News from the Skagit County Democrats
Skagit County Democrats Action Newsletter for January 31, 2022
DEMOCRATIC EVENTS
1. BE SURE TO VOTE! – School District Levies on February 8 Ballot for Anacortes, Burlington-Edison, Conway, and Sedro-Woolley Districts
Click Here for detailed information.
2. NEW – Skagit County Democrats Candidate Certifications
If you are a new Candidate and have not yet been Certified as a Democrat, please fill out the application (Click Here) and return it to endorsements@skagitdemocrats.org.
3. Fidalgo Democrats has posted a YouTube link for their Jan 11, meeting: State of the Unions
Click Here for the link.
4. Call for Volunteers
“We can start to defend democracy this year by working on our local level. Volunteer to work in the office and pitch in to support our elected officials and those who are planning to run. You can work at your comfort level, whether it is writing post cards or thank you cards, or making phone calls, or answering phone calls. We welcome your thoughts and ideas for the future of our county. Current Office Hours are two-hour slots, at 10am, noon, and 2pm on Mondays through Thursdays, and we have openings. As we approach the primary and then election in November, we plan to have the office open on Fridays as well. Can you help? This is a great way to get active in our county!” If you are interested, please email staff@skagitdemocrats.org.
5. NEW – Links of the Week
The Links of the Week provide in-depth pieces and resources the Editor has found to be relevant, insightful, and thorough on important issues of the day.
- A Brief History of Book Burning, From the Printing Press to Internet Archives
- What Putin Really Wants in Ukraine
- A Former Hacker’s Guide to Boosting Your Online Security
- Can Medieval Sleeping Habits Fix America’s Insomnia?
- Steps the states should take to achieve the infrastructure bill’s broadband goals
COMMUNITY EVENTS
1. NEW – February is National Black History Month – This year’s theme is “Black Health and Wellness”
Here are some sites you can visit:
2. NEW – Blood Drive, Wednesday, Feb 9 and Thursday, Feb 10, Salem Lutheran Church, 2529 North Laventure Rd, Mount Vernon
Our local blood supply has hit emergency levels. Bloodworks Northwest is looking to fill spots for this local blood drive. Book your appointment today at BloodworksNW.org or call 1-800-398-7888.
3. NEW – The monthly Planned Parenthood rally is Saturday, Feb 6, 11:00am – 12:00pm, on the sidewalk in front of the Mount Vernon Health Center, 1805 East Division Street, Mount Vernon
Bring your signs, your friends, your family, and your masks.
4. NEW – Skagit County Commissioners seek volunteers to serve on the Voluntary Stewardship Program’s Watershed Group
Click Here for more information.
5. NEW – The Friends of the Anacortes Public Library will hold open FriendShop days and a book sale on Friday, Feb 4 and Saturday, Feb 5, 11:00am – 3:00pm each day, 1220 10th Street, Anacortes
Click Here for more information.
6. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) opens Disaster Recovery Center in Sedro-Woolley in response to November 13-15, 2021 flood events
Click Here for more information.
7. UPDATED – COVID-19 Information
Current Skagit County Information – The following is taken from the Skagit County COVID-19 Update of Jan 26
Local COVID-19 Case, Hospital & Vaccine Data
Skagit has a total of 19,009 cases, which increased by 1,488 since last Wednesday. This is nearly double what was reported last week between 1/12-1/19. Skagit reports 928 total hospitalizations, which increased by 35 this week, and 160 deaths, which increased by 1.
Our current case rate is 2,196.2 per 100k over the last 14 days, and our hospitalization rate is now 26.1 per 100k over the last seven days. We saw a record hospitalization rate earlier this week at 35.3.
In Skagit, 232,317 vaccine doses have been administered. We’re at 72.6% fully vaccinated amongst our population 12 years and older.
Data Dashboard Updates
All of the data above can be found by accessing the state’s Data Dashboard:. Please note that as of last Friday, the state Department of Health has made several changes to the dashboard. Data will now be updated on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
For more information about the changes, please read their press release here: http://spr.ly/6185K19pF.
Vaccine at the Public Health Office
Beginning Monday, January 31st, the Skagit County Fairgrounds Clinic will be reserved for COVID-19 antigen testing services. Instead, COVID-19 vaccination services will be expanding at the Skagit County Public Health vaccination clinic.
Services at the downtown location will now include COVID-19 prime and pediatric vaccinations, as well as booster doses. Those seeking a vaccine will need to make an appointment by going to www.skagitcounty.net/COVIDvaccine or by calling Public Health at (360) 416-1500.
The Public Health Vaccination Clinic will operate Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. The clinic is located at 700 S 2nd Street in downtown Mount Vernon. Please enter through the 1st floor elevator lobby and come up to the 3rd floor to check in.
Available appointments at the Public Health office next week can be found below. Please note that these appointments are for prime, booster, or pediatric vaccinations.
- Monday 1/31 –click here
- Tuesday 2/01 –click here
- Wednesday 2/02 –click here
- Thursday 2/03 –click here
For a full list of vaccination providers available in Skagit County, go to Vaccine Locator or call the Hotline at 1-800-525-0127.
Antigen Testing at the Fairgrounds
Antigen testing is available at the Skagit Fairgrounds every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 12:00 pm to 7:00 pm (or until supplies run out). Testing is provided for free and is available to anyone 5 years and older who lives, works, or goes to school in Skagit County. Individuals must be symptomatic or have had recent exposure to COVID-19 to qualify for service at the site.
For testing, please come to the South Gate entrance at 501 Taylor Street in Mount Vernon. The gates open at 11:30 am, with services starting at noon. Please expect long wait times. Please do not block public or private driveways and be mindful of pedestrians.
If you are able, please print and fill out the testing registration form in advance. This is a helpful way to streamline the testing process. The registration form can be found on our website by going to https://www.skagitcounty.net/Departments/HealthDiseases/coronavirusTESTsites.htm.
For a full list of other testing providers in the region, go to https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/COVID19/TestingforCOVID19/TestingLocations.
At-home COVID-19 Testing Options
Looking for a COVID test? You’ve got a few options. And while supplies are limited right now and demand is high, we encourage folks to use all the resources available to them.
- To order 4 free at-home tests through the federal program: covidtests.gov. (Limit of one order per household)
- CURRENTLY OUT OF STOCK! To order 5 free at-home tests through the state program: https://sayyescovidhometest.org/. (Limit of one order per household)
For other testing options, go to our website at https://bit.ly/3ueMbAl or check out the blog: https://bit.ly/3Aj2osw.
If testing at home and you receive a positive test result, please call the state’s COVID-19 Hotline as soon as possible at 1–800–525–0127 or the Skagit County Public Health office at (360) 416-1500.
If you cannot get access to testing, please refer to the CDC’s Isolation and Quarantine Guidance found here: https://bit.ly/3JQLIwF.
- IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS but do not need medical care and can’t get a test, you might have COVID-19 and you should isolate for at least 5 days to keep from spreading the virus to others. Monitor your symptoms.
- IF YOU WERE EXPOSED to someone with COVID-19 and need to quarantine and are unable to get a test 5 days after your last close contact, you can leave your home after day 5 if you have not had symptoms; wear a mask for 10 days after last contact.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. The League of Women Voters of Washington has a group – ACT via Zoom (Action Coffee Time) – focused on topics currently being debated in Washington State Legislative session
Mondays, 10:00am – 11:00am (with optional 11-11:15 social time). Attend as your interest in a topic and schedule allows. Each session will be recorded for viewing anytime. The continuing Zoom connection link is:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82841749719?pwd=K3cweWNUbkg0bkM0ZzRML2U1TXVBdz09 – Meeting ID: 828 4174 9719. Passcode: 619917.
This week’s session – Carbon Pricing Explained: Betty Carteret, Citizen’s Climate Lobby
Next week’s session – Public Banking for Washington State: Stoney Bird, The League of Women Voters of Washington Issue Chair