FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                
February 5, 2021

CONTACT: 
Heather Thomas, 425.508.4980
hthomas@snohd.org

Play it Smart this Super Bowl Sunday

SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash. – Moving into Phase 2 this week was welcome news to the business owners, employees, schools and residents of Snohomish County. This easing of restrictions is good for our economy, our children’s education, and so many other social and health needs in our communities.

It also means that everyone must be diligent in following all precautions to minimize risk of exposure and transmission. This is particularly important with Super Bowl Sunday ahead. Here are some reminders for a safer game day: 

• Cheering on the team from home? A virtual gathering with others is best and safest. Indoor gatherings of no more than five people outside the household are permissible, with a maximum of 15 people for outdoor gatherings. Both indoor and outdoor gatherings are limited to two households. 
• Going to a local restaurant to watch the game? Indoor dining is available at 25 percent capacity, with a max of six people per table and a limit of two households.
• Regardless of how you celebrate, face masks and physical distancing still apply when you’re around people you don’t live with.
• Now’s not the time to crowd around the TV for the big game. Spread out the fans. 
• Keep the masks on when not eating or drinking.
• Speaking of eating, no double-dipping. Either bring your own food or have separate plates with one person dishing out. The goal is to limit the places where multiple people are touching the same surface and breathing the same air.
• Also wash hands frequently, especially before and after eating, with hand sanitizer as needed in between. 

Enjoy the day but make smart play calls. The Roadmap to Recovery is for a 2-week period, with the next data published on February 12. 

“We do not want to move backward, but that will happen if we’re not careful,” said Dr. Chris Spitters, Health Officer for the Snohomish Health District. “The region must continue to meet at least 3 of the 4 metrics to remain in Phase 2. It is incumbent upon all of us to make wise decisions for the sake of our local businesses and neighbors and to continue to drive down COVID-19 transmission in the county.”

Second Doses for People Vaccinated at Drive-thru Sites

An email was sent out on Thursday to everyone vaccinated at the Arlington and Monroe drive-thru vaccination sites providing instructions on what to expect for scheduling the second dose. This email reminder was sent only once per email address. If someone registered for both themselves and for others using a single email address, they will need to share that information with those that were registered for the first dose under the same email address. 

Another email will be sent within a few days of the target date for the second dose. That email will include a registration link that is for second doses only and must not be shared. However, that link can be used to schedule appointments for other individuals who had previously registered for the first dose at the mass vaccination site under a shared email address.

Vaccine supply is still limited, and the Snohomish County Vaccine Taskforce does not know exactly how many second doses will be arriving in the coming weeks. This means that appointments may not be available on someone’s specific target date, but there is no cause for concern. The available appointments will still be within the acceptable window for their second dose. 

If someone was vaccinated at the Arlington Airport or Evergreen Fairgrounds site in Monroe and did not receive the email, they should send their information to mass.vaccinations@snoco.org. If an individual does not have access to internet or an email address, they can contact the call center Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 425.339.5278. The call center will collect the information to be send to the mass vaccination team.

DOH Explains Vaccine Allocation Process

There are a lot of questions recently regarding the state’s allocation process. This week, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) allocated 19% of vaccine to community health centers, federally qualified health centers, local health jurisdictions and private practitioners, 23% to hospitals, 36% to mass vaccination sites, 19% to pharmacies, and 3% to tribes and Urban Indian Health Programs. 

Each week, the state allocates vaccine from our limited supply to enrolled providers through a multi-step process that starts Saturday and is completed by Thursday night to meet the CDC’s Friday morning ordering deadline. Enrolled providers place their requests through the state’s Immunization Information System (WAIIS) and DOH gathers information from local health jurisdictions—like the Snohomish Health District—to help determine their priorities of where vaccine should go. 

Decisions are made by DOH based on several factors: proportional population of those eligible in the county, completeness of data reporting by providers, providers’ current inventory and documented throughput, equity, and access at all provider types (hospitals, pharmacies, mass vaccination sites, and clinics).

Don’t Delay Medical and Dental Appointments

A report from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) analyzed insurance usage in March through May of 2020 for children covered by Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), noting a significant decline compared to the same period in 2019. The CDC also reported that by June 30, 2020, 41 percent of adults in the U.S. had delayed or avoided medical care because of COVID-19 related concerns.

“Delays in medical and dental care have long-term negative impacts on the health of children, youth, and adults, and can worsen existing health inequities,” said Dr. Spitters. “We encourage people to seek timely routine, urgent, and emergency care.”

The Health District aligns with recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics and American Dental Association that medical and dental care should continue during the COVID-19 pandemic. Governor Inslee’s proclamation 20-24.2 requires medical and dental facilities to follow strict infection prevention guidelines and adjust the way that care is delivered to protect their patients and staff.

Schedule for COVID Testing

The Health District has made schedule modifications to its community-based testing sites:

• 3900 Broadway site in Everett – remains open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Everett Community College site at 915 N. Broadway – now open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Lynnwood Food Bank site at 5320 176th St SW – open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and now Saturdays 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-Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Sultan Elementary School site at 501 Date St – this location is a walk-up test site, and is open Fridays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Testing is by appointment only and registration is now open at www.snohd.org/testing. Those without internet access or needing language assistance can reach the Health District’s call center at 425.339.5278. 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.

Testing is open to anyone, regardless of symptoms, but remains strongly encouraged for individuals that fit the following criteria:

• Anyone with any of the following COVID-19 symptoms (fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headaches, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea); or
• Close contact of a confirmed case; or
• Anyone who lives or works in a congregate setting; or
• Work in healthcare, EMS, law enforcement or other fields where work settings have a higher risk of catching or spreading COVID-19; or
• Part of a family or social network that has had a case.

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