COVID-19 Information

COVID-19 information pages are no longer updated. 

See the CDC's COVID website for current information and trends. 

• Mask Guidance Update for King County

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  There's a bit of confusion about mask guidance. Not to worry, King County has you covered! Here's a May 18 update directly from them:

  Public Health – Seattle and King County is continuing to work with Washington state about implementation of the CDC's new mask guidance for fully vaccinated people.

  In addition, over the weekend, the CDC Director and the Washington state Department of Health clarified that ending indoor mask mandates should be linked to local COVID-19 rates and vaccination coverage rates. King County's COVID-19 cases and hospitalization rates are elevated, and Public Health is considering whether ending the indoor mask mandate is the best option in King County at this time.

  We will provide an update later this week.

  Here is what you should know for now:

  • Evidence suggests that the vaccines are highly effective at protecting fully vaccinated people from getting sick and reducing the risk of spreading COVID-19.
  • Everyone should continue to wear masks in health-care settings like hospitals, long-term care, or doctor's offices; in correctional facilities; in homeless shelters; in schools; and on public transportation.
  • Businesses may continue to require people to wear masks in their establishments and to ask for proof of vaccination.
  • When unvaccinated people gather indoors, especially without wearing masks, they are at risk of getting COVID-19 themselves as well as spreading it to others.

  Read this update at KingCounty.gov.

• News for the Week of May 10

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  News highlights for the week of May 10.

  Latest Numbers. In Mercer Island, there have been 537 positive cases reported as of April 23. DOH reported a total of 386,903 confirmed cases as of May 12. There have been 5,626 COVID-19 deaths in Washington. For the latest city and county data, click here.

  Vaccination Pop-Up Event This Saturday at MIHS. MI School District has announced a pop-up Pfizer clinic for students in partnership with Costco Pharmacies, to be held this Saturday, May 15, at the MIHS Gym from 8am-Noon. Pre-registration and a parental consent form are required. Learn more here: tinyurl.com/MISD-Pfizer.

  State to lift COVID restrictions on June 30. On Thursday, the state announced that pandemic related restrictions will be lifted by June 30 – earlier if 70% of Washington adults 16 and older have received at least their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Currently 57% of Washington residents 16 and over have initiated vaccinations. Next Tuesday, May 18, all counties will move to Phase 3, noting a move to statewide phase movement. Click here for more information.

  Washington Adopts Updated CDC Mask Guidance – No Masks for Vaccinated. Effective immediately, fully vaccinated adults no longer need to wear a mask in Washington State. Businesses will retain the right to require masks and masks will be required on public transportation. Click here for the full guidance.

  Everyone 12 and older now eligible for Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. On Monday, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted an emergency use authorization (EUA) amendment to expand the Pfizer vaccine to people 12 years and older. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup voted to recommend the vaccine for immediate use on Tuesday, May 11. The State DOH has expanded COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to everyone 12 and older. Those under age 18 may need consent from a parent or guardian to get the vaccine, unless they are legally emancipated. Click here for more.

  Situation Reports. The City has moved to monthly Situation Reports (SitReps), available the first Friday of the month. The next SitRep will be available the afternoon of June 4. Click here to catch up on the latest information and reports.

  Vaccine News

  What parents should know about vaccination for 12-15 year olds. Youth age 12-15 can now get COVID-19 vaccination. Our immunizations manager answers questions, including about what teens can do after vaccination, testing of the vaccine, and how this age group can get vaccinated in King County.

  King County COVID-19 Vaccine Data At-a-Glance. Page updated daily here.

  "Vax to the Future" events at COVID-19 vaccination centers. Launching on May 15, Public Health is partnering with 4Culture to start a new pilot program at vaccination sites called "Vax to the Future" which will include live music performances, "I got vaccinated" buttons designed by local artists, and a photobooth for people to take selfies to enhance the experience of getting vaccinated. We will post additional information soon on where to find us.

  Need vaccine support? The DOH has a new support line. Call 1-833-VAX-HELP for assistance.

  School News

  2021-2022 School Guidance. On May 13, the State Department of Health (DOH) released guidance for the 2021 summer school session and 2021-2022 school year. Under the updated guidance, schools must plan to provide full time in-person education for all interested students for the 2021-2022 school year with mitigation efforts including: all students, school personnel, volunteers, andxl visitors must wear at least a cloth face covering or an acceptable alternative when indoors; must have basic ventilation; schools should prepare to provide instruction for students who are excluded from school due to illness or quarantine; and others. Click here to read the full guidance.

  Last Call…

  Check out the DOH’s new www.LifeAfterVaccine.org site.

• State to Lift COVID Restrictions by June 30

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  On Thursday, May 13 the state announced that pandemic related restrictions will be lifted by June 30 – earlier if 70% of Washington adults 16 and older have received at least their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

  Currently 57% of Washington residents 16 and over have initiated vaccinations.

  Next Tuesday, May 18, all counties will move to Phase 3, noting a move to statewide phase movement. Then, on June 30, the state will remove all restrictions on businesses and activities, fully reopening the state. However, if the statewide hospital bed count ever reaches 90%, the state will reinstitute restrictions.

  Effective immediately, restrictions on indoor and outdoor spectator events have also been relaxed, lifting any limits on the number of vaccinated attendees.

  Local health officials will have the authority to institute localized restrictions if they deem necessary.

  The Governor also issued updated guidance for schools for the fall.

  Click here for more information.

• Washington Adopts Updated CDC Mask Guidance – No Masks for Vaccinated

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  "The vaccine is your ticket to freedom." Gov. Jay Inslee

  Effective immediately, fully vaccinated adults no longer need to wear a mask in Washington State. Following the announcement earlier today by the CDC, Gov. Inslee announced that Washington will fully adopt the CDC's updated masking guidance.

  Businesses will retain the right to require masks and masks will be required on public transportation. The updated guidance does not apply to health care settings like hospitals, long-term care, or doctor’s offices; correctional facilities, homeless shelters, or schools.

  Click here for the CDC's updated guidance.

• News for the Week of May 3

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  News highlights for the week of May 3.

  Latest Numbers. In Mercer Island, there have been 579 positive cases reported as of May 6. DOH reported a total of 380,109 confirmed cases as of May 5. There have been 5,553 COVID-19 deaths in Washington. As of May 3, more than 5,642,156 doses of vaccine have been given across the state. For the latest city and county data, click here.

  Growing List of Local Universities Requiring Students to Be Vaccinated Against COVID-19. On May 3, the University of Washington joined Pacific Lutheran University and Washington State University in requiring students to be vaccinated before starting school in the fall. Other universities are in the process of deciding about requiring the COVID-19 vaccine. Check specific universities for more information.

  Spectator event and religious organization guidance adds vaccinated sections to increase capacity. Gov. Jay Inslee approved an update to guidance documents for spectator events and religious and faith-based organizations that allows facilities to increase capacity by adding sections for vaccinated attendees. Read the full news release here.

  Getting vaccinated just got easier (at last!). Thousands of COVID-19 vaccine appointments are open across King County. Kent and Auburn sites now offer walk-in vaccination and additional hours. To find a vaccine provider near you, visit kingcounty.gov/vaccine.

  Need a Lift to Your Appointment? The Vaccine Action Command and Coordination System (VACCS) Center has partnered with Lyft, Uber, United Way Worldwide, Washington 211 and Sea Mar Community Health Centers to provide access to free and discounted rides to vaccine appointments for people with transportation challenges. Beginning May 10, people who face transportation barriers and need a ride to get a vaccine can call the state COVID-19 information hotline at 833-VAX-HELP or in King County call the Coordinated Vaccine Transportation Helpline at 425-943-6706 to find the ride that best fits your needs.

  May 7 Situation Report. Click here for highlights and information from the 61st week of the City’s response to the pandemic. Available here.

  Information for Businesses

  Three ways you can improve your building’s indoor air quality. Public Health—Seattle & King County recommends that business owners and building operators implement strategies to improve indoor air quality. Along with wearing masks, keeping physical distance, and limiting the number of people who are indoors together, this is an important way to decrease people’s risk for COVID-19. Click here to learn more.

  Restaurant Revitalization Fund. SBA has announced emergency assistance for eligible restaurants, bars, and other qualifying businesses impacted by COVID-19. SBA will begin accepting applications via the application portal(External link) on Monday, May 3 at 9 a.m. PDT. The application portal will remain open to any eligible establishment until all funds are exhausted. Click here to learn more.

  Vaccine News

  Vaccine allocation strategy moving to provider need-based approach. DOH is adjusting the way COVID-19 vaccines are allocated in an effort to quickly and equitably reach more people statewide and get vaccine where it’s needed most. Read the full news release here.

  King County COVID-19 Vaccine Data At-a-Glance. Page updated daily here. As of May 6, for the Mercer Island zip code, 84.5% or 16,840 people have started vaccinations and 61.1% or 11,906 people have completed the series.

  Need vaccine support? The DOH has a new support line. Call 1-833-VAX-HELP for assistance.

  Why Now is the Right Time for Your COVID-19 Vaccine. King County Public Health – The COVID-19 vaccine is available for everyone over 16 who lives or works in Washington. But now that you’re eligible, should you rush to get one? We chatted with Danielle Koenig, Health Promotion Supervisor and immunization education expert for The Washington State Department of Health, to learn why you should get the vaccine as soon as possible. Click here to learn more.

  Resources

  King County Eviction Prevention and Rental Assistance Program. Landlords with 5 units behind on rent can now sign up to receive rent assistance for eviction prevention. For tenants needing rental assistance, King County is scheduled to make applications for tenants starting on May 17th. See the EPRAP homepage for details at https://kingcounty.gov/eprap

  Coping with COVID-19: Vaccine Envy. Waiting can be difficult. Waiting can include feelings of frustration, jealousy, and resentment towards those who already got the vaccine. This can add extra pain to what has already been a difficult year. But the good news is that there are things we can do to cope while we wait for our shot. Learn more here.

  Updated Spanish-language guidance from DOH. Child Care, Youth Development, and Day Camps During COVID-19 is available in Spanish and reflects all guidance updates for these areas as of April 14.

  COVID-19 Reporting

  Vaccine Data: State now publishing county vaccination data by race and ethnicity to improve local equity efforts. If data is your thing, does the state have exciting news for you! The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) COVID-19 data dashboard now includes county-level data on the race and ethnicity of people who have been vaccinated. The newly available data will help counties, local partners and the public understand where there are inequities in order to address them more intentionally. The county-level data were first released in a report on April 23 and include a race and ethnicity breakdown for people with at least one dose of vaccine and people who are fully vaccinated.

  Last Call…

  Choosing Safer Activities. If you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, you can start doing many things that you had stopped doing because of the pandemic. Outdoor visits and activities are safer than indoor activities, and fully vaccinated people can participate in some indoor events with little risk. Fully vaccinated people can attend a small, outdoor gathering with fully vaccinated and unvaccinated people, as well as eat at outdoor restaurants with friends from multiple households. Read more here.

  And one more.

  Check out the DOH’s new www.LifeAfterVaccine.org site!

• King County Stays in Phase 3 as Governor Announces Pause in Healthy Washington Roadmap to Recovery Evaluation Process

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  On Tuesday, May 4, Governor Inslee announced a two-week pause in rollbacks and advances in the Healthy Washington Roadmap to Recovery.

  King County will remain in Phase 3.

  Under the pause, every county will remain in its current phase. At the end of two weeks, each county will be re-evaluated.

  According to health officials, current data suggests that the fourth wave has hit a plateau. The decision was made in consultation with the Department of Health (DOH).

  Click here to read the statement from the Governor’s Office.

• News for the Week of April 19

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  News highlights for the week of April 19.

  Latest Numbers. In Mercer Island, there have been 537 positive cases reported as of April 23. DOH reported a total of 363,840 confirmed cases as of April 21. There have been 5,428 COVID-19 deaths in Washington. For the latest city and county data, click here.

  Public Alert: Get tested if you have COVID-19 symptoms or exposure, but avoid unusual testing operations. Recently, Public Health – Seattle & King County became aware of a small number of unusual COVID testing operations in King County that the public should avoid. Their practices raise several concerns, including providing potentially inaccurate results. Click here for information about how to identify official (and unofficial) testing locations.

  COVID-19 immunity increasing, but not enough to slow transmission. All Washingtonians, including those who are fully vaccinated, still need to take steps to slow the spread while more people are being vaccinated. Read the full news release here.

  Many new COVID-19 vaccine appointments available in South King County. A large number of new COVID-19 vaccine appointments are open now at King County’s Auburn Outlet Mall and Kent ShoWare clinics for King County residents, ages 16+. Appointments are open from today through Monday, April 26. Registration required at CovidVaccine.KingCounty.gov. For assistance by phone (interpretation available), call 206-477-3977 any day 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM.

  New ventilation guidance is now available. Click here for more.

  Situation Reports. The City has moved to monthly Situation Reports (SitReps), available the first Friday of the month. The next SitRep will be available the afternoon of May 7. Click here to catch up on the latest information and reports.

  Information for Businesses

  Financial Relief Programs Available for Businesses. Programs are available to help businesses. Here are a few of the latest resources:

  • The American Rescue Plan Act Restaurant Revitalization Fund has made $28.6b in federal grants for eating & drinking establishments is available. We’re still awaiting application guidelines but know the program will be administered by the SBA. Learn more from the National Restaurant Association’s FAQs factsheet: https://restaurant.org/downloads/pdfs/business/faq_revitalization_grants
  • The Shuttered Venue Operators Grant application opened on April 8 via the SBA. This program provides $16b in grants to support organizations like theaters, museums, concert venues, and more that had to close during the pandemic. Learn more and apply here: https://www.svograntportal.sba.gov/s/
  • Did you receive a PPP loan and need assistance with the loan forgiveness process? REACH and Business Health Trust partnered to provide FREE CPA assistance to small businesses in the region. E-mail leighj@seattlechamber.com to get connected with CPA services from Clark Nuber.

  Vaccine News

  Allocation update. The State’s three-week vaccine forecast shows allocations for Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna will remain fairly consistent. The forecast is an estimate that helps with planning at the state and local level. The numbers are subject to change as vaccine availability from the federal government may change.

  • Week of April 25: 370,340 total doses (191,680 first doses, 178,660 second doses)
    • This includes 212,940 doses of Pfizer and 157,400 doses of Moderna
  • Week of May 2: 377,360 total doses (191,680 first doses, 185,680 second doses)
    • This includes 219,960 doses of Pfizer and 157,400 doses of Moderna
  • Week of May 9: 383,360 total doses (191,680 first doses, 191,680 second doses)
    • This includes 219,960 doses of Pfizer and 163,400 doses of Moderna

  In addition to Pfizer and Moderna, the forecast shows Washington will receive 4,300 doses of the J&J vaccine in early May. We hope to learn more from our federal partners about the J&J vaccine at the end of the week.

  King County COVID-19 Vaccine Data At-a-Glance. Page updated daily here.

  COVID-19 Vaccines: Just the Facts! (Part 2). As part of King County Public Health’s ongoing efforts to dispel rumors and provide factual information, they are answering frequently asked questions. Click here for the latest installation. (Missed COVID-19 Vaccines: Just the Facts! (Part 1)? Not to worry – just click here for the post!)

  Resources

  Coping with COVID: Mindfulness and Self-Care. In this episode of DOH's behavioral health podcast on coping with COVID-19, Kira Mauseth, Ph.D., and Doug Dicharry, M.D., discuss how we can practice mindfulness and self-care to reduce stress and anxiety. Listen to the episode here.

  Last Call…

  Online presentation requests via King County COVID-19 Speakers' Bureau. Is your community group looking for a presentation on COVID-19? Public Health offers free customized presentations. Their professional speakers offer presentations with the latest information, resources, and guidance on COVID-19 to communities in King County. They are also able to provide presentations in various languages including Arabic, English, Spanish, and more. They can provide fully accessible webinars, including live captioning, ASL interpreters, materials available in advance, and translation of materials into Braille. Click here for more information.

• News for the Week of April 12

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  News highlights for the week of April 12.

  Latest Numbers. In Mercer Island, there have been 529 positive cases reported as of April 15. DOH reported a total of 355,387 confirmed cases as of April 14. There have been 5,362 COVID-19 deaths in Washington. For the latest city and county data, click here.

  Statement on pausing J&J vaccine. DOH will pause the use of the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine statewide starting immediately, following the guidance of the FDA/CDC. Use of that vaccine will be put on hold until we receive further recommendations from our federal partners about how best to move forward. Read the full statement here.

  Inslee announces three counties to roll back to Phase 2. Cowlitz, Pierce, and Whitman counties do not meet the Phase 3 Healthy Washington metrics for reopening activities. Read the full news release here.

  Situation Reports. The City has moved to monthly Situation Reports (SitReps), available the first Friday of the month. The next SitRep will be available the afternoon of May 7. Click here to catch up on the latest information and reports.

  Information for Businesses

  New "SSTAR Phase 3 update webinar" video for King County food establishments. This is an information-sharing webinar for food establishments to operate safety in King County. Click this link to watch the video.

  Vaccine News

  Everyone over 16 is becoming eligible for COVID-19 vaccine, but supply is still catching up. Public Health Insider blog – Starting April 15, all people in Washington age 16 and older are eligible for COVID-19 vaccination. However, limited vaccine supply continues to be our number one challenge to vaccinating everyone who is eligible and who wants to be vaccinated. Click here to read the post.

  King County COVID-19 Vaccine Data At-a-Glance. Page updated daily here.

  COVID-19 vaccine distribution update. As of April 10, more than 4,189,884 doses of vaccine have been given across the state, which is more than 82 percent of the 5,094,380 doses that have been delivered to our providers and long-term care programs. We're currently averaging 57,577 vaccine doses given each day, and more than 22 percent of people in Washington are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Read the full news release here.

  Resources

  Inslee issues proclamation on the Family Emergency Assistance Program (FEAP). The proclamation allows for the expansion of the FEAP to assist families who continue to suffer economic hardship during the pandemic. Read the full news release here.

• All Washingtonians Now Eligible for COVID-19 Vaccine

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  Today, April 15, all Washingtonians age 16 and up become eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. Over the past four months since Washington began administering doses of the vaccination, the state has followed a tiered eligibility system, beginning with those most at risk of hospitalization and death.

  Today’s open eligibility is driven in part by concerns over the trends emerging across the state and the possibility of a fourth wave of infections that may see greater numbers of more powerful virus variants, according to the Department of Health (WADOH).

  Approximately 4.25 million doses have been administered in Washington to date, and about 24% of residents have been fully vaccinated. Washingtonians are advised to use the state’s online Vaccine Locator tool to register for an appointment or call the Vaccine Hotline at 1-800-525-0127, then press # (language assistance is available). On Tuesday, in accordance with CDC guidance, WADOH announced a temporary pause on the use of Johnson & Johnson vaccine after 6 patients nationwide appeared to experience blood clots. Only about 160,000 doses of this vaccine brand have been administered in Washington to date.

  Earlier this week, Governor Inslee announced that Cowlitz, Pierce and Whitman counties are not meeting the metrics to stay in Phase 3 of his Healthy Washington Recovery Plan, and will roll back to Phase 2 on April 16. The two metrics used are case counts and hospitalizations. King County remains in Phase 3.

• Statement on Pausing J & J Vaccine from the Washington DOH

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  For immediate release: April 13, 2021

  The Washington State Department of Health will pause the use of the Johnson & Johnson (J & J) vaccine statewide starting immediately, following the guidance of the FDA/CDC. Use of that vaccine will be put on hold until we receive further recommendations from our federal partners about how best to move forward. Safety is the highest priority when it comes to all COVID-19 vaccines.

  This action is being taken out of an abundance of caution based on the appearance of a rare but serious side effect including serious brain blood clots (CVST) combined with low platelet counts in six patients, all women under 50. The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) will review these cases in the days ahead and will recommend guidance going forward.

  About 149,000 doses of J & J vaccine have been administered in Washington so far, out of more than four million doses total. At this time, we have no knowledge of the six patients who experienced these blood clots being Washington residents.

  For those who got the vaccine more than a month ago, the risk of this complication is very low at this time. People who have received the J & J vaccine who develop severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain, or shortness of breath within three weeks after vaccination should contact their health care provider. It also demonstrates how well the robust vaccine safety monitoring systems work, since this potential safety concern was identified quickly and vaccines were paused to allow for further investigation.

  No definitive cause has been identified yet, but the FDA said today that a probable cause is a rare immune response generated by an individual after receiving the vaccine.

  DOH will continue to monitor the situation related to J & J vaccine and update on its use as the pause is reviewed and once it is lifted.

  Visit the DOH Newsroom for all news releases.
  Subscribe to get news releases in Spanish. You will continue to receive the English version.
  Washington State Department of Health is your source for a healthy dose of information.