>> I'D LIKE TO WELCOME ALL OF
OUR SPEAKERS.
WE WILL BE
STARTING WITH THE MAYOR GIVING
REMARKS TO WELCOME ALL OF US
FOLLOWED BY UDUB PRESIDENT,
FOLLOWED BY KING COUNTY PUBLIC
HEALTH, SEATTLE KING COUNTY
PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR, PATTY
HAYES.
WE WILL FOLLOW OUR
PRESENTATION WITH A Q&A.
I
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS
ALREADY RSVPED, WE'LL BE SURE TO
GET THROUGH AS MANY QUESTIONS AS
WE CAN TODAY.
I'D LIKE TO TURN
IT TURNOVER MAYOR DURKIN.
>> THANK YOU, ANTHONY.
AND THANK
YOU ALL, IF HERE AGAIN TODAY.
AS
WE ANNOUNCE A WONDERFUL NEW
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNIVERSITY
OF WASHINGTON UDUB MEDICINE TO
PROVIDE FREE CITYWIDE TESTING.
WE MUST REMEMBER, WE ARE
STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF A
PANDEMIC.
AND AS YOU KNOW, OUR
REGION WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TO
EXPERIENCE AND WAS THE EPICENTER
IN OUR NATION FOR DEALING WITH
THE COVID-19 PUBLIC HEALTH
EMERGENCY.
WE WERE FORCED TO
BECOME A LEADING FACE OF THE
CRISIS AND BECAUSE OF THE LACK
OF LEADERSHIP AT THE FEDERAL
LEVELISM REALLY WANT TO THANK
PATTY HAYES WHO IS ON THIS CALL,
AND KING COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH,
FOR ALL THE WORK THEY HAVE BEEN
DOING OVER THE LAST THREE
MONTHS.
I KNOW THEY HAVE BEEN
WORKING TIRELESSLY ON EVERY
FRONT TO KEEP US ALL SAFER.
WE
ALL TOGETHER SAW THE EARLY
DEVASTATING IMPACTS OF THE VIRUS
AS IT MOVED QUICKLY AND QUIETLY
THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY.
THE VIRUS
WAS ABLE TO SPREAD QUIETLY
WITHOUT PEOPLE SEEING IT BECAUSE
OF THE BOTCHED TESTING AT THE
FEDERAL LEVEL.
AND I WOULD SAY
TO THIS DAY, CITIES DO NOT HAVE
THE EQUIPMENT THEY NEED TO
ADEQUATELY TEST RESIDENTS.
AND
WE'VE BEEN FORCED IN A SITUATION
WHERE IT'S CITY VERSUS CITY,
STATE VERSUS STATE IN ALMOST A
HUNGER GAMES MENTALITY TRYING TO
SECURE TESTS AND ANY -- IN
ALMOST ANY WAY POSSIBLE.
THE
CITY OF SEATTLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN
AN INNOVATIVE LEADER, AND WE'VE
CONTINUED TO LEAD THROUGH THIS
CRISIS.
BUT WE HAVEN'T DONE IT
ALONE.
WE'VE DONE IT WITH GREAT
PARTNERSHIP
PARTNERSHIPS.
THEY SET UP THE
FIRST TEST SITE FOR FIRST
RESPONDERS USING FIRST
RESPONDERS TO DO THE TESTS.
THE
PILOT WAS SO SUCCESS THAFL IT
EXPANDED TO CITY EMPLOYEES,
HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND STAFF
FROM THE CITY EMERGENCY
SHELTERS.
WE'RE ALSO NATIONALLY
RECOGNIZED FOR OUR MOBILE
TESTING WITHIN THE LONG-TERM
CARE FACILITIES FOR OUR MOBILE
ASSESSMENT TEAMS.
AGAIN, A GREAT
PARTNERSHIP WITH PUBLIC HEALTH
SEATTLE KING COUNTY.
I'M REALLY
THANKFUL TODAY THAT WE'LL BE
LAUNCHING THIS PARTNERSHIP WITH
THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
MEDICINE, FURTHERING OUR REACH
INTO SEATTLE'S COMMUNITIES TO
PROVIDE FOR A SAFER, HEALTHIER,
HAPPIER SEATTLE.
THE PRESIDENT
AND I WILL BE SIGNING A
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.
AND
I JUST REALLY HAVE TO COMMEND
HER BECAUSE SHE HAS WORKED
TIRELESSLY SOSO MANY ISSUES.
FROM THE BEGINNING OF THIS
PANDEMIC, HAVING TO NAVIGATE
WHAT DO YOU DO AS A COLLEGE AND
EMPLOYER?
AND SHE DID IT WITH
ONE OF THE PREMIERE
ORGANIZATIONS IN THE COUNTRY.
BY
THE WORKING TOGETHER, WE WILL
INCREASE TESTING BY UP TO 1,600
TESTS PER DAY IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
WE'RE ASKING RESIDENTS
TO REGISTER.
SEATTLE.GOV/COVID-19.
YOU WILL
NOT BE CHARGED FOR THE TESTING
AND RECEIVE A BILL.
TOMORROW
DRIVE-UP TESTING SITE WILL OPEN
AT TWO FORMER EMISSIONS
FACILITIES THAT WE HAVE LEASED
IN THE NORTH END OFF AURORA AND
IN THE SOUTH END IN SODO.
TESTING WILL BE AVAILABLE MONDAY
THROUGH SATURDAY.
WE ALL KNOW
WITHOUT A VACCINE OR REALLY
EFFECTIVE TREATMENTS, THE MOST
IMPORTANT THING WE CAN DO IS TO
PRACTICE EXCELLENT HYGIENE.
THE
NEXT IMPORTANT THING IS TO GET
TESTED.
AGAIN I REALLY WANT TO
EMPHASIZE, PEOPLE STILL NEED TO
PRACTICE GOOD HYGIENE.
KEEP A
DISTANCE, SIX FEET OR MORE.
USE
A FACE COVERING WHEN OUT IN
PUBLIC AND YOU CAN'T SOCIAL
DISTANCE.
WASH YOUR HANDS
FREQUENTLY OR USE HAND
SANITIZER.
BEFORE I TURN IT OVER
TO PRESIDENT CAUCE, I WANT TO
THANK EVERYONE AT PUBLIC HEALTH
AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR ALL
THE WORK THEY HAVE BEEN DOING.
I
WANT TO THANK THE U.S. DIGITAL
RESPONSE TEAM.
FOR THOSE PEOPLE
WITHOUT ACCESS DIRECTLY TO A
COMPUTER ONLINE, WE'RE WORKING
TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT SIGN-UP
IS AVAILABLE FOR EVERYONE.
AND
WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO
THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
PRESIDENT, ANA MARI CAUCE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I WANT
TO ECHO YOUR SENTIMENTS ABOUT
HOW IMPORTANT THIS TESTING IS
FOR THE SEATTLE COMMUNITY.
I
ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP DEALING WITH THIS
VERY, VERY DIFFICULT PANDEMIC.
THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON IS
NOT ONLY A PUBLIC STATE
UNIVERSITY.
WE'RE AN INTEK INTEG
RAL PART OF THE SEATTLE COMMUNE.
AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR MISSION
THEN IS TO HELP CARE FOR THE
CITIZENS OF SEATTLE, INCLUDING
OUR MOST VULNERABLE.
UW MEDICINE
HAS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE
PANDEMIC, DEVELOPING ONE OF THE
VERY FIRST COVID-19 TESTS IN THE
COUNTRY.
THIS PARTNERSHIP IS A
GREAT EXAMPLE OF HOW WE CAN
AMPLIFY OUR IMPACT THROUGH
COOPERATION AND COLLABORATION.
SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S FIRST
RESPONDERS WILL PERFORM THE
VITAL TESTING.
UDUB MEDICINE'S
BIOLOGY LAB WILL PROCESS THE
TESTS AND GET INFORMATION BACK
TO OUR CITIZENS QUICKLY.
TOGETHER WE'RE POISED TO PROI
THE NECESSARY TESTING TO HELP
KEEP OUR COMMUNITY HEALTHY AND
SAFE.
THIS TESTING PARTNERSHIP
IS THE RIGHT THING TO CO.
TO DO.
WE'RE SO PROUD TO BE PART OF
THIS EFFORT AND SO PROUD TO BE
PART OF THIS GREAT COMMUNITY.
>> THANK YOU, ANA MARI CAUCE.
WE
ARE NOW HANDING IT OVER TO PATTY
HAYES.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THIS IS SO
EXCITING TO BE HERE AND
PARTICIPATE IN THE LAUNCH OF
THIS PARTNERSHIP.
I WANT TO
EXPRESS MY DEEP GRATITUDE TO THE
MAYOR AND THE PRESIDENT FOR THIS
LEADERSHIP MOVING FORWARD.
AND
TO STEVE SKOGINS AND DR. BAIRD
FOR DEVELOPING THIS PARTNERSHIP
QUICKLY.
IN THE VERY BEGINNING,
WE WERE LIMITING WHO COULD GO
GET A TEST.
NOW WE'RE URGING
EVERYONE WHO HAS SYMPTOMS TO GET
TESTED.
NOT JUST HIGH-RISK
GROUPS.
WE NEED TO GET THAT
MESSAGE OUT TO EVERYONE.
TESTING
IS IMPORTANT FOR YOUNG AND OLD.
WE ARE SEEING ILLNESSES IN ALL
AGE GROUPS.
AND PREVENTING
COVID-19 FROM SPREADING TO
FAMILIES, FRIENDS IN COMMUNITY
BY GETTING TESTED AS SOON AS YOU
CAN.
IT'S JUST AN ESSENTIAL
STRATEGY, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED
TO LAUNCH WITH THIS PARTNERSHIP.
TESTING IS ONE WAY OF GETTING
BACK TO EVERYDAY ACTIVITIES.
IT'S A KEY METRIC.
IT'S ONE WAY
WE CAN PREVENT THE VIRUS FROM
SPREADING.
YOU CAN SAY THAT WE
ARE LOOKING TO GET THE MOST
IDENTIFICATION OF THOSE WHO ARE
COVID-POSITIVE SO THAT YOU CAN
QUICKLY TAKE ACTION AND NOT
EXPOSE YOUR LOVED ONES AND
OTHERS OF YOUR NEIGHBORS AND
FRIENDS.
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT
THAT WE REALLY DO GET TESTED
QUICKLY.
THAT'S GONNA BE A NEW
NORMAL FOR US.
MANY OF US DON'T
ALWAYS CALL OUR HEALTHCARE
PROVIDER EVERY TIME WE HAVE A
NEW COUGH OR SYMPTOMS.
BUT WITH
COVID-19, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE
A VACCINE.
AND BECAUSE WE DON'T
HAVE A LOT OF TREATMENT OPTIONS,
RIGHT NOW IT'S JUST A LOT OF
HARD WORK AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON AND OTHER PLACES.
WE
NEED TO GET TO TESTING AS SOON
AS WE CAN.
SO IF YOU DEVELOP A
NEW COUGH, YOU HAVE DIFFICULTY
BREATHING OR OTHER SYMPTOMS LIKE
A FEVER, SHORTNESS OF BREATH,
CHILLS, MUSCLE PAIN.
SOMETHING
UNUSUAL LIKE LOSS OF TASTE OR
SMELL.
SORE THROAT, VOMITING OR
DIARRHEA, WE WANT TO TEST YOU.
SO WHEN WE LOOK AT WHO IS BEING
TESTED POSITIVE RIGHT NOW, AS
THE PANDEMIC CONTINUES TO GO
THROUGH OUR COMMUNE, WE KNOW
THAT RIGHT NOW WE'RE GOING TO
BEGIN SEEING MORE ACTIVITY AND
MORE WOERPGS ACTIVITY.
WORKPLACE
ACTIVITY.
SO IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT AND VERY EXCITING THAT
AT THIS TIME, THIS PARTNERSHIP
IS BEING LAUNCHED.
TESTING IS
ALSO AN ESSENTIAL STRATEGY FOR
OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE STATE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
ON CONTACT
TRACING.
THAT'S WHEN WE LEARN
THAT THERE IS A NEW COVID CASE.
AND WE BEGIN WORKING WITH THAT
INDIVIDUAL TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE
SAFE AND THEY ARE ISOLATED
DURING THE RIGHT TIME WHILE
THEY'RE ILL, BUT ALSO CONTACT
THE FOLKS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN IN
CONTACT WITH SO THAT WE CAN GET
TESTING, WHICH IS GOING TO THIS
NEW PROGRAM AS WELL AS TO GET
THEM QUARANTINED.
SO THAT THEY
ARE SAFE.
SO AGAIN, IT'S SO
EXCITING TO EXPAND COUNTY-WIDE
TESTING.
WE HAVE MORE SUPPLIES.
WE HAVE MORE TUNES TO WORK WITH
GREAT PARTNERS LIKE UW MEDICINE.
WE HAVE THE GREAT PARTNERSHIP
WITH SEATTLE FIRE.
MY DEEP
GRATITUDE TO THE CHIEF FOR ALL
THE WORK WE'VE DONE.
I'M EXCITED
TO GET THIS LAUNCHED TOMORROW
AND REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THE
POSITIVE BENEFITS FOR OUR
COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR PATTY
HAYES.
MOVING ON TO CHIEF
SKOGINS.
>> FIRE CHIEF OF THE SEATTLE
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THIS IS ANOTHER
REALLY EXCITING MOMENT IN A VERY
DIFFICULT TIME.
I CAN REMEMBER
EIGHT TO TEN WEEKS AGO AS WE
WALKED INTO THE PANDEMIC, WE
WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY
HERE IN THE SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT TO GET OUR
FIREFIGHTERS TESTED SO WE COULD
GET THEM BACK ON THE FRONTLINES.
OR WE COULD PUT THEM IN
ISOLATION/QUARANTINE.
AND IT WAS
A GROUP OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS THAT
CAME UP WITH THE IDEA.
HEY, WHY
DON'T WE TRAIN OUR PEOPLE TO DO
THE TESTING?
AND I'M AMAZED WHAT
THAT'S BLOSSOMED INTO.
EIGHT
WEEKS LATER, WE'VE TESTED HERE
AT OUR SEATTLE SITE 565 FIRST
RESPONDERS FROM ALL OVER THE
STATE THAT HAVE COME TO GET
TESTED AT OUR SITE.
WE HAVE SET
UP TWO ADDITIONAL SITES.
ALL
TOGETHER WE'VE TESTED OVER 750
FIRST RESPONDERS.
AND THAT'S
REALLY SERVING NOT JUST SEATTLE
OR KINGCOUNTY BUT OUR ENTIRE
REGION IN HELPING OUT.
AND THEN
WE MOVE FORWARD WITH ANOTHER
ROLE OF TESTING.
WE SAW THERE
WAS A NEED IN OUR LONG-TERM
FACILITIES, PLACES WHERE WE GO
ON A DAILY BASIS.
AND WE SEE THE
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS IN NEED.
THEN WE WENT INTO THIS THAT
SPACE.
TO DATE, WE'VE DONE TESTS
IN 24 LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES
AND TESTED OVER 1,300 RESIDENTS
AND STAFF.
THAT'S REALLY
EXCITING.
THAT'S WHO WE ARE AS
SEATTLE FIREFIGHTERS.
AS WE'VE
BEEN MOVING FORWARD WITH THE
PROTESTS OVER THE LAST WEEK,
WE'VE DONE EVERYTHING FROM BOARD
UP ACCIDENTS TO PROGRAM RADIOS
FOR THE NATIONAL GUARD.
RIGHT
NOW I'M EXCITED TO INTRODUCE
LIEUTENANT BRIAN WALLACE WHO
ACTUALLY HAD THE IDEA WITH OUR
TEAM HOW WE DO THIS AND HOW WE
KEEP EXPANDING IT.
HE'S GONNA
TALK ABOUT WHO SHOULD GET
TESTED, WHAT TO EXPECT, AND HOW
DO YOU OBTAIN AN OPEN NOTE.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF.
IT'S
CRUCIAL THAT PEOPLE GET TESTED
IMMEDIATELY AT THE ONSET OF
SYMPTOMS.
WE WANT TO SEE PEOPLE
WITH EVEN THE MOST MILD OF
SYMPTOM COMES TO THE CLINIC AND
GET A TEST AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
WE ALSO WANT TO SEE ANYONE
THAT'S BEEN EXPOSED TO A
COVID-POSITIVE PATIENT FOR MORE
THAN 15 MINUTES COME IN FOR A
TEST AS SOON AS THEY CAN.
WHAT
YOU SHOULD EXPECT, IT'S A
PROCESS THAT SHOULD ONLY TAKE
ABOUT TEN MINUTES FROM THE TIME
YOU ARRIVE TO THE TIME YOU
LEAVE.
WE HAVE CLEAR SIGNAGE TO
DIRECT YOU WHERE TO GO.
OUR
PERSONNEL WILL BE WEARING FULL
PPE.
A SWABBER WILL PLACE A SWAB
AT THE END OF EACH END OF YOUR
NOSPRINKLES.
NOSTRILS.
THAT
PROCEDURE ONLY LASTS FOR ABOUT
THIRD SECONDS.
YOU EITHER SCAN
THIS ON YOUR SMART PHONE OR LOOK
IT UP ON A COMPUTER.
THOSE
RESULTS ARE USUALLY AVAILABLE
THE NEXT DAY BUT MAY TAKE UP TO
24 TO 48 HOURS.
THANK YOU,
CHIEF.
>> THANK YOU, LIEUTENANT
WALLACE.
AND THAT'S A LOT OF
HRD WORK THAT HE JUST TALKED
ABOUT IN JUST UNDER A MINUTE.
AND SHE IS REALLY THE SOURCE OF
WHERE ALL THIS HAS COME FROM.
THE GOAL WITH SITE IS TO REMOVE
BARRIERS FOR TESTING.
WE WANT
EVERYONE TO COME IN AND GET
TESTED AT OUR SITES.
AND THEY'RE
FREE OF CHARGE.
WE WANTED TO
MAKE IT EASY TO REGISTER.
AND WE
WANTED TO MAKE IT A QUICK
PROCESS.
WE HAVE TWO SITES THAT
HAVE BEEN STOOD UP AND ARE GONNA
BE OPENING UP.
ONE OF THE SITES
IS IN NORTH SEATTLE.
THE AURORA
EMISSIONS CENTER.
AND 12040
AURORA AVENUE NORTH.
AND THE
SECOND SITE IS IN SOUTH SEATTLE
IN SODO AT 3820 SIXTH AVENUE
SOUTH.
THE SITES WILL BE
OPEN AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED
MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY FROM
10:00 AM TO 3:00 PM.
ONE THING
THAT WE DO ASK IS THAT YOU
REGISTER AHEAD OF TIME.
PLEASE,
PLEASE, PLEASE REGISTER AHEAD OF
TIME AT SEATTLE.GOV/COVID-19
TESTING.
YOU'LL RECEIVE ALL THE
INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION
THAT YOU NEED RIGHT THERE.
I DO
WANT TO LET EVERYONE KNOW WE
WILL NOT TURN ANYONE AWAY.
OUR
GOAL IS TO REALLY HELP AS MUCH
AS WE CAN IN THIS PANDEMIC.
WHEN
WE GET UP TO FULL CAPACITY, OUR
GOAL IS TO TEST 1,600 A DAY
BETWEEN THESE TWO SITES.
I WANT
TO THANK OUR MAYOR FOR HER
STEADY LEADERSHIP IN THIS TIME.
I WANT TO THANK PRESIDENT CAUCE,
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, AND
OUR PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR,
PATTY HAYES.
OUR PARTNERSHIPS
HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLE.
OUR TEAMS
HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER OVER
THE LAST 90 DAYS.
AND ONCE
AGAIN, I WANT TO CLOSE BY
EMPHASIZING, ANYONE WITH MILD
SYMPTOMS, WE WANT #20U COME IN
AND GET TESTED.
OR ANYONE WHO
HAS BEEN EXPOSED TO SOMEONE
THAT'S POSITIVE WITH COVID-19.
WE WANT TO YOU COME IN AND GET
TESTED.
THANK YOU.
>> DR. JEFFREY BAIRD.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
HAVING ME.
AND ALSO THANK YOU TO
THE FOLKS WHO HAVE SPOKEN BEFORE
ME.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
ALLOWING US TO CONTRIBUTE.
MY
NAME IS JEFFREY BAIRD.
I AM THE
CHIEF OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
MEDICINE AT UW MEDICINE.
I'M
VERY HAPPY TO BE PART OF THIS.
AT THE RISK OF REPEATING WHAT'S
BEEN SAID, WHILE SOCIAL
DISTANCING AND MASKING, ETC, ARE
VERY IMPORTANT PARTS OF WHAT WE
CAN DO AS A COMMUNITY TO FIGHT
THIS DISEASE, OBVIOUSLY TESTING
IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.
TESTING
IS WHAT I DO FOR A LIVING SO I
CARE ABOUT IT AN AWFUL LOT.
I'M
VERY PROUD THAT OUR UW MEDICINE
BIOLOGY LAB WAS ONE OF THE FIRST
IN THE COUNTRY TO DEVELOP AND
SCALE A COVID-19 TEST WHICH WE
WERE THEN ABLE TO USE TO HELP
OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.
WE CAN DO
MANY THOUSANDS OF TESTS A DAY
ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT WE
ACTUALLY DO RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVE
THE CAPACITY TO DO THIS AND ARE
REALLY VERY HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO
SUPPORT THE CITY OF SEATTLE IN
THIS EFFORT.
WE OFFER TURNAROUND
TIMES THAT ARE GENERALLY
SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THAN 24 HOURS
FROM THE TIME WE'RE ABLE TO
RECEIVE IT.
DEFINITELY
ESSENTIALLY ALL 24 HOURS FROM
THE TIME WE RECEIVE IT.
AND AS
THE CHIEF ALSO MENTIONED, VERY
EARLY -- AND I REMEMBER THIS
QUITE CLEARLY.
WE DEVELOPED THAT
QR CODE ACHIEVE RESULTS.
IT'S
ESSENTIALLY SORT OF A STAFF I.T.
EFFORT IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL OF
THE CRAZINESS.
WE'RE SO PROUD
THAT THAT'S BEEN USED SO OFTEN
BY SO MANY IN THIS COMMUNITY TO
GET RESULTS.
WE DO BELIEVE THAT
TESTING IS THE WAY WE'RE GOING
TO GET OUT OF THIS UNTIL WE END
UP HAVING A VACCINE.
TO
REITERATE, ALSO THERE IS NO COST
TO THOSE WHO ARE GONNA GET
TESTED.
WE'LL HANDLE THE
INSURANCE PART OF THAT.
SO THERE
WOULD BE NO OUT OF-OF POCKET
EXPENSES TO THE FOLKS WHO END UP
GETTING TESTED.
AND I REALLY
WANT TO REITERATE THAT THIS
PARTNERSHIP IS A WIN-WIN FOR
EVERYONE.
AND I REALLY DO THINK
IT MAKES OUR CITY A LOT SAFER.
WITH THAT, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, DR. BAIRD.
AT THIS
TIME, MAYOR DURKIN AND PRESIDENT
CAUCE WILL SIGN THE MOU.
WE'LL ASK THEM BOTH TO DO THAT
ON THEIR OPPOSITE ENDS OF OUR
VIRTUAL TABLE HERE.
WHEN YOU ARE BOTH FINISHED
SIGNING THAT, PLEASE JUST HOLD
IT UP.
LET EVERYONE TAKE A LOOK.
>> THAT'S GREAT.
THANK YOU,
MAYOR.
THANK YOU, PRESIDENT
CAUCE.
AT THIS TIME, WE
WILL NOW MOVE TO QUESTION AND
ANSWER.
AS A REMINDER TO
EVERYONE WHO IS JOINING US
TODAY, I WILL CONTROL THE AUDIO
FOR OUR QUESTION ASKERS.
FOR OUR
PANELISTS, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO
JUMP IN AND RESPOND TO A
QUESTION, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO DO
SO.
THE VIDEO FEED WILL
AUTOMATICALLY SWITCH.
OUR FIRST
QUESTION, HANNAH SCOTT, TYLER
RADIO.
>> I'M CURIOUS, WE HEARD ALSO
FROM THE GOVERNOR TODAY ABOUT
THE NEED TO REALLY HAVE EVERYONE
WITH MILD SYMPTOMS GET TESTED AS
WELL AS ANYBODY WHO THINKS THEY
HAVE BEEN EXPOSED.
WHAT WOULD BE
YOUR MESSAGE TO PEOPLE OUT
THERE?
ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE
LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE TAKE PART
IN PROTESTS TO MAKE SURE THAT
THEY GET TESTED?
AND WHY IS IT
SO IMPORTANT AS WE START TO
REOPEN TO HAVE THAT TESTING
DONE?
>> THIS IS PATTY.
I'M DELIGHTED
THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS JOINED THE
VOICE TO REALLY EMPHASIZE
TESTING.
AND WE HAVE TO REALLY
ENCOURAGE OUR WHOLE SYSTEM,
INCLUDING OUR HEALTHCARE
PROVIDERS, TO RESPOND TO THIS.
SO PEOPLE NEED TO BE ASKING FOR
TESTING NOW WHEN THEY HAVE
SYMPTOMS.
OR THEY HAVE BEEN
EXPOSED.
FOR THE CITIZEN
EXERCISING THEIR RIGHTS IN
PROTEST, I'LL SAY AGAIN THE
NUMBER ONE THING FOR FOLKS IS TO
DO THE BEST THEY CAN TO MAINTAIN
SOCIAL DISTANCE, TO WEAR A MASK,
TO REALLY BE MINDFUL NOT TO GO
OUT IF THEY'RE ILL THEMSELVES.
WE'RE IN CONVERSATIONS WITH
CDC ON THE BEST RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR FOLKS WHO ARE OUT AND
PROTESTING AND EXERCISING THEIR
RIGHTS.
AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
EVERYONE IS SAFE.
WE DO WANT TO
CONTINUE TO EMPHASIZE SOCIAL
DISTANCING, THE PHYSICAL
DISTANCING, ACTUALLY.
AND OTHER
MEASURES THAT PEOPLE CAN TAKE TO
KEEP THEMSELVES SAFE.
AND THEN
TESTING COMES IN AS THE KEY
STRATEGY FOR US TO BEGIN TO GET
AHEAD OF THIS WITH OUR MAKING
CONTACT.
I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> I'D JUST LIKE TO ADD AS
SOMEONE THAT WORKS WITH YOUNG
PEOPLE ALL THE TIME, MANY OF
WHOM HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A
LOT OF ANGUISH AND HAVE BEEN
PROTESTING.
AND THAT IS
ABSOLUTELY THEIR RIGHT.
THAT
SOMETIME THEY GET THE IMPRESSION
THAT BECAUSE YOUNG PEOPLE, VERY
FEW YOUNG PEOPLE ARE DYING FROM
THIS, THAT IT'S NOT SOMETHING
THAT THEY NEED TO WORRY ABOUT.
AND MY MESSAGE WOULD JUST BE
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU GET
TESTED.
BECAUSE EVEN IF YO
UNLIKELY TO GET ILL, YOU COULD
BE A SLEN-CARRIER.
AN
ASYMPTOMATIC CARRIER.
AND WHEN
YOU COME HOME TO YOUR PARENTS,
YOUR GRANDPARENTS OR OTHER
PEOPLE YOUR OWN AGE THAT MAY
HAVE AUTO IMMUNE CONDITIONS,
ETC, THEY MAY END UP BEING VERY
VULNERABLE.
SO IF YOU ARE
EXPERIENCING EVEN MILD SYMPTOMS,
PLEASE GET TESTED.
>> OUR NEXT QUESTION WILL BE
FROM KEVIN SCOPPIO.
KEVIN, THE
FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU.
SO ONE OF THE
ISSUES THAT A NUMBER OF
INSTITUTIONS HAVE REPORTED.
THEY
HAVE BEEN TRYING TO ORGANIZE
ONGOING TESTING.
HAS BEEN NOT
HAVING ENOUGH -- OR A RELIABLE
SUPPLY OF TESTING MATERIALS,
SUCH AS SWABS AND.
DO YOU FEEL
LIKE YOU'VE ABSTAINED A
SUSTAINABLE SUPPLY OF MATERIALS
SO YOU CAN SUSTAIN THAT IN THE
LONG-TERM?
>> I'LL START.
THEN THE CHIEF.
WE, IN THIS MARVELOUS
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UNIVERSITY
OF WASHINGTON, AS WELL AS THE
STATE, WORKING VERY HARD TO OPEN
UP MORE AVENUES FOR TESTING.
ARE AT A PLACE.
AND THIS IS ONE
OF JUST THE FIRST COUPLE WEEKS
WHERE WE HAVE FELT LIKE WE
ACTUALLY HAVE SUFFICIENT TEST
KITS TO SUPPLY ALL THE DIFFERENT
VENUES WHERE WE'RE DOING THIS.
SO OPENING THIS UP RIGHT NOW IS
THE PERFECT TIME.
I JUST WANT TO
GIVE A SHOUTOUT AGAIN TO THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON.
THEY
HAVE BEEN AN AMAZING PARTNER IN
THIS FOR GETTING TEST KITS.
AND
I HAVE TO AGAIN SHOUT OUT TO THE
MAYOR, HE HAS BEEN DOGGED ABOUT
MAKING SURE WE CAN EARN
EVERYTHING UPSIDE DOWN, TRYING
TO FIND TEST KITS.
SO THINGS ARE
REALLY STABILIZING BETTER.
WE'RE
ALWAYS WATCHFUL.
RIGHT NOW, I
FEEL CONFIDENT.
>> AND I WOULD SAY IT'S ON THE
PART OF THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON AND UW MEDICINE,
WE'VE SOURCED MULTIPLE SWABS
FROM A LOT OF DIFFERENT SOURCES.
WE HAVE WORKED WITH INDIVIDUALS
IN THE CITY.
WE DUG PRETTY DEEP
LOOKING ALL AROUND THE WORLD FOR
SUPPLIES.
AND WE'RE IN A MUCH
BETTER PLACE IN THAT REGARD
RIGHT NOW THAN WE WERE IN MARCH
OR APRIL.
>> AND RIGHT NOW, OUR TESTING
SUPPLY CACHE, WE TESTED 1,500
PEOPLE A DAY, WE CAN LAST FOR 85
DAYS WITH OUR SUPPLIES THAT WE
HAVE IN STOCK RIGHT NOW.
I
BELIEVE WE'RE READY TO GO.
>> AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE FOLKS
WATCHING KNOW THAT WE'RE ALSO
EXPANDING TESTING AROUND THE
COUNTY.
AS WELL.
THIS IS A VERY
SPECIAL PARTNERSHIP AND ALLOWING
US TO REALLY GET INTO THE CITY
OF SEATTLE.
WE'RE PROUD OF THAT.
IT'S CREATING A MODEL FOR US.
FOR KING COUNTY.
AGAIN, GRACHL
FOR THAT.
GRATEFUL FOR
THAT.
>> YEAH, AND I REALLY WANT TO
ECHO THE GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH
PATTY, WITH CHIEF SKOGINS, WITH
UW.
WE TRULY HAVE BEEN LOOKING
EVERYWHERE TO SOURCE TEST KIT
COGGINS, WITH
UW.
WE TRULY HAVE BEEN LOOKING
EVERYWHERE TO SOURCE TEST KITS.
I ALSO.
TO EMPHASIZE TWO OTHER
THINGS, THESE ARE OUR FIRST TWO
SITES.
WE'RE LOOKING TO SEE
WHETHER WE CAN ESTABLISH
ADDITIONAL SITES.
PARTICULARLY
TO BE ACCESSIBLE TO SOUTH PARK
OR WEST SEATTLE.
WE KNOW IT'S
DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO GET FROM
THAT PART OF THE CITY.
AND WE
DON'T WANT THERE TO BE ANY
BARRIER FOR TESTING.
WE ALSO
WILL BE SETTING UP MOBILE
TESTING CAPABILITY FOR PEOPLE
WHO ARE DEMONSTRATING.
WE HAVE
HAD A NUMBER OF CONVERSATIONS
ABOUT THE RANGE OF THINGS WE CAN
DO TO MAKE SURE THAT PROTESTORS
ARE ABLE TO GET ADEQUATE
TESTING.
WE'RE LOOKING AT A
RANGE OF WAYS TO DO THAT.
I WANT
TO EMPHASIZE AGAIN, I AGREE SO
MUCH WITH PATTY.
AND AS MUCH AS
PEOPLE CAN, DO THE OTHER THINGS
TO PREVENT THIS.
GOOD HYGIENE.
SOCIAL DISTANCING.
FACE
COVERINGS.
WE'VE ALL SEEN THE
DEMONSTRATIONS.
Y WE KNOW HOW
CLOSE PEOPLE ARE TOGETHER.
THERE'S SOME SCIENTIFIC EVERYDAY
THAT SHOWS WHEN YOU'RE IN CLOSE
PROXIMITY, SHOUTING OR YELLING,
YOU COULD BE EXPOSING MORE
PEOPLE.
AND THAT'S WHY IT'S
GONNA BE SO CRITICAL.
AT THE
FIRST SIGN OF SIMPLES OR ANYONE
YOU KNOW HAS TESTED POSITIVE, TO
GET TESTED.
SO YOU CAN GET
ISOLATED AND NOT SPREAD AND
TRANSMIT THE VIRUS MORE.
I WANT
TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR
LEADERSHIP AND TRYING TO WORK
ACROSS ALL LEVELS.
IN OUR SENIOR
FACILITY, WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE
DEMONSTRATING.
AND MAKING SURE
WE MAKE THIS AS ACCESSIBLE AND
FREE AS POSSIBLE.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR DURKIN.
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR ANSWERING
THAT QUESTION.
ONE FINAL
QUESTION RIGHT NOW.
IT WILL COME
FROM DAVID HYDE.
KUOW.
DAVID?
>> HEY, SORRY ABOUT THAT.
I
DIDN'T REALIZE YOU WERE GONNA GO
TO ME.
I DID HAVE A QUESTION.
CAN YOU PUT THE 1,600 IN
CONTEXT, PATTY?
SO I UNDERSTOOD
HOW THAT FIT INTO THE LARGER
TESTING PICTURE IN KING COUNTY.
AND IN WASHINGTON STATE.
>> SO OUR GOAL TO INCREASE
TESTING IS TO GET UP TO DOING
5,000 OR MORE TESTS PER DAY.
RIGHT NOW, WE'VE BEEN AVERAGING
AROUND 2,000.
SO THIS ADDITION
FROM THE CITY IS AN AMAZING BUMP
TO WHAT WE KNOW WE NEED TO BE
DOING.
THAT'S PART OF THE METRIC
FOR WHAT THE GOVERNOR HAS SET
FOR THE TARGET METRIC ON WHAT WE
NEED TO BE DOING FOR REOPENING.
MORE ACTIVITIES AND ALLOWING
MORE OF OUR BUSINESSES TO
FUNCTION.
THIS IS ALL PART OF
THAT SCALING UP.
AND GETTING THE
MESSAGE OUT TO BOTH PROVIDERS
WHO REALLY RESPOND WHEN SOMEBODY
CALLS AND SAYS I HAVE SOME LIGHT
SYMPTOMS.
CAN I GET TESTED?
YES.
AND ALSO TO ENCOURAGE
PEOPLE, WHEREVER THEY'RE AT, TO
GO IN IF THEY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED.
OR HAVE MILD SYMPTOMS.
THANK
YOU.
>> I WOULD JUST ADD ALSO THAT
THE CAPACITY THAT WE HAVE AT UW
MEDICINE TO DO TESTING, WE DO
CURRENTLY DO ON THE ORDER OF
2,000 TO 2,500 TESTS DURING THE
DAY DURING THE WEEK.
AND WE CAN
DO APPROXIMATELY THREE TIMES
THAT MANY.
BUT A PROJECT LIKE
THIS, AND A PARTNERSHIP LIKE
THIS, THAT ACTUALLY THAT
ACTUALIZES THAT CAPACITY.
UNTIL
WE HAVE THE SEATTLE FIRE
INDIVIDUALS AND ALL THOSE WHO
CAN GET TESTED.
UNTIL THEN
THERE'S NO CAPACITY.
WHEN WE
HAVE PROJECTS LIKE THIS THAT YOU
CAN FACILITATE THE START TO
FINISH OF THE ENTIRE TESTING
CYCLE, THAT'S WHAT ENDS UP
ALLOWING TO US GET AS MANY
PEOPLE AS WE CAN.
>> WE'LL FORWARD THOSE QUESTIONS
ALONG AND MAKE SURE THOSE GET
ADDRESSED.
I'D LIKE TO TURN IT
BACK OVER TO MAYOR DURKIN FOR
CLOSING REMARKS.
>> THANK YOU.
AND I WANT TO
THANK THE PARTNERS WHOOR THIS
CALL.
WE WERE UNFORTUNATE IN
THAT SEATTLE AND KINGCOUNTY WERE
THE ORIGINAL EPICENTERS.
WE WERE
OPERATING WITHOUTANY GUIDANCE
OR FEDERAL LEADERSHIP.
OUR
ABILITY TO PAVE THE WAY FORWARD
ALSO DEPENDED ON THAT WE WERE
THE LOCATION OF SOME OF THE
LEADING SCIENTISTS AND HEALTH
PROFESSIONALS IN THE COUNTRY.
AND THE SEATTLE STUDY GAVE US
SOME EARLY GUIDANCE FOR THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON.
AND
INVALUABLE MODELING.
NOW THIS
PARTNERSHIP WILL ACTUALLY GIVE
US THE ABILITY TO DO TESTING AT
A SCALE WE NEED TO DO AS WE
REOPEN SOCIETY AND REOPEN
BUSINESSES SO THAT WE CAN KEEP
CONTROL OF THIS VIRUS.
IT'S
STILL AN INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS
VIRUS.
AND I THINK IN MANY WAY,
WE'VE FORGOTTEN THAT BECAUSE
THERE IS SO MUCH ELSE THAT IS
OCCUPYING US IN THE CITY.
BUT WE
HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THIS
PANDEMIC IS REAL.
THE VIRUS IS A
REAL THREAT.
AND SO IF YOU HAVE
ANY SYMPTOMS AT ALL, IF YOU KNOW
ANYBODY WHO'S TESTED POSITIVE,
GET TESTED.
IT'S FREE.
IT'S
RELATIVELY PAINLESS.
AND WE DO
WANT TO YOU GET TESTED SO YOU
CAN STAY HEALTHY AS A CITY.
THANKS SO MUCH.