What a BEAUTIFUL week we are enjoying!  This type of weather feeds my soul. I hope you have the opportunity to get outside and enjoy some sunshine and the beauty of spring in Everett.

I also hope you’ll take the opportunity to get vaccinated! As of yesterday, everyone over age 16 is eligible, so I strongly encourage you and your families to make your appointments. The state has a vaccine locator tool that’s easy to use and helps find appointments near you. This is so important, as we are seeing a very concerning uptick in COVID-19 cases. None of us want to go backwards, like several other counties did this week, but it’s a possibility if we do not turn this around. Please get vaccinated, keep wearing your masks and do all you can to stay healthy.

Getting vaccinated not only protects you and others around you, but it also opens up opportunities we’ve been missing. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, once you’re fully vaccinated, you can:

• Visit with other fully vaccinated people without a mask or staying six feet apart
• Forego masks and keeping distance when visiting unvaccinated people, if they are not at risk of severe illness
• Travel domestically without quarantining afterward or being tested before and after traveling

I for one want to do all of the above – I’m sure you do too – so please sign up for your vaccine today! Be safe. Be well. And enjoy some sunshine!  

Rethink community wellbeing

Everett is developing an update to its current Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Plan. The new 2022 plan will be based on an extensive public outreach process and will create a vision and outline future service levels, capital projects, maintenance policies and funding options for the parks system. Community members are invited to rethink community wellbeing and create a sustainable and inclusive park system by participating in the PROS plan update. 

Visit the project website for more information at everettwa.gov/PROSplan and take the vision survey at surveymonkey.com/r/EverettParksViz.  

Select public counters reopened for in-person appointments and services

Now that we’re in phase three of the state’s Roadmap to Recovery Plan, several City public counters have reopened for in-person appointments and services. Community members can schedule appointments online or by phone to conduct city business. Public health and safety measures will be in place for in-person appointments and services, and community members will be required to wear masks and maintain social distancing. Digital and over-the-phone services will continue to be available. Learn more about the counters that will reopen, their hours and services, and how to schedule an appointment.

#InItTogether

Everett Fire’s mobile vaccination team continues to help the Snohomish County Vaccine Taskforce administer vaccines. This month, they helped administer vaccines at Hopeworks Social Enterprises and other locations. All 23 county fire agencies are collaborating as part of the taskforce to operate mass vaccination sites and mobile vaccination clinics. The taskforce is one piece of an extensive effort to vaccinate people, and brings together fire agencies, public health, emergency management, law enforcement, human services, transit, public works and other partners throughout the county. All taskforce vaccine clinics are run under the guidance of the Snohomish Health District and Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management.

Follow the City of Everett to stay up to date

Healthy Washington - Roadmap to Recovery update

Governor Jay Inslee announced Snohomish County will remain in phase 3 of the Healthy Washington plan as three other counties in Washington rollback to phase 2 due to an increase in case rates and hospitalizations. Snohomish County is eligible for phase 3 as long as it keeps new COVID-19 cases below 200 per 100,000 in a two-week period and hospitalizations below 5 per 100,000 across seven days. As of this week, the county’s COVID-19 case rate during the review period was 152.3 per 100,000 residents and the hospitalization rate was 3.1 per 100,000. Health officials advise everyone to continue to wear masks, keep a safe distance from others, keep gatherings small and outdoors, and get the vaccine when they can.

COVID-19 vaccine update

As of April 15, everyone aged 16 and older are eligible to be vaccinated. Pfizer-BioNTech is currently the only COVID-19 vaccine authorized for those 16 and older, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson are authorized for people 18 and older at this time. At the mass vaccination sites operated by the Snohomish County Vaccine Taskforce, people 16 and 17 may be vaccinated with parent or guardian consent for the Pfizer vaccine, unless they are legally emancipated. To schedule an appointment, eligible patients can contact their primary care facility, use the vaccine locator tool to find appointments nearby, schedule an appointment online at bit.ly/snocovaccine or call the call center at 425-339-5278. Learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine at snohd.org/COVIDVaccine and doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/COVID19/Vaccine

Sixth mass vaccination site open in Snohomish County

The Snohomish County Vaccine Taskforce opened its sixth mass vaccination site in the county this month at Boom City, 10274 27th Ave. NE in Tulalip, in partnership with the Tulalip Tribes. The Boom City site is set up for drive-thru access. Like the other mass vaccination sites, it is by appointment only for those eligible. All mass vaccination site locations, the type of vaccine provided and registration links for appointments can be found at bit.ly/snocovaccine. People who do not have internet access, need language assistance, or have other barriers to online registration can contact the the COVID-19 call center Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., at 425-339-5278.

Washington travel guidelines updated to match CDC advice

Governor Jay Inslee updated Washington's domestic travel guidelines to match the CDC's travel guidelines, which includes guidelines for vaccinated and non-vaccinated people. It is still best to avoid nonessential travel and guidance applies to travel within the United States and US territories. If traveling internationally, check the CDC’s COVID-19 travel recommendations by destination before planning your trip.

COVID-19 cases in Snohomish County

Visit the Snohomish Health District’s website for up-to-date information on COVID-19, including updated case count information  like the chart below that illustrates the number of new COVID-19 cases reported in Snohomish County by date.

COVID-19 CASES PER 100,000 IN SNOHOMISH COUNTY

Grant to help businesses struggling with COVID impacts

The Washington State Department of Agriculture is currently accepting applications for relief and recovery grants of up to $15,000. Grants are available to small businesses in four sectors: shellfish growers, farmers’ market organizations, agri-tourism farms and craft beverage producers (breweries, cideries, wineries, distilleries). Eligible businesses can learn more and apply for the WSDA Relief and Recovery Grants by April 26.

 
Financial assistance available for COVID-19-related funeral expenses

Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) is accepting applications for financial assistance for COVID-19-related funeral expenses incurred after Jan. 20, 2020. The funding is available under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Learn more and view the eligibility requirements and application process on the funeral assistance FAQ page and on FEMA’s funeral assistance page.

 
Grants available to shuttered venue operators

The Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) program is now accepting applications to help mitigate the damage caused by COVID-19. The program includes more than $16 billion in grants to shuttered venues, to be administered by the US Small Business Administration. Eligible businesses include: live venue operators or promoters, theatrical producers, live performing arts organization operators, relevant museum operators, zoos and aquariums who meet specific criteria, motion picture theater operators and talent representatives. Eligible applicants may qualify for grants equal to 45% of their gross earned revenue, with the maximum amount available for a single grant award of $10 million. $2 billion is reserved for eligible applications with up to 50 full-time employees. See the SVOG portal for more information.

 
Free online business trainings, including evening class

ScaleUp: The Rebuild Edition has scheduled three new session dates for small businesses interested in achieving significant growth in the wake of COVID-19. The free online courses are once a week for eight weeks, beginning April 28 and April 29. Each interactive class is two hours long and can accommodate up to 100 small businesses. The ideal candidate for the program is the president/owner of a Washington state business that has been in operation for at least two years and has annual pre-COVID gross revenues in excess of $100,000. The program focuses on helping small businesses restart and rebuild by improving their strategic decision-making, creating new operational efficiencies and strengthening the bottom line. Interested businesses can learn more and register.

 
Tips for supporting your child’s transition back into the classroom

As children head back to school for in-person learning, it’s important to be mindful of how the transition will affect them. Getting students back into the classroom may be good news for many, but kids may react in all kinds of ways. Different age groups often require different types of support and understanding, and the state Health Department offers tips on what to expect and how to best support your child during this transition. As they head back, remind your kiddos to practice the “three W’s” to stop the spread of COVID-19: wear a mask, wash your hands and watch your distance. 

Help seniors get COVID-19 vaccinations

While more than half of Snohomish County residents over the age of 65 have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, there are many seniors who have not yet been vaccinated. Now that more people are eligible to book appointments, it’s important to ensure seniors still have access to vaccinations. If you are a senior, work with seniors or know a senior who is struggling to get an appointment, direct them to the COVID-19 call center for Snohomish County at 425-339-5278 which is staffed from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. If you’re booking an appointment and plan to go get your vaccine soon, check if someone else in your circle needs help registering or getting to the site. Offer to carpool or bring a relative or friend with you to make sure they can get their shot, too.

Take it outside

Governor Jay Inslee advises people to “take it outside” in the weeks ahead as one strategy for defeating COVID-19. During an open-air press conference outside the governor’s mansion, Inslee said that rising case rates and hospitalizations point toward a fourth wave of infection. One strategy to make transmission less likely is to meet with others outdoors when possible instead of in confined spaces, in addition to wearing masks, maintaining distance and getting vaccinated. With spring in full bloom, it is a great (and beautiful) time to take it outside to help keep each other healthy.

Don’t wait to donate blood

Bloodworks Northwest is reporting that local blood supplies are running dangerously low at a time when blood use by Pacific Northwest hospitals is higher than normal. Blood donors are urged to continue their vital role in sustaining community health by donating. To make an appointment, call 1-800-398-7888 or visit schedule.bloodworksnw.org. Bloodworks also has information addressing questions and concerns at bloodworksnw.org/coronavirus.

 
Talk with others about COVID vaccines

COVID-19 vaccines are new, and it’s normal for people to have questions, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). There is A LOT of information—and misinformation— out there. The CDC offers some suggestions for talking with friends and family about the vaccines:

• Listen to their questions with empathy

• Ask open-ended questions to explore their concerns
• Ask permission to share information
• Help them find a reason to get vaccinated
• Help make their vaccination happen