Tag Archives: COVID-19

Health and Lifestyle, Local, National

Thirteen Washington counties at risk of falling back to Phase 2

[KIRKLAND] – (MTN) The Washington Department of Health will announce on Tuesday which counties will fall back to Phase 2 with 13 counties at risk of reinstated restrictions. Three counties moved backward to Phase 2 on April 16 – Cowlitz, Pierce, and Whitman. None of those counties are at risk of going to Phase 1, but none meet the requirements to move back to Phase 3.

For counties to remain in Phase 3, each must have less than 200 new COVID cases per 100,000 residents and less than 5.0 hospitalizations due to COVID per 100,000 residents. Currently, 13 counties exceed these requirements.

  • Douglas
  • Franklin
  • Grant
  • King
  • Kitsap
  • Lewis
  • Lincoln
  • Pacific
  • Pend-Oreille
  • Skagit
  • Snohomish
  • Spokane
  • Stevens
  • Yakima

New infection numbers are a leading indicator for hospitalizations, which increase 2 to 3 weeks after a surge in cases. Fatalities start to increase 4 to 6 weeks after.

Falling back to Phase 2 will reduce indoor occupancy in public spaces such as restaurants, gyms, and stores from 50% to 25%. Professional sporting events such as the Seattle Mariners games at T-Mobile Park will not move to lower occupancy. In Pierce County, where Phase 2 restrictions went into place on April 16, restaurants reported a 25% drop in business.

Nationally there are 37,000 COVID patients in the hospital, a sharp drop from the third wave, which saw numbers exceeding 110,000. According to the CDC, patients between 18 and 64 now represent the largest group hospitalized with the virus.

Washington state has seen declining infections and hospitalizations for people over 75 while rates are rapidly climbing for those under 50. “There is a very sharp increase, it appears, in younger adults…these are largely people who think that their age is protecting them from getting very sick from COVID-19,” Cassie Sauer, CEO and president of the Washington State Hospital Association, said during a press conference on Monday.

During the same press conference, Dr. Chris Baliga of Virginia Mason Franciscan Health stated, “40% of our cases were under the age of 40, which is mind-boggling to me. We never saw that earlier in the pandemic.”

The rise in infections is coming at the same time vaccine hesitancy is taking hold in certain Washington counties. Currently, some areas have thousands of excess doses available while other regions can’t meet demand. Governor Jay Inslee announced today that vaccine distribution would move to a needs-based model. Areas with higher demand will get more doses in an attempt to get ahead of the surge. Anyone 16 and older can get a COVID vaccination in Washington state, and vaccination is free.

Additionally, the CDC and FDA paused using the Johnson & Johnson vaccine after reports of a rare clotting disorder sickening 15 women and caused 3 deaths. The pause slowed down the vaccination rate and added to hesitancy. Both organizations concluded that the risk was extremely rare, with over 8 million doses previously administered. Use of the J&J vaccine restarted last week with an added warning about the potential of clots and additional treatment guidelines sent to physicians. 

The increase in COVID cases striking Washington, Oregon, and the Idaho panhandle is coming during a transitional time. The CDC changed guidelines on wearing masks, stating that individuals no longer need to wear masks outdoors and in small group settings, but recommends continuing to wear masks at large outdoor events such as concerts. Gov. Inslee announced earlier this week that Washington state had adopted those guidelines.

There is additional confusion on mask guidance, with some people believing that wearing a mask is no longer required after getting vaccinated. No vaccine is 100% effective, and herd immunity has not been achieved in the Americas. Vaccination significantly prevents infection and dramatically lessens the impact of becoming sickened by a break-through case. Because a vaccinated person could become infected in rare cases with a new variant and is more likely to be an asymptomatic carrier, masks are still advised when in an indoor public setting per CDC guidelines.

In many locations in the United States, the B.1.1.7 variant from the United Kingdom is becoming the dominant strain. The U.K. variant is up to 2 times more contagious than the earlier strains and targets younger patients with worse symptoms.

Another trend concerning the medical community is that younger patients are coming into the hospital in a sicker state. This delay narrows treatment options, including the use of therapies used on patients such as former President Donald Trump, that can lessen the impact of infection if delivered before symptoms become severe.

Only 9 Washington counties meet both requirements for new cases and hospitalizations to stay in Phase 3 – Asotin, Clallam, Columbia, Garfield, Grays Harbor, Klickitat, Mason, Walla Walla, and Whatcom.

BIPOC, Editorial, Health and Lifestyle, Local, National

Malcontentment Happy Hour: April 29, 2021

Video

Our live webcast from the former Seattle Anarchist Jurisdiction

Content Warning

Editor’s Note: This show contains videos of events that some viewers may find disturbing. Viewer discretion is advised. Additionally, our remote connection had issues at a couple of points in the show – we apologize for the experience.

The show from April 29, 2021, featured David Obelcz and our co-host Jennifer Smith.

  • Mike Solan is unhappy with a police officer’s experience at Chocolati
  • King County is getting $62 million in federal funds to aid the unhomed
  • Joe Biden addresses a joint session of Congress
  • Follow-ups and corrections
    • Correction on the Bothell stabbing story
    • Pierce County Council has announced they are pausing the investigation of Sheriff Ed Troyer
    • Update on the arrest of 73-year old Karen Garner
  • Royal’lee Wallace murder investigation
  • Seattle’s Indian population mobilizes to support their homeland during COVID crisis
  • Kirkland postal carriers start a food drive
  • Native Americans petition for the return of wild Bison in Montana

BIPOC, Editorial, Health and Lifestyle, Local, National

Malcontentment Happy Hour: April 28, 2021

Video

Our live webcast from the former Seattle Anarchist Jurisdiction

Content Warning

Editor’s Note: This show contains multiple videos of events that some viewers may find disturbing including graphic violence. Viewer discretion is advised.

The show from April 28, 2021, featured David Obelcz and our co-host Jennifer Smith.

  • Exodus from the Seattle Police Department continues
  • All Fireworks Banned in King County Beginning in 2022
  • Auburn Police Treat Road Rage Victim Like a Criminal Suspect
  • King County Health Tells Business Leaders to Prepare for Phase 2 COVID Restrictions
  • Was the Stabbing In Bothell and the Shooting in Rainier Beach Asian-bias Crimes?
  • Malcontented Minuted – Police Edition
    • Video shows Police seconds before the raid of Andrew Brown, Junior’s Home in Elizabeth City, North Carolina
    • Video shows police officers fist-bumping and celebrating the injuries they caused to a 73-year old Alzheimer’s Patient
    • Stephanie Bottom, 66, in brutalized by North Carolina police on body cam and is starting a federal lawsuit
    • Virginia police officer misidentifies a cellphone as a gun and shoots Isaiah Brown 10 times
    • Bodycam video of Anthony Alvarez being shot by Chicago Police shows him running away
    • Two Hialeah, Florida Police officers have been arrested for writing fake traffic tickets
    • Bodycam video released on April 28 shows Lymond Moses being shot by police after a pretext welfare check because he was sleeping in his car
    • Tennessee police officer fired for high-fiving a suspect who used a racial slur during the arrest
    • Bodycam video of Mario Gonzalez being arrested in Almeda, California shows officers restaining him for over 5 minutes before he dies in custody
    • Prince Georges police officer arrested on multiple charges, including first-degree assault, after fellow officers turn him in for treatment of a Black teen suspect
  • Colleen Echohawk on Native-American Women Leaders

Health and Lifestyle, Local

King County COVID cases keep climbing as officials tell businesses to prepare for Phase 2

[SEATTLE] – (MTN) The latest numbers for COVID cases and hospitalizations show a worsening situation with new COVID cases now 236 per 100,000 residents and hospitalizations up to 5.7 per 100,000 residents. To remain in Phase 3, new cases must be below 200 per 100,000 and hospitalizations under 5.0.

King County COVID Key Indicators for April 28, 2021 show cases and hospitalizations continue to surge

King County Public Health Director Patty Hayes warned business owners to get prepared, “We should expect that the announcement next week will be that King County will move back to Phase two.”

According to the website COVID Act Now, Washington has a 6.2% positivity rate and 76% of available ICU beds are utilized statewide. A positivity rate over 5% indicates under testing and ICU utilization over 80% is considered high. The 7-day moving average for new cases is 1,424, almost doubling since March 22 when the county moved to Phase 3.

The biggest impact is a rollback to 25% occupancy for businesses such as restaurants, bars, gyms, and yoga studios.

King County is not alone in dealing with surging COVID cases with numbers worsening in Pierce and Snohomish County.

Health and Lifestyle, Local

COVID cases and hospitalizations continue to grow in King County

[SEATTLE] – (MTN) King County appears to be destined to fall back to Phase 2 as COVID cases grew to 229 per 100,000 and hospitalizations increased to 5.5 per 100,000 in the latest data released from King County Health. To stay in Phase 3, new cases must be below 200 per 100,000 and hospitalizations below 5.0. The hospitalization number is most troubling, growing more than 25% from 4.3 per 100,000 to 5.5 in a little more than a week.

King County Health COVID dashboard indicates that cases start to increase after the county moved to Phase 3

COVID hospitalization and infection rates haven’t been this high since January, and the upward trend is similar to the third wave that tore through the state in November 2020. The majority of hospitalizations due to COVID are for those under 50 years old, with 40% of hospitalizations for people under 40 years old. Evergreen Hospital in Kirkland saw COVID hospitalizations increase 19% overnight. Despite younger and perceived healthier people being hospitalized, many with the B.1.1.7 U.K variant, the state mortality rate is 1.4%.

King County Health reports that almost 61% of county residents have received at least one dose of COVID vaccine, and 39% are fully vaccinated. Both King and Pierce counties are reporting thousands of available slots for vaccination for anyone over 16 without an appointment. Lumen Field and Seattle and the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma are mass vaccination sites with excess capacity.

The CDC announced new guidelines today on masks, saying vaccinated individuals no longer need to wear a mask outside unless they are in a large group setting. A quick survey around Kirkland and Bellevue showed high mask compliance outdoors, despite the change in guidance.

A move back to Phase 2 would reduce the capacity inside restaurants, bars, gyms, yoga studios, and other retailers from 50% to 25%. It would cause the closure of public entertainment facilities such as theaters and performance centers and could cause the closure of T-Mobile Park, just as the Mariners have started play.

Pierce County dropped back to Phase 2 on April 16, and restaurants are reporting a 25% drop in business while foot traffic is also down.

The challenges in Washington state are not unique, with Oregon experiencing its own surge. The CDC COVID data tracker indicates that the entire eastern seaboard except Georgia is experiencing widespread transmission. Hospital utilization by COVID patients is trending high in eastern Massachusetts, New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania, District of Columbia, south Florida, Houston, southern California, southeast Michigan, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Portland, and the metro Seattle area.

Texas, Wyoming, Arizona, Louisiana, Tennessee, Missouri, Nebraska, and Iowa are showing a significant surge in new cases reporting in the last 7 days.

Breaking News, Health and Lifestyle, Local

BREAKING: King County COVID metrics exceed requirements to stay in Phase 3

[SEATTLE] – (MTN) The April 26 COVID update from King County Health Department is out and indicates the region no longer qualifies to stay in Phase 3 reopening. In the latest updated King County is reporting 226.0 cases per 100,000, and 5.2 hospitalizations per 100,000. To remain in Phase 3, the county cannot exceed 200 cases per 100,000 and 4.9 hospitalizations.

The numbers back an alarming trend as regional hospitals report a significant increase in COVID patients. Evergreen Hospital in Kirkland, once ground zero for coronavirus in the United States, is reporting 13 patients. Overlake in Bellevue has seen a sharp increase in hospitalizations.

The Washington State Department of Health is reporting 484 hospitalized statewide, the highest level since January. Health officials stated that 40% of hospitalized patients are under 40 years old, and many are sickened by COVID variants. The U.K. variant is replacing the dominant strain. The B.1.1.7 strain is more contagious, virulent, and targets younger adults.

Moving back to Phase 2 will drop restaurant occupancy to 25%, and could result in the closure of movie theaters and sports arenas such as T-Mobile Park.

Snohomish County is also at risk of moving back to Phase 2, and Pierce County, which dropped to Phase 2 on April 16, has seen its metrics get worse.

Experts state that a number of factors are converging to push Washington into the fourth surge of COVD infections. COVID fatigue with social distancing and masks, the reintroduction of in-class teaching, better weather, vaccination hesitancy, and more contagious variants have combined to increase cases across the state.

The next evaluation by the state for if King and Snohomish County will move back to Phase 2 is on May, 2.

Health and Lifestyle, Local

King County on the brink of stepping back to Phase 2

[KIRKLAND] – (MTN) The latest data indicates that King County is on the bring of falling backward to Phase 2 when the state Department of Health does their next evaluation on May 2. New cases per 100,000 are up to 217.5 and hospitalizations are 4.8. To remain in Phase 3, new cases must be below 200 per 100,000 people and hospitalizations below 5.0. According to the Department of Health, 85.4% of all ICU beds are utilized in King County, 12.2% with COVID-19 patients.

Pierce County, which moved back to Phase 2 on April 16, has not made enough progress on reversing the trend in the county. Cases are at 217.3 per 100,000 and hospitalizations are 7.2. Snohomish County is also at risk of dropping to Phase 2 next week. Hospitalizations have more than doubled since last month and new cases are 205.0 per 100,000.

Moving to Phase 2 would drop occupancy of restaurants and other facilities to 25% and could potentially end spectators at sporting events at high school, college, and professional levels.

On Friday, Dr. Jeff Durchin of King County Health explained, “King County entered Phase 3 with the rest of Washington state on March 22, at a time when cases and hospitalizations were already on the rise. Since that time, our 7-day average case numbers have risen by 70 percent, and hospitalization rates have increased by 75 percent.”

King County dashboard for April 24, 2021, at 10:00 AM

State, county, and hospital officials all echoed the same observations. New cases are mostly COVID variants such as B.1.1.7 from the United Kingdom. A majority of hospitalized patients are in their 30s and 40s and are presenting with extreme illness. One area hospital is canceling elective surgeries due to its patient load.

Currently, 36% of all King County residents are fully immunized and 57% have received at least one dose. The National Institute of Health, CDC, and other federal officials have stopped talking about achieving herd immunity, taking a more muted position due to vaccination hesitancy. The number of people being vaccinated is slowing down, with hundreds of available appointments in South King County going unused late this week.

Among the Black population of Washington, only 47% have received at least one dose of a COVID vaccine. Distrust in vaccination programs born out of historical medical experiments conducted by the government on Black populations has created distrust and fear.

King County can move the numbers in the right direction before the May 2 evaluation. Wearing masks even if vaccinated, limiting exposure to people, and sticking with to-go options for restaurants and alcoholic beverages can help lower the positivity rate.

Health and Lifestyle, Local, National

CDC recommends lifting Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine pause

1 Comment

[SEATTLE] – (MTN) Lifting the pause on the Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine in the United States was recommended today by U.S. health regulators on Friday. A two-week review of data on over 8 million administered doses indicated that blood clot formations were extremely rare. A total of 15 significant adverse events were reported including 3 fatalities. The most recent reported fatality was a woman in Oregon, although investigators have not confirmed that her death was a result of the vaccine or other health issues.

Today’s recommendation opens the door for the one-dose J&J vaccine to be used again, once regulators confirm the CDC’s recommendation.

CDC official Sara Oliver told a panel today that approximately 26 people could suffer serious blood clots out of 10 million. However, she also reported that 1,400 deaths and 3,500 hospital admissions would also be prevented.

All of the people who experienced adverse events were born biologically as women and were from 18 to 54 years old. Some in the medical community are recommending a stronger warning for women about the extraordinarily rare risk. The panel rejected this suggestion in a second vote today.

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine has shown to be more effective on COVID-19 variants from Brazil, the United Kingdom, and South Africa. The vaccine also has fewer reported side effects than Moderna and Pfizer, particularly for people over 55 years of age.

Disclosure: The author of this story received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Health and Lifestyle, Local

Seattle OPA investigation into SPD officer Eric Whitehead almost completed

SEATTLE] – (MTN) The Seatle Office of Police Accountability (OPA) opened an investigation into officer Eric Whitehead after a January 15, 2021 incident where he refused to wear a mask at an area hospital. In a follow-up with the OPA, a spokesperson told Malcontent News that the investigation is nearly complete and a report will be issued within two weeks.

Officer Whitehead was at an area hospital to get a statement from an assault victim and refused to wear a mask. According to a nurse in the emergency department, the officer “blatantly refused” to put a mask on despite COVID positive patients nearby and standing in a “high traffic” hallway.

The staff at the unnamed hospital gave the officer masks multiple times, that he repeatedly threw away. The nurse escalated to the Charge Nurse after the officer became belligerent, and was “condescending” with her. The Charge Nurse then notified the Nursing Supervisor, and the officer finally put on a mask.

The compliance was short-lived, with officer Whitehead stating that he would take the mask off when he went into the patient room, potentially exposing the victim of assault to COVID. Despite a larger police presence, the staff noted that no other officers interceded on the behalf of the hospital, to ask Whitehead to put on a mask.

Although no hospital was identified in the investigation, Harborview has come under fire from the rank and file of Seattle Police through the group Safe Seattle. On November 21, 2020, an anonymous source complained about the “vibe,” in a Facebook post. “It used to be friendly. Now it’s either like we are invisible and they can’t see us at all… or they will stare at us. We used to have conversations and joke around with HMC folks, but the vibe has changed. Jail staff have noticed it, too, when they have to do hospital watches. Sure, it’s not all the staff to be clear, but the vibe has definitely tensed up.”

In another post, anonymous Seattle police officers complained that free snacks were no longer available for them in the emergency department. After a COVID-19 outbreak in the medical center sickened 13 and killed at least one, hospital administration identified that lax mask policy in break rooms while eating food likely contributed to the infections. As a result, UWM banned all food, including single-serving packages from all areas of the hospital except the cafeteria for anyone who is not a patient.

BIPOC, Editorial, Local, National

Malcontentment Happy Hour: April 21, 2021

Video

Our live webcast from the former Seattle Anarchist Jurisdiction

Editors Note: There is approximately five minutes of audio problems during our segment on Pinal County Sheriff Julian Navarrette. We apologize for the inconvenience.

The show from April 21, 2021, featured David Obelcz and our co-host Jennifer Smith.

  • Derek Chauvin verdict
  • Seattle Police tweak anti-protest actions
  • Pinal County Sheriff Julian Navarrette is a ‘super citizen’
  • COVID-19 Update