Seattle mayor urges caution at holiday gatherings as COVID surges in parts of US
Nov 24, 2021, 5:39 AM
(Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)
(Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)
With the Midwest and Northeast of the United States experiencing surges in COVID cases, King County is doubling down on its promotion of testing and vaccines to prevent a similar increase of its own after the Thanksgiving holiday.
Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan is encouraging anyone experiencing COVID symptoms to get tested before gathering to celebrate.
“Seattle [has] led the country in keeping our community safe, but the pandemic is still with us,” the mayor wrote in a recent statement. “Even with one of the highest vaccination rates in the country, getting tested at the first sign of symptoms is crucial to protecting our most vulnerable neighbors and keeping schools and businesses open. It is up to us to prevent another surge in infections this winter by wearing masks, washing hands, getting vaccinated, and getting tested at first sign of symptoms or exposure.”
Midwest states, such as Minnesota, have been hard hit with COVID cases in recent weeks as their daily caseloads double and federal medical teams are dispatched to assist hospitals reaching ICU capacity.
Vaccines making Thanksgiving easier, but hot spots remain
Seattle and King County have faired better, with public health officials pointing to a vaccine rate of 87.5% among those age 12 and over as reason for the relative stability.
Public Health — Seattle & King County reports a 17% decrease in hospitalizations related to COVID over the last seven days. The department reports a more modest decline in total positive cases: a 7% decrease over the last week, as of Nov. 23.
The city has a number of testing cites available, with locations operated by UW Medicine on Aurora in North Seattle, SODO, Rainier Beach, and West Seattle, as well as seven Curative kiosks placed throughout the city. A full list of testing sites is available here.
All King County operated COVID-19 testing centers will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 25-26.
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