March 13 Update on City Operations and Kirkland First Responders
Published on March 13, 2020
Media Contact:
Kellie Stickney
Communications Program Manager
kstickney@kirklandwa.gov
(425) 979-6562
KIRKLAND, Wash. – The City continues to operate its Emergency Operations Center to coordinate our response to the presence of COVID-19 (coronavirus) in our community.
Update on First Responders In the evening of Saturday, March 14, Fire Station 21 will go back into service after receiving a professional deep cleaning. Though none of the firefighters that were quarantined at Station 21 received a positive result for the COVID-19 virus, every surface of the 8,000 square foot building will be cleaned by specially trained crews. This cleaning is being done out of an abundance of caution for the safety of our firefighters. After the cleaning on Saturday is completed Station 21 will reopen and be fully staffed.
The Kirkland Fire and Police Departments remain fully staffed and responding to calls as normal. City first responders have CDC recommended personal protection equipment and are following recommended protocols.
The City of Kirkland currently has twelve firefighters and zero police officers in quarantine. Thirty firefighters have now been released after completing their recommended quarantine period. All first responders are in isolation or quarantine at home.
All of our first responders that are currently symptomatic are in the process of being tested. We’ve had twenty-three tests come back negative, and one positive test for COVID-19. For the tests results that have been negative, first responders will remain in quarantine for the entire 14-day period recommended by Public Health Seattle-King County. We have received questions regarding criteria for testing our firefighters. Testing criteria is established by the Center for Disease Control (CDC). In King County, testing is managed by Public Health Seattle-King County. At this time the CDC is recommending that clinicians use their judgement to determine if a patient has signs and symptoms compatible with COVID-19 and whether the patient should be tested. More information on testing requirements is available on the CDC website.
While the City appreciates the outpouring of support and concern from the community for our first responders, the City cannot accept donations at this time.
Update on City Operations
Following current direction from Public Health—Seattle & King County, and our ongoing needs to have the capacity to staff our emergency operations center we have concluded that the City will be cancelling all City evening meetings except for City Council meetings until the end of March. This includes Commissions, Boards, and all Neighborhood Association meetings.
In response to guidance from Public Health Seattle-King County, the Council Chamber will not be open to the public during City Council meeting on Tuesday, March 17. The meeting will be live streamed on the City website at http://www.kirklandwa.gov/depart/council/Meetings/WatchCouncilMeetings.htm or can be watched on your television on Comcast Cable Channel 21 or Frontier Cable Channel 31. Members of the public will be able to provide comment in advance of the meeting by phone or email to 425-587-3090 or councilmeetingcomment@kirklandwa.gov. We will provide additional details about providing public comment on Monday, March 16. The agenda for the March 17 meeting is available on the city’s website at https://www.kirklandwa.gov/depart/council/Meetings/Agendas/Agenda_031720.htm.
“We’re doing everything we can to support public participation while protecting public health.” said Mayor Penny Sweet. “We hope that people will take advantage of the ability to share comments through our ‘virtual’ options.”
The City of Kirkland Passport Office will be closed from Monday, March 9th through Friday, March 20th.
The City has also cancelled all recreation programming and classes and closed community centers to the public through Tuesday, March 31.
Further, the City has closed athletic fields for organized sports through Tuesday, March 31, and has cancelled all organized events at our picnic pavilions, also through Tuesday, March 31. While the City encourages informal use of the parks, please be mindful of the recommended social distancing and proper handwashing and sanitation.
The Kirkland Municipal Court is modifying their court schedule. Effective Monday, March 16 - March 27, 2020, the court will reschedule all hearings except for mandatory DV/DUI charges (which must be heard the next judicial day) and in-custody defendants. More court details are available at: https://www.kirklandwa.gov/depart/Municipal_Court.htm More information and full list of recommendations are available from Public Health—Seattle & King County.
Update on Guidance from the State, County, and Federal Governments
President Trump declared a National Emergency and invoked the Stafford Act, which give access to expanded authorities for the executive branch and frees up federal funding for incident response.
Under the order of the Governor, events that take place in King, Snohomish, and Pierce counties with more than 250 people are prohibited by the state. This order applies to gatherings for social, spiritual and recreational activities. These include but are not limited to: community, civic, public, leisure, faith-based, or sporting events; parades; concerts; festivals; conventions; fundraisers and similar activities.
The decision to prohibit large-scale events was not taken lightly – and involved discussions with many leaders. This is a strategy to slow the spread of the virus, reduce the number of those infected, and help prevent serious illness. This strategy is referred to as flattening the curve, reducing the rate of spread to avoid overwhelming the healthcare system.
In addition, the local health officer provided the direction that public events with fewer than 250 attendees are prohibited, unless event organizers can take steps to minimize risk. Event organizers must ensure that:
- Older and vulnerable individuals have been encouraged not to attend
- Recommendations for social distancing and limiting close contact are met
- Employees or volunteers leading an event are screened for symptoms each day
- Proper hand washing, sanitation, and cleaning is readily available
- Environmental cleaning guidelines are followed (e.g., clean and disinfect high touch surfaces daily or more frequently)
For retail businesses — such as grocery stores, drug stores, movie theaters, restaurants, and other retail establishments— Public Health has issued a Guidanc(PDF, 450KB)e document that details how to comply with the new order.
Some key elements of the new guidance now encourage employees, onsite contractors and customers to:
- Stop handshaking – use other non-contact methods of greeting
- Clean hands at the door and schedule regular hand-washing reminders by email
- Promote “tap and pay” to limit handling of cash
- Create new habits and reminders to avoid touching their faces and cover coughs and sneezes
- Disinfect frequently-touched surfaces like doorknobs, tables, desks, and handrails regularly
- Increase ventilation by opening windows or adjusting air conditioning
Businesses are encouraged to avoid crowding through using booking to stagger customer flow, using online transactions, and following guidance to limit attendance at larger gatherings. Businesses are also encouraged to strengthen health screening for staff who handle food directly and ensure have staff practice strict hygiene.
More information is available on the Public Health Seattle-King County website.
Update from Lake Washington School District
Based on Governor Inslee’s announcement on March 12th, the Lake Washington School District (LWSD) will now be closed through April 24th and will re-evaluate any further closures during that time.
For more information visit the Lake Washington School District website.
The City will continue to update its website with information on the COVID-19 outbreak.