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Capitol Hill
Seattle
King County (Source)
With the number of new COVID cases nearly doubling in the past week across Capitol Hill, Seattle, and King County, officials are urging increased caution as the Omicron variant spreads rapidly across the region.
New cases have jumped 88% across the county’s Health Reporting Area covering Capitol Hill and Eastlake in the past seven days with 94 reported new COVID-19 cases here. That nearly is keeping pace with +90% increases in Seattle as a whole and across the county.
Reported hospitalizations and deaths here have not yet shown similar surges but experts caution that it is too early to know for sure if this wave will be different from past variants.
“The severity of Omicron cases is not clear at this time,” a statement from King County and Seattle Public Health reads. “Most fully vaccinated people should be protected from severe infection, but we expect to see many more serious cases in unvaccinated people, as well as many milder breakthrough infections among the vaccinated.”
Mayor Jenny Durkan and health officials from Seattle and King County will hold a press conference Monday afternoon to provide new updates on Seattle’s testing and vaccination resources in light of “the rise of the COVID-19 Omicron variant” including expanded hours and locations for testing. Seattle’s vaccination rate is currently 90% with 45% of eligible residents boosted. Durkan will also announce that the West Seattle and Rainier Beach clinics will continue into January.
Fortunately, we now know more than ever about how best to avoid the virus. Public health officials recommend avoiding indoor spaces with lots of people like busy stores or sporting events and to get tested before gatherings:
- Avoid crowded indoor spaces during the holiday season;
- Limit the number of gatherings and if possible, do a rapid test the day of the gathering;
- Gatherings will be safer in well-ventilated spaces. Open windows for fresh air;
- Postpone travel where possible;
- Now is the time to refresh your mask if needed. Make sure it is well-fitting and high-quality. Everyone ages 5 and older, regardless of vaccination status, are required to wear masks in indoor public settings like grocery and retail stores, theaters, and entertainment establishments, and at outdoor events with 500 or more people. Masks are also recommended for everyone in crowded outdoor settings;
- Visit Washington DOH’s Vaccine Locator to get a booster appointment; and
- Take extra precautions for higher risk people in your life.
Finding rapid at-home tests for sale around Capitol Hill is nearly impossible and many of the organizations that had been distributing them for free have had to stop as inventories have been depleted. Some report luck purchasing the tests via online shopping sites as only the nation’s largest distributors have been able to maintain a robust inventory of the federally approved 15-minute tests.
Higher quality masks are also recommended either to replace or augment your favorite cloth coverings. Health officials recommend N95 and KN95, as well as KF94, as the most effective, followed by surgical masks, and then cloth coverings.
Another important way to fight COVID is to be careful if you begin to feel sick and stay home if you test positive. If you live with roommates or family, do what you can to stay separated in your residence. Officials are also urging those who become ill to communicate with their friends and family to let them know.
“Tell your close contacts that they may have been exposed to COVID-19,” public health’s statement on Omicron defense states. “An infected person can spread COVID-19 starting 48 hours (or 2 days) before the person has any symptoms or tests positive. By letting your close contacts know they may have been exposed to COVID-19, you are helping to protect everyone.”
Meanwhile, the surge and its impacts come in an already challenging time for Capitol Hill’s arts, nightlife, and food and drink businesses. While many venues were still busy with patrons over the weekend, cancellations — even the victory party for the defense of Kshama Sawant against recall has been postponed — and closures due to staffing issues are being increasingly reported.
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