June 30, 2021
COVID-19 Updates from Skagit County
Washington State to reopen TODAY
Beginning today, June 30th, Washington State is open for business and recreation!
Fully vaccinated individuals can proceed as normal; unvaccinated people will need to continue wearing masks indoors. Most sectors can operate as they did in January of 2020, with the caveat that they’re following workplace safety requirements (which come from LNI). Restaurants, bars, bowling alleys, and grocery stores are now fully open. With the exception of large indoor events like sports, concerts, and conventions, there are no capacity or occupancy limits.
The new masking guidance does not apply to health care settings like hospitals, long-term care, or doctor’s offices; correctional facilities, homeless shelters, or schools. In these settings, all people—regardless of vaccination status—must continue to wear a mask.
Please note: Businesses can be more strict and can continue to enforce masking, distancing, and handwashing—whatever is appropriate in those spaces.
Case Counts in Skagit County
Skagit currently has a case rate of 57.5 per 100k over the last 14 days and a hospitalization rate of 2.3 COVID patients per 100k over the last seven days.
Vaccines in Skagit County
As of June 26th, 149,065 vaccine doses have been administered in Skagit County, and 62.7% of all Skagitonians 12 years and older are at least partially vaccinated against COVID-19.
The Skagit Fairgrounds Vaccine Clinic had its last day of operation on Saturday, June 26th. Public Health is now focusing full-time on mobile outreach and pop-up clinics.
People can still access a vaccine at the many providers in our county, including at clinics, chain and neighborhood pharmacies. Go to https://vaccinelocator.doh.wa.gov/ for a full list.
Upcoming Pop-Up Vaccine Clinics in Skagit County
Our pop-up vaccine clinics are available to anyone 12+ (when Pfizer available) or 18+ (when J&J available); no appointment needed! Visit our website for a full list: www.skagitcounty.net/COVIDvaccine.
Getting vaccinated is quick, easy, and convenient! Getting the vaccine takes 15-20 minutes tops, then folks can be on their way. Getting vaccinated is the best way to ensure you, your family, and friends are protected this summer.
Pop-up dates for THIS WEEK include:
Housing Assistance
Yesterday, the Governor issued a housing stability ‘bridge’ emergency order, Proclamation 21-09, intended to bridge the gap between the eviction moratorium (set to expire tonight) and the protections and programs subsequently enacted by the state Legislature. This order requires that:
- Landlords and tenants seek rental assistance and eviction resolution pilot programs to resolve any COVID-related past due rent (for the period of February 29, 2020 through July 31, 2021);
- Tenants take steps to pay rent or seek rental assistance in order to pay future rent (period beginning August 1, 2021 throughout the effective dates of this order);
- For any tenant who is or becomes in arrears, landlords offer a reasonable repayment plan to tenants; and
In short, an eviction for non-payment of past due rent is not permitted until the Legislatures protections and programs are enacted. Eviction for non-payment of future rent (August 1, 2021 through September 30, 2021) is not permitted if the tenant has taken action to pay rent. Evictions for other reasons allowed under state law are permitted.
The Skagit County Rental Assistance Program is currently active. A list of local rental assistance provider is available on our website at: https://bit.ly/3y6L7R2.
Senior Centers to Reopen in Skagit County
All five senior centers in Skagit County will reopen on Tuesday, July 6, following a 15-month closure due to COVID-19 and Governor Inslee’s Stay Home, Stay Healthy order issued on March 23, 2020. Congregate Lunch Program services will resume on July 6, though some group activities and programming will still be limited at this time. For more information about reopening, contact Renee Corcoran, Senior Services Manager, at reneec@co.skagit.wa.us or call (360) 416-1511.
**Retraction: June 23 Update** Public Health would like to retract the following statement from last week's update: "We know that the vaccines are 100% effective against death from COVID." This statement was based off of past information provided to us by the CDC. Currently, the CDC states:
"COVID-19 vaccines help protect against severe illness with COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough cases. While COVID-19 vaccines are working well, some people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will still get sick, because no vaccines are 100% effective. These are called vaccine breakthrough cases. However, there are some data to suggest that vaccination may make symptoms less severe in people who are vaccinated but still get COVID-19. mRNA COVID-19 vaccines have been shown to provide protection against severe illness and hospitalization among people of all ages eligible to receive them. This includes people 65 years and older who are at higher risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19. It typically takes about 2 weeks for the body to build protection after vaccination. You are fully vaccinated two weeks after your second dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine and two weeks after your single dose of J&J/Janssen vaccine. It is possible you could still get COVID-19 soon after vaccination because your body has not had enough time to build full protection. Keep taking precautions until you are fully vaccinated."
Source: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/effectiveness/work.html
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