This week,?our region?is reaching a?sobering?milestone.?February 28, 2021 marks one year since?Public Health ? Seattle & King County?confirmed?the first COVID-19?related death?in King County.??
Just over one year ago, our?City was booming, vibrant, and focused on the future. Everything seemed possible. But 2020 changed everything, including the way we live and work in Seattle and how City government works.?COVID-19 also led to lost jobs and wages and the closure of so many of Seattle?s small businesses, so our city has responded with new programs like grocery vouchers, free testing and vaccines, and grants to small businesses and immigrants. During one of the most challenging moments in our city?s history, our 12,000 City of Seattle employees have focused on delivering essential services amidst a pandemic and advanced our shared priorities. Working together, we will get through this unimaginably challenging time for our city.?
Mayor Durkan speaks with members of the SFD mobile vaccination team
At the start of this public health crisis, COVID-19 cases?quickly?surged across the region and state.?With the?guidance of our world-renowned scientists and academics, state and local public?health officials, local nurses, doctors,?and health care officials, we were able to quickly implement critical public health measures to help flatten the curve?while also addressing the significant impacts on our region?s workers and small businesses.?
I am proud of the good work that the City has done to help Seattle residents and workers get through this impactful year. We have been at the forefront of the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of our region?s leading officials? quick actions and the commitment of Seattle residents, Seattle has the lowest number of cases and hospitalizations of the top 30 major cities.
In addition to these measures to help reduce the spread of COVID-19, the City has also created a number of programs to respond to the impacts of the virus ? many of which were the first of their kind in the country and served as a model for other cities.??
Mayor Durkan at the Filipino Community of Seattle pop-up vaccination clinic
As we look back at the past year,?it is important to remember that?while we are not out of the woods yet,?hope is on the horizon.?Our recovery starts with vaccines.?This year, I announced that the City of Seattle was approved to serve as a?vaccine distributor, and the Seattle Fire Department (SFD) quickly launched four mobile vaccination teams to vaccinate long term care facilities and older adults in senior affordable housing. To date, SFD has?administered 8,000 vaccines (and counting) to vulnerable residents and workers with approximately 70% to Black, Indigenous, and?people of color communities.
Even with?our?limited access to vaccines,?we were?able to launch?two smaller sites in disproportionately impacted areas?of Rainier Beach and West Seattle.??
For now, we all still need to follow public health guidance. This means masking up, physical distancing, and caring for our neighbors.?
City Received Delayed Shipment of Vaccine Due to Storm, Temporary Doubling in Doses Allows Seattle Fire Department to Pilot Sites?
Rainier Beach and West Seattle to Become Fixed, Permanent Sites When Supply Increases and Steadies?
Mayor Jenny A. Durkan announced the City of Seattle?s plan for this week?s vaccinations administered by the Seattle Fire Department (SFD) Mobile Vaccination Teams (MVT). This week, the City of Seattle has 3,000 first doses of the?Moderna?vaccine and 2,000 second doses of the?Moderna?vaccine. This temporary doubling of the City?s weekly allocation is caused by severe winter storms nationwide, which delayed the shipment of last week?s doses. The vast majority of last week?s appointments were not impacted due to additional doses from health care providers.?
Mayor Jenny A. Durkan issued the following statement upon the?Sound Transit Board?s?unanimous?approval?to transfer?10?Sound Transit?properties at no cost to the City of Seattle. The properties will support?development of?approximately?150 affordable homes,?including?homeownership opportunities for families earning at or below 80 percent of the Area Median Income,?or about?$88,000?per year?for a family of four.????
The City of Seattle?provided an update on details of more than 350 new spaces of?enhanced?shelter programs?at hotels, tiny house villages, and?a?new?women?s?shelter?in addition to the?new permanent?housing resources for people experiencing homelessness?and facing significant barriers to housing.???
Since 2017, the City has invested significant resources towards 24/7 enhanced?shelters and tiny home villages as the most effective programs to move individuals towards permanent housing.?In 2021, these?enhanced shelter resources?will?provide more capacity and safe shelter during COVID-19?and beyond.?The hotel programs?are temporary and?coupled?with?robust rapid-re-housing?and?permanent?supportive housing?will?ensure?clients?in the hotel shelters?will have?direct access to housing.???
The City of Seattle announced this week?that?506 grants have been awarded?through the Child Care Stabilization Fund?to child care providers throughout Seattle, totaling?over?$2.3?million.?Funds will be disbursed?to 344 licensed child care providers and school-age?only?programs and to 162 family, friend, and neighbor (FFN) caregivers.???
?Childcare and community caregivers have been a critical lifeline in keeping essential work happening throughout this pandemic.?These resources are?supporting?these essential businesses and the dedicated teachers and community members who care for our city?s kids and families,? said Mayor Jenny Durkan.?
In a program created by Seattle?s Office of Economic Development and the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, 16 high school students learned to make glossy new websites for some of the city?s Black-owned businesses.?
The goal was to provide the teens with job skills, while giving the restaurants a stronger presence online.?
The students and restaurant owners showed off the websites for restaurants offering everything from cheesesteaks to Ethiopian food at a virtual event Wednesday.?
The Youth Web Design Pilot Program matched youth who are Black, Indigenous, and of color, with businesses that had little or no online presence prior to the pandemic.?
Pamela Banks is the interim director of the city?s Office of Economic Development, as well as the former head of Seattle?s Urban League. She said the program helps support youth who are underrepresented in the local tech industry, and will help the restaurants stay afloat as well.?
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