People get to receive the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine during the opening day of the Community Vaccination Site, a collaboration between the city of Seattle, First & Goal Inc. and Swedish health services at the Lumen Field Event Center in Seattle, Washington, on March 13th. , 2021. (Photo by Jason Redmond / AFP) (Photo by JASON REDMOND / AFP via Getty Images)
While cases are dwindling at King County long-term care facilities, Dr. Jeff Duchin, Seattle and King County Public Health Officer, says they see increases elsewhere.
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Duchin explained Friday in his weekly speech that there has been an increase in cases in kindergartens and K-12 schools from less than 2% in January to 5% in the last three weeks.
“We’ve also seen eight outbreaks associated with youth sports leagues in the last eight weeks,” he said, adding that those teams reported taking precautions during games and practices.
However, there have been risks and opportunities for transmission during trips to and from games, practices, and tournaments, and during community meals and socialization that occur before and after.
Duchin said they also see outbreaks related to non-care work environments.
“Over the past eight weeks, there has been a 16% increase in outbreaks in non-care jobs, including manufacturing, retail, delivery, hospitality and other businesses,” he said.
Duchin said nearly 40 percent of those cases reported going to work in the past month. This went from 30% in January.
There has also been an increase in cases associated with social and community events.
“Nearly 30% of cases reported attending family visits to events, group meals, parties and weddings during the exhibition period,” Duchin said. “That’s an increase of 10% from 20% in January.”
About 11% of reported cases had attended bars and restaurants, an increase of 5% over January. Ten percent of cases reported visiting retail establishments, which also exceeds 5% in January.
Duchin said the number of travel-related cases has doubled in the past four weeks – from 4-6% in January to 8-11% currently. This includes people returning from spring break trips.
Although travel is not recommended, Duchin reminds people to test beforehand, 3-5 days after their return, and avoid other people for 7 days afterwards. If you are not tested, quarantine it for 10 days.
Duchin recalled that approximately 30% of cases do not report contact with someone who has COVID-19 on purpose and that up to 50% of cases spread before people report that they have symptoms or know they are ill.
“It’s important to be careful and take precautions,” Duchin said.