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For the nearly 450,000 Snohomish County residents who have had at least one vaccine, it may mean getting back to pre-pandemic activities. However, there are still a lot of questions that the Snohomish Health District has been getting on what comes next.
Here are tips and recommendations for life after the vaccine.
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Respect the rules of the room. Even if fully vaccinated, people still need to wear a well-fitted mask in schools, public transportation, health care settings, correctional facilities, homeless shelters, and any business that requires masks.
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Know how to gather safely with others. It can be confusing to know when masks are required or how many people to gather with. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has created a page with different scenarios to help people in gathering safely after vaccinated.
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Monitor for symptoms and get tested. While fully vaccinated people do not need to quarantine if exposed to someone with COVID-19, they should still keep a look out for symptoms. If any unusual or new symptoms develop, seek testing and remain quarantined until test results are back.
Many people have experienced challenges while trying to confirm their records were transmitted to the Washington State Immunization Information System (WAIIS) and they are eligible for the “Shot of a Lifetime” lottery drawing. DOH recognizes that many people were not able to verify their COVID-19 vaccine record in MyIR Mobile. However, the records have been transmitted to the WAIIS, which means DOH is able to access immunization data and will be able to pull winners from the pool of eligible vaccine recipients in the state.
In the meantime, people who have further questions about their eligibility should call the state’s vaccine hotline at 1-833-VAX HELP or visit https://walottery.com/vaccination
See the full press release for more information.
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Thinking about getting your COVID-19 vaccine this weekend? Here are a couple of options in Snohomish County. It’s a good time to take your shot! More: http://bit.ly/snocovaccine #vaxupsnoco
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Close to 20,000 people in Snohomish County completed vaccination against COVID-19 last week and an additional 7,400 started the two-shot series.
In all, more than 27,000 doses of the vaccines were distributed here.
It’s time to take your shot: http://bit.ly/snocovaccine
#vaxupsnoco
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Attention North Snohomish County: Free COVID vaccines available 5-6pm Tuesday, June 15, at Sno-Isle Libraries Stanwood Library drive-thru clinic. Appointments not required. Ages 12-17 must be accompanied by adult parent/guardian. More community clinics: http://bit.ly/snocojuneclinics
#vaxupsnoco
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Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers on Tuesday proposed ordinances to the Snohomish County Council to provide supplemental pay to front-line, public-facing county employees and certain grocery workers in unincorporated Snohomish County. With the re-opening of businesses later this month, the tightening labor market, and the spread of new variants, this supplemental pay will ensure essential government functions and access to groceries is uninterrupted.
“Our frontline workforce has been putting themselves at significant personal risk for the last 17 months providing ready access to food, shelter, safety, and other essential government services,” Executive Somers said. “While these proposals are short term measures, these essential workers have earned this supplemental pay. As the labor market tightens, it is vital that we retain a healthy and motivated workforce to serve our communities. These measures will ensure we keep all our systems functioning as we transition toward recovery, while still keeping disease transmission to a minimum. I urge the County Council to swiftly consider and approve these ordinances.”
“Our county workers and grocery employees have kept our essential services running during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we will continue to rely on them for the next phase of pandemic response and recovery,” said Snohomish County Council Chair Stephanie Wright. “During this unprecedented and dangerous event, these workers continue to provide ready access to food and vital services and have more than earned our respect and additional support.”
“It’s time to show our appreciation to frontline workers by providing adequate compensation with hazard pay for the hardships they continue to endure during one of the most challenging times of the last century,” said Snohomish County Council Vice Chair Megan Dunn. “We are asking large grocery stores to provide hazard pay and be responsible employers, and in turn we are offering hazard pay to our frontline workers. All work has value—from bagging our groceries and stocking shelves to driving snowplows and protecting the public—and we value the sacrifices of our frontline families.”
The proposed ordinances would provide a one-time hazard payment ($1,250) from federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to those front-line Snohomish County employees who throughout the pandemic have been public-facing and engaged in essential government services. Grocery workers would receive $4 per hour in hazard pay until either the Governor lifts his state of emergency or December 31, 2021 at 11:59 p.m.
See the full press release for more information.
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The schedule for drive-thru COVID-19 testing through the Snohomish Health District is as follows:
- Everett site located at 3715 Oakes Avenue – Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Lynnwood Food Bank site at 5320 176th St SW – open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Evergreen State Fairgrounds in the front parking lot off of 179th Ave SE in Monroe – open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Appointments for testing are encouraged, and registration is available at www.snohd.org/testing. Those without internet access or needing language assistance can reach the Health District’s call center at 425-39-5278 to schedule a testing appointment. The call center is staffed 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Callers after hours or on weekends can leave a message, which will be returned on the next business day.
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“When they gave us the authorization to get the vaccine, that was the first thing on my mind – I want to protect my family. I want to keep serving my community.”
--Karina Gasperin, Snohomish County Latino Coalition
Why do you vax?
#vaxupsnoco
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Unemployment claims in Snohomish County fell 11.8% during the week of May 30 through June 5, the state Employment Security Department said Thursday. There were 837 initial claims filed in the county, 113 less than the week before, according to state data.
It marked the second week since early March 2020 that fewer than 1,000 initial unemployment claims were filed in the county. The decline has been underway for months. For comparison, there were nearly 2,000 more claims filed in the county during the week beginning January 3 than for the most-recent data collection period.
Statewide, there were 8,868 initial claims, down 12.1% from the prior week. Initial regular claims in the state were down 70% compared to the same period last year.
For more information, see the full press release.
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Washington’s COVID-19 exposure notification tool, WA Notify, saved an estimated 30 to 120 lives and likely prevented about 6,000 COVID-19 cases during the first four months that it was in use.
Researchers at the University of Washington School of Public Health and the state Department of Health conducted a modeling study of the free tool and released their results in a preprint version on June 7, 2021. Their analysis offers the first estimate of the public health value of Bluetooth exposure notification systems in the U.S.
More than 2 million people have enabled WA Notify since its launch on Nov. 30, 2020. The tool sends alerts to users if they may have been exposed to COVID-19. It works through smartphones without sharing any personal information. One third of all smartphone users in the state have activated WA Notify and Washington ranks highly compared with other states for adoption of the exposure notification tool.
More than 14,000 users have received a positive COVID-19 test and used the app to alert others anonymously. To make the tool broadly available, DOH has translated messages into 30 languages for in-app use and more than 36 languages for web pages, social media and other marketing efforts.
See the full press release for more information.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has devoted a full page on its website to addressing myths and misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines. Topics explored include:
- Can receiving a COVID-19 vaccine cause you to be magnetic?
- Do any of the COVID-19 vaccines authorized for use in the United States shed or release any of their components?
- Is it safe for me to get a COVID-19 vaccine if I would like to have a baby one day?
- Will a COVID-19 vaccine alter my DNA?
- Can CDC mandate that I get a COVID-19 vaccine?
- Can a COVD-19 vaccine make me sick with COVID-19?
See the CDC's page offering facts about COVID-19 vaccines for more information and links to a documentation.
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Young adults are not invincible to COVID. Did you know 20-29 year olds have the highest COVID infection rate out of any age group in Snohomish County and are more likely to have long-term impacts from COVID?
Get vaccinated to stop the spread. Visit http://bit.ly/snocovaccine to get your shot.
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While many younger people may have been spared from COVID hospitalizations, data suggest that some are showing lasting impacts. This is another reason to get vaccinated. Register for your vaccine at: http://bit.ly/snocovaccine
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The Internal Revenue Service has started sending letters to more than 36 million American families who, based on tax returns filed with the agency, may be eligible to receive monthly Child Tax Credit payments starting in July.
The expanded and newly-advanceable Child Tax Credit was authorized by the American Rescue Plan Act, enacted in March. The letters are going to families who may be eligible based on information they included in either their 2019 or 2020 federal income tax return or who used the Non-Filers tool on IRS.gov last year to register for an Economic Impact Payment.
Families who are eligible for advance Child Tax Credit payments will receive a second, personalized letter listing an estimate of their monthly payment, which begins July 15.
Most families do not need to take any action to get their payment. Normally, the IRS will calculate the payment amount based on the 2020 tax return. If that return is not available, either because it has not yet been filed or it has not yet been processed, the IRS will instead determine the payment amount using the 2019 return.
Eligible families will begin receiving advance payments, either by direct deposit or check. The payment will be up to $300 per month for each qualifying child under age 6 and up to $250 per month for each qualifying child ages 6 to 17.The IRS will issue advance Child Tax Credit payments on July 15, Aug. 13, Sept. 15, Oct. 15, Nov. 15 and Dec. 15.
See the full press release for more information.
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Join the state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, the state Department of Health, and Kaiser Permanente Washington for a conversation about vaccinating children and what families can expect next school year.
The webinar is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. on June 16. ASL and Spanish interpretation will be provided.
The panel plans to address:
- The latest guidance from the state health officials, and how parents and families can stay up-to-date over the summer.
- What do families need to know about COVID-19 vaccines, and how they affect children?
- What do parents and families of children under 12 need to know?
- How safe is it for children to go back to in-person school in the fall?
- What should parents and families of students with disabilities and health needs know?
- How best can parents and families talk to their children today to address their concerns?
Registration information.
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We've all heard of self-care, but community care is just as important, particularly now as we move into a different stage in the COVID crisis. Community care focuses on compassion for others, as well as improving access to care and reducing social isolation. Volunteering is one way to connect. What are some ways you enjoy engaging in your community? #communitycare
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One of the best things about being fully vaccinated (two weeks after your final shot), is that you can show your smile again! Masks are still needed in some situations, and many people may be more comfortable wearing one, so please remember to be kind. #VaxUpSnoCo
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ESSENTIAL LINKS AND PHONE NUMBERS FOR UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION
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