Friends and neighbors,
I’m writing to provide you with an update on the resources available to you regarding the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, which is now confirmed in both Whatcom and Skagit counties. Information is changing every day, and my colleagues and I in the state Legislature have been doing everything in our power to try to get ahead of this.
Questions about Coronavirus?
Your best resource for reliable, up-to-date information is the Washington State Department of Health (DOH). Staying up-to-date is critical and we want everyone to be careful of spreading rumors or misinformation. Their website includes answers to frequently asked questions, including in different languages.
Below are the general recommendations from the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) on how to respond in your daily life:
- Wash your hands often and avoid touching your face.
- Stay home when you’re sick.
- If you are sick and wondering what to do, call your healthcare provider before you go to a clinic or emergency room.
- Show compassion and support for individuals and communities most closely impacted and anyone who might be sick.
- Get yourself and your family prepared. Resources can be found at www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/Coronavirus#beprepared.
Additional Resources
You can stay up to date by following DOH online at the various websites and social media channels below:
Website: www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/Coronavirus
Facebook: facebook.com/WADeptHealth
Twitter: twitter.com/WADeptHealth
How Can I be Prepared?
You can also stay up to date with local information on the outbreak online at the various websites below:
Whatcom County: whatcomcounty.us/3329/Novel-Coronavirus-COVID-19
San Juan County: sanjuanco.com/1668/2019-Novel-Coronavirus
Skagit County: skagitcounty.net/Departments/HealthDiseases/coronavirus
City of Bellingham: cob.org/services/safety/emergencies/Pages/covid-19
Local Community Recommendations
- People at higher risk of severe illness should stay home and away from large groups of people as much as possible, including public places with lots of people and large gatherings where there will be close contact with others. This includes concert venues, conventions, sporting events, and crowded social gatherings. People at higher risk include people:
- Over 60 years of age.
- With underlying health conditions including heart disease, lung disease, or diabetes.
- With weakened immune systems.
- Who are pregnant.
- The community should cancel or postpone non-essential large public gatherings. If you can feasibly avoid bringing large groups of people together, we recommend postponing or canceling events and gatherings. We are loosely defining large gatherings as 10-50 people or more.
- Workplaces and businesses are encouraged to provide options for their employees to work from home if possible. If they cannot work from home, employees should minimize their interaction with large groups of people.
Are You Uninsured?
This week, the Washington Health Benefit Exchange announced a limited-time special enrollment period for qualified individuals who are currently without health insurance. This special enrollment period, which runs through April 8, 2020, will allow uninsured individuals 30 days to enroll in health insurance coverage through Washington Healthplanfinder. Click here to get signed up.
Gov. Inslee announces mandatory school closures in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties until April 24
At a press conference this afternoon, Governor Jay Inslee and Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal announced that all schools in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties are required to close from March 17 to April 24 in response to COVID-19 concerns.
While schools in our district are not required to close at this time, Gov. Inslee has advised that they continue contingency planning with their local health officials in the event of closure. Students and staff should continue to follow public health protocols, including staying home when sick, washing hand regularly, and frequently sanitizing surfaces.
OSPI will continue to be your best resource for updated information on additional school closures. Check their website or follow them on Twitter and Facebook.
More resources:
COVID-19 in Schools: A Parent Guide (English) (Spanish)
OSPI COVID-19 Guidance for School Districts
Have you talked to your kids about COVID-19?
Kids are talking about it to each other and may have some worries or misinformation.
- Let them know that it’s natural and okay to be worried. I’m worried too. You can reassure them that kids who have gotten COVID-19 have recovered nicely.
- Let’s make sure our kids have the right information. Help the older ones understand how to find reliable information on the internet. More DOH blog and CDC website; less YouTube.
- Teach the little ones how we keep our bodies healthy—good food, lots of sleep, exercise. Drink water. You know the drill.
- Remind them of the last time they were sick. How did they feel? What made them feel better? Help them translate those memories into compassion for others who are sick and into desire to keep themselves and others healthy.
- Teach them to wash their hands and cover their coughs.
- And if they are really into it, encourage them to explore a career in public health!
Sine Die!
It’s the final week of the 2020 legislative session, we passed our supplemental budgets and ended on time! The supplemental budget adds just over $1 billion in new spending to the $52.4 billion, two-year budget passed by lawmakers last April.
It provides an additional $160 million to address housing and homelessness, specifically targeting the immediate shelter needs of the state’s growing homeless population, as well as support for new affordable housing programs. Additional investments include $80 million for childcare and early learning programs to address the immediate needs of working households, as well as $156 million to increase primary care physician rates, preserve rural health access, and invest in foundational public health.
Highlights of the 2020 Supplemental Budget Proposal
- $200 million to help cover costs associated with the coronavirus outbreak, including a dedicated call center, monitoring, testing and support for local health jurisdictions.
- $160 million to address homelessness and affordable housing.
- $50 million to address the climate crisis by investing in communities and projects to enhance mitigation and resilience.
- $153 million to the state Department of Children and Families to reduce childcare rates for working families, strengthen the foster care system, expand early learning programs, and other increases.
- $172 million for K-12 education in the form of local levy assistance, counselors in high poverty schools, special education, pupil transportation, paraeducator training, student mental health and safety, and other increases.
- $156 million for health care by investments in primary care physician rate increases, rural health clinics, foundational public health, and other increases.
Click here to find budget documents and summaries.
Net Ecological Gain Proviso
The supplemental budget also includes a proviso for the Department of Fish and Wildlife to study switching to a net ecological gain standard, or a “leave it better than you found it” standard for development projects. Our current standard of “no net loss” means decisions on land development are balanced with environmental impacts, leaving it no worse, but no better. By changing to a standard of net ecological gain, development would contribute to habitat restoration and help achieve a healthier environment for current and future generations.
Learn more about the supplemental budget and NEG in my recent video update.
Constituent Corner: Solar power
Washington has always been a leader in renewable energy. This session, we’re taking that further to expand access to solar power to everyone in the state, regardless of their living situation, and ensure the effective operation of our state’s first-in-the-nation solar stewardship program.
House Bill 2248 creates a community solar industry in which people can enroll in large, successful solar projects in their communities and receive benefits back in the form of a Public Utility Tax credit. This allows people living in in apartments, multi-family units or on a shaded property to have the same access to solar that homeowners do. In addition to helping consumers’ wallets, this will protect communities from widespread power outages by distributing energy sources, which minimizes disruption to families, businesses, and more.
House Bill 2645 closes the loophole that exempts utility-scale solar systems from the stewardship program and makes sure the state stewardship program is efficient and effective so Washingtonians have the ability to recycle their solar panels.
It’s about time we make it easier for Washingtonians to take advantage of environmentally friendly, technological advancements, and I’m proud to report that both bills passed the Legislature.
Thank you to our Legislative Page!
Thank you to Callyn Moss, a young woman from Bellingham who I sponsored to serve as a legislative page in the House this week! She attends Sehome High School. The Page Program is a great opportunity for 14-, 15-, and 16-year-olds to learn how our state government works, and gain hands-on experience with the ins and outs of the legislative process. If this is something your teen might be interested in for next session, go to the Page Program website to learn more, fill out an application, and get information on how to apply for the Gina Grant Bull Scholarship. |
Thank you all for taking to the time to read this week’s Fantastic Friday, and for taking an interest in our progress at the House of Representatives.
Please feel free to reach out to me using the information below, with any questions, inquiries, or concerns you may have.
I am here for you!
All best wishes,
Rep. Debra Lekanoff