HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-08-31 E-Hazelnut Newsletter
City of Tukwila E-Hazelnut Newsletter - August 2022
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Information
Tukwila Elected
Officials
Mayor: Allan Ekberg
City Council:
Thomas McLeod (Council
President)
Kathy Hougardy
De'Sean Quinn
Kate Kruller
Cynthia Delostrinos Johnson
Mohamed Abdi
Tosh Sharp
Back-to-School and COVID-19
Back-to-school means rain jackets, backpacks
and kids spending more time indoors. Like we see
almost every year, it’s easy for kids to spread
germs like the common cold, influenza and
COVID-19, as respiratory viruses are more easily
spread indoors. Worrying about our kids getting
COVID-19 while at school is no fun. And
unfortunately, COVID-19 isn’t going away. That’s
why it’s very important to continue to wear
masks, make sure your family stays up-to-date on
vaccines, and to stay home from work and school
and away from others for 5 days or more, when
you or your children are feeling sick.
Here are a few things you should know about this
year’s back-to-school COVID-19 requirements and
safety guidance:
Free vaccination clinics in King County
Health care professionals at free vaccination
clinics in King County will be on hand to answer
your questions and to provide required
immunizations. You don’t need insurance or
proof of immigration status. Just bring along your
child, their immunization records if you have
them, and a book or toy to occupy them during
the wait.
COVID-19 vaccines are the best way to protect
your child from getting long lasting symptoms
or serious illness from COVID
Many kids haven’t completed their first series of
COVID-19 vaccines. Some of this is due to vaccine
hesitancy, misinformation, or other barriers. It
may help to know that the vaccines for kids are
safe and well-tested. Trusted healthcare
professionals like pediatrician Dr. Ben Danielson
and Dr. Helen Stankiewicz Karita of UW
Medicine, Dr. Ahmed Ali of the Somali Health
Board, and Dr. Iman Yunis of Othello Pharmacy,
agree that vaccinating your children is the best
way to protect them and the community from
serious illness that could make them miss school.
They answer common questions from parents in a
series of videos about why the vaccine is safe for
kids.
Schools and child care programs may require
you to wear a mask
Be sure to pack a well-fitting mask into your kid’s
backpack. And thank you for respecting people’s
choices to continue to wear a mask. Wearing a
high-quality mask remains an important tool in
helping to limit the spread of COVID-19.
What to do if you or your child tests positive
for COVID-19
Getting sick means at least 5 missed days of
school and work, which can be especially tough
on parents who can’t afford to miss days, or
without access to child care. But it’s also so
important for your family to get better and to
keep COVID from spreading to others. If you or
your child are showing symptoms of COVID-19,
even if you don’t yet have test results, you
should stay home to protect others. If you need
food or other assistance while you isolate, please
call the state COVID-19 information hotline at 1-
800-525-0127, then press #1.
Parents and children who test positive for COVID-
19 are required to stay at home and isolate for at
least 5 days.
• You may return to work and school if
your test is negative on day 5.
• If your test is positive, continue to
isolate for 5 more days.
• Continue to wear a well-fitting mask
around others for 10 days, and 11
days around people who are high-risk
for COVID-19.
• When students and children return
from 5 days of isolation, they should
wear a well-fitted mask from days 6
to 10.
• Students should test before returning
to school, if possible.
For more information about COVID-19 in King
County, go
to: https://kingcounty.gov/depts/health/covid-
19.aspx
Take a tour of the new Public Works
Fleet & Facilities Building
In June, Tukwila’s Department of Public Works moved its Fleet and
Facilities divisions into the newly remodeled facility located on Tukwila
International Boulevard. The new building is a part of the City’s Public
Safety Plan (PSP), which also included two new fire stations and the
Tukwila Justice Center that houses the Tukwila Police Department,
Municipal Court and Emergency Management. Please enjoy this virtual
tour of the new facility.
Free Youth Transit Pass starts Sept. 1
Starting September 1, 2022, riders 18 and younger can take transit for
free thanks to Move Ahead Washington, a statewide transportation
funding package.
With the launch of the program, young riders can use current classic blue
youth and student ORCA cards, show their student identification, or
simply board and ride free. New black ORCA cards will also be available
soon and distributed through schools and customer services. Any of these
options will work, with more innovations on the horizon in 2023 including
the ability to “tap” a smartphone or a “smart” sticker on a student ID.
How it Works
Riders age 13 and older are encouraged to show one of the following to
the driver, if they have it:
Youth ORCA Card
Please “tap” your card when you board. On Sound Transit light rail,
please also “tap” when you exit. If you kept the Youth ORCA card issued
by your school during the 2021 -22 academic year, it will continue to work
through June 30, 2023.
Current High School or Middle School Student ID
Youth who do not have one of these can still ride for free.
In 2023 and beyond, youth will be directed to get a Free Youth Transit
Pass that allows them to tap a card—or eventually their smartphone—to
access transit across the region for free.
Visit FreeYouthTransitPass.com for the latest information.
City of Tukwila | 6200 Southcenter Blvd, Tukwila WA 98188 | 206 433-1800