprecedented.” It’s maddening, overused and, unfortunately, true. Time feels simultaneously frozen and moving at least a million miles an hour. As a result, it can be difficult to remember what the heck happened these past 12 months between our bouts of reading everything to desperately avoiding all those breaking news alerts.
This roundup is an effort to take stock of the year through the stories we helped tell about politics, science, and culture across our region. How were these chosen? They’re partly based on what you read the most, but we’re also sharing some of the topics and stories that stuck with us this year.
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