Emergency Management Newsletter COVID-19 Update

  1. Coronavirus: Guidelines Have Been Slow to Reach the Public, Hospitals. The new coronavirus is an enveloped virus and not that hard to deactivate, but even hospitals aren’t disinfecting adequately, says Gavin Macgregor-Skinner, and nurses on the front lines are concerned and want more information.
  2. ‘Mandatory Measures’ Considered to Combat Coronavirus in Washington State. Health officials reported at least 136 coronavirus cases in Washington as of Sunday, including 19 deaths. King County has seen 17 deaths, including two on Sunday, and Snohomish and Grant counties have each seen one.
  3. Emergency Proclamation in Seattle Seeks to Stem Coronavirus Spread. The mayor’s proclamation was submitted to the council for confirmation, modification or rejection, and the council should act within 48 hours. The emergency will end when “extraordinary measures” are no longer required.
  4. Coronavirus Death Numbers Are Frightening for People over 65. A Chinese Center for Disease Control report says the fatality rate for people with coronavirus was under 0.5% for people under age 50. But it rose to 3.6% for 60- to 69-year-olds … and a whopping 14.8% for people 80 and older.
  5. Washington Schools Aggressively Try to Prevent Spread of Coronavirus. One district is going to a card-based system rather than a keypad for buying lunches at elementary schools to reduce student contact with shared items. Welcome to school in the age of the new coronavirus, COVID-19.
  6. Coronavirus Hurting Puget Sound Economy: How Bad Could It Get? Since King County, Wash., became epicenter of the U.S. coronavirus outbreak, local consumers and companies have given new meaning to “cancel culture” as they retreat from public interactions — and the related economic activity.
  7. Coronavirus: How Local Officials and Emergency Managers Respond. Emergency managers can and should help by lending their expertise in providing shelter and broadcasting good information to the public. Seattle used its AlertSeattle to inform residents about a local case.