By Kathi O Shea February 10, 2021 6:52 am
KGMI
BELLINGHAM, Wash. The Bellingham City Council addressed the issue of homelessness at its Monday night meeting and took public comment.
“I join the community’s call to action, demanding the mayor and City of Bellingham use their powers to provide emergency shelter, permanent housing for all, starting with an absolute end to encampment sweeps,” said one commenter.
The Whatcom County Health Department presented the City’s and County’s efforts to serve the homeless community and reported shelter capacity has increased by 140 beds this winter to a total of 522.
Of these, 239 are low barrier beds that do not require enrolling in any programs.
Whatcom County sees another COVID-related death and 48 new cases, state reports Friday
The Bellingham Herald 2/6/2021 David Rasbach, The Bellingham Herald (Bellingham, Wash.)
Feb. 6 One more Whatcom County residents who tested positive for COVID-19 has died and the number of confirmed cases in the county climbed by 48, the Washington State Department of Health s dashboard reported on Friday, Feb. 5.
Overall, Whatcom County has seen 5,857 confirmed cases and 69 related deaths during the pandemic, according to state data as of 11:59 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 4, meaning 1.2% of all COVID cases in Whatcom County have been linked to a death.
Sixty-one additional probable cases an increase of 14 from Thursday report have been reported in Whatcom County during the pandemic, resulting from positive antigen tests not confirmed by a molecular test.
Whatcom sees two deaths and 74 new COVID cases Thursday, but rates appear to level off
The Bellingham Herald 2/5/2021 David Rasbach, The Bellingham Herald (Bellingham, Wash.)
Feb. 5 Two more Whatcom County residents who tested positive for COVID-19 have died and the number of confirmed cases in the county climbed by 74, the Washington State Department of Health s dashboard reported on Thursday, Feb. 4.
Overall, Whatcom County has seen 5,809 confirmed cases and 68 related deaths during the pandemic, according to state data as of 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 3, meaning 1.2% of all COVID cases in Whatcom County have been linked to a death.
Forty-seven additional probable cases an increase of three from Wednesday s report have been reported in Whatcom County during the pandemic, resulting from positive antigen tests not confirmed by a molecular test.
February 4, 2021 7:38 am
BELLINGHAM, Wash. The Whatcom Health Board is continuing its petitioning of state officials, this time over vaccine distribution.
County Councilman Ben Elenbaas says a letter drafted in part by Health Department Director Erica Lautenbach was approved Wednesday night.
The letter complains that vaccine distribution planning is not clearly defined or based on population.
It says that counties prevented from moving to Phase 2 of the Roadmap to Recovery plan should be prioritized for vaccine distribution.
Elenbaas says they are looking for a response.
The letter, signed by Health Board chair Barry Buchanan was sent to Dr. Umair Shah at the state Department of Health.
February 3, 2021 8:42 am
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OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) The Washington state House has passed a bill that would allocate $2.2 billion in federal COVID-19 relief funding.
The bill passed the House late Monday and now moves to the Senate.
The Olympian reports the measure directs federal funding to an array of high-priority areas, including $668 million for K-12 schools using a funding formula tied to how many low-income families are in a district.
This as the Whatcom County Health Board is petitioning the Governor to accelerate the re-opening of local businesses now that holiday infection surges have passed.
Councilman Ben Elenbaas posted a letter signed by Council member Barry Buchanan and addressed to Governor Inslee requesting the county be moved to Phase II in the Roadmap To Recovery plan.