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November 18, 2022 - In a proclamation issued today, Mayor Nice and City Manager Bon lifted the City's COVID-19 State of Emergency, which had been in effect since March of 2020. The Island's original State of Emergency was issued in March of 2020 after a statewide proclamation from Washington Governor Jay Inslee declared that a state of emergency existed in all counties in Washington.
The City lifted Mercer Island's State of Emergency following the same action by the State on October 31, 2022, after thirty-four months of being in effect. The State of Emergency is no longer needed to preserve public health, safety, and welfare.
Please see Proclamation No. 300, which lifts the State of Emergency, for more information.
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At their April 13, 2022 meeting, the Washington State Board of Health voted unanimously not to recommend including the COVID-19 vaccine to the list of required immunizations for K-12 students.
The press release is available here and meeting materials, including links to watch the meeting, are available here.
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As announced over the past week, several State and County COVID-19 mandates are being lifted. This is the schedule:
King County Outdoor Mask Mandate: Ended February 18
Statewide Outdoor Mask Mandate: Ended March 1
King County Business Vaccine Verification: Ended March 1
Statewide Large Event Vaccine Verification: Ended March 1
King County Indoor Mask Mandate: Ends March 12*
Statewide Indoor and School Mask Mandate: Ends March 12*
Private businesses may continue to require that customers wear masks as a condition of entry beyond March 12.
Beyond March 12, masks will continue to be required in health care settings (ex. hospitals, nursing homes, etc.) and public transit including taxis and other ride-sharing services.
*Updated 3/1/2022
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Public Health – Seattle & King County is lifting the local health order requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination for entry into indoor recreational settings, or outdoor events. The vaccination verification policy will no longer be in effect as of March 1.
Businesses and organizations may continue to implement their own vaccination verification rules for their establishments.
Read the full press release here.
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News highlights for the week of February 7.
This will be the final weekly news wrap up.
Latest Numbers. In Mercer Island, there have been 2,738 cases reported as of February 11. DOH reported a total of 1,391,026 confirmed cases as of February 8. There have been 11,194 deaths with COVID in WA. For the latest city and county data, click here.
Government outdoor mask requirement will lift February 18. The King County local outdoor mask requirement will lift February 18 aligning with the repeal of Washington state's outdoor mask mandate. Masks continue to be required in indoor public settings.
Many states and European countries lift mandates. California joins a growing list of states including New York, Oregon, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and others that are lifting indoor mask and other mandates. Many European countries including the UK, France, Italy, Spain, Denmark, and others have ended, or are in the process of ending, vaccine, mask, and social distancing mandates. Sweden is also halting COVID-19 testing noting the cost and relevance of testing as “no longer justifiable.”
Vaccine News
COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough reports. Between January 17, 2021 – January 29, 2022, DOH officials have identified 326,338 vaccine breakthrough cases in the state. Of the cases that have data available, 1,394 people died. Read the latest reports here and here.
Last Call…
Situation Reports. Click here to catch up on the latest information and reports.
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News highlights for the week of January 31.
Latest Numbers. In Mercer Island, there have been 2,628 cases reported as of February 4. DOH reported a total of 1,355,428 confirmed cases as of February 1. There have been 10,845 deaths with COVID in WA. For the latest city and county data, click here.
Vaccine News
COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough reports. Between January 17, 2021 – January 22, 2022, DOH officials have identified 238,895 vaccine breakthrough cases in the state. Of the cases that have data available, 1,146 people died. Read the latest reports here and here.
King County Vaccine Data At-a-Glance. Page updated daily here.
Last Call…
Situation Reports. The SitRep is issued monthly. Click here to catch up on the latest information and reports.
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News highlights for the week of January 17.
Latest Numbers. In Mercer Island, there have been 2,137 cases reported as of January 20. DOH reported a total of 997,703 cases as of January 19 and there have been 10,339 deaths with COVID in WA. For the latest city and county data, click here.
Get free at-home COVID-19 tests. Washington State Program: The WA DOH has launched a statewide portal that will allow COVID-19 tests to ship directly to residents. Beginning January 21, WA residents can order rapid-antigen COVID tests online by visiting www.sayyescovidhometest.org to order up to 5 free tests per household which will be delivered at no cost. Federal Program: Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order 4 free at-home COVID-19 tests from the Federal Government. The tests are free and orders typically ship in 7-12 days. Visit www.covidtests.gov for more info and to order tests.
Vaccine News
Increase in breakthrough cases related to current COVID-19 surge. Experts are seeing a 43% increase in the number of "vaccine breakthrough" cases statewide. Read the full news release.
COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough reports. Between January 17, 2021 – January 8, 2022, DOH officials have identified 162,307 vaccine breakthrough cases in the state. Of the cases that have data available, 969 people died. Unvaccinated 12-34 year-olds are just 2 times more likely to get COVID-19 and 5 times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID compared with their fully vaccinated peers. In the 35-64 category, unvaccinated adults are 3 times more likely to get COVID-19 compared with fully vaccinated peers and 8 times more likely to be hospitalized. Adults 65+ are 4 times more likely to get COVID-19 compared with fully vaccinated peers and 7 times more likely to be hospitalized. Read the latest reports here and here.
King County Vaccine Data At-a-Glance. Page updated daily here.
Last Call…
UK Lifts Covid Restrictions. In global news this week, the UK government announced that it is lifting all pandemic-related restrictions including mask-wearing, vaccine passports, and the recommendation to work from home.
Situation Reports. The SitRep is issued monthly. Click here to catch up on the latest information.
News highlights now available bi-monthly. This news wrap-up has moved to twice a month. Look for these news highlights on the first and third Fridays of the month.
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Washington State Program
The WA DOH launched a statewide portal that will allow COVID-19 tests to ship directly to residents.
Beginning January 21, WA residents can order rapid-antigen COVID tests online by visiting www.sayyescovidhometest.org to order up to 5 free tests per household which will be delivered at no cost.
Federal Program
Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order 4 free at-home COVID-19 tests from the Federal Government.
The tests are free and orders typically ship in 7-12 days. Visit www.covidtests.gov for more info and to order tests.
*Image used as an example and may not represent the type of test you receive.
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News highlights for the week of January 3.
Latest Numbers. In Mercer Island, there have been 1,580 positive cases reported as of January 7. DOH reported a total of 805,459 confirmed cases as of January 5. There have been 9,974 COVID-19 deaths in Washington. For the latest city and county data, click here.
Moving to bi-monthly news wrap-ups. This news wrap-up is moving to bi-monthly updates. Look for these news highlights on the first and third Fridays of the month.
Vaccine News
COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough report. Between January 17, 2021 – December 11, DOH officials have identified 86,237 vaccine breakthrough cases in the state. Of the cases that have data available (about half), 87% reported symptoms, 8% were hospitalized, and 851 people died. Read the latest report.
King County vaccine data at-a-glance. Page updated daily here.
Need vaccine support? Call the DOH support line 1-833-VAX-HELP for assistance.
COVID-19 Reporting
New report tracks risk of COVID-19 reinfection in Washington state. A new weekly report includes information on hospitalizations and deaths, demographics, trends over time, and vaccination status of people with a reinfection where DOH has information about both infection events. The first report indicates that from September 1 through December 26, 2021, in Washington state:
- A total of 4,404 people had a reinfection out of a total of 264,520 cases.
- 223 (5.1%) people with a reported reinfection were hospitalized.
- 22 (0.9%) people with a reported reinfection died.
- 2,640 (59.9%) of people with a reinfection were unvaccinated.
Read the full news release.
Last Call…
Situation Reports. The SitRep is issued monthly. Click here to catch up on the latest information and reports.
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News highlights for the week of December 27.
Latest Numbers. In Mercer Island, there have been 1,306 positive cases reported as of December 29. DOH reported a total of 737,652 confirmed cases as of December 27. There have been 9,822 COVID-19 deaths in Washington. For the latest city and county data, click here.
CDC Updates and Shortens Recommended Isolation and Quarantine Period. On December 27, the CDC updated its isolation and quarantine guidance, reducing recommended isolation from 10 days to 5 days for asymptomatic people and a 5-day quarantine period for people exposed to COVID-19. Read more about the updated guidance here.
Vaccine News
COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough report. Between January 17, 2021 – December 11, DOH officials have identified 86,237 vaccine breakthrough cases in the state. Of the cases that have data available (about half), 87% reported symptoms, 8% were hospitalized, and 851 people died. Read the latest report.
King County Vaccine Data At-a-Glance. Page updated daily here.
Need vaccine support? Call the DOH support line 1-833-VAX-HELP for assistance.
Last Call…
Situation Reports. The SitRep is issued monthly. Click here to catch up on the latest information and reports.
