Category: Public Health
IPCC climate report: Profound changes are underway in Earth’s oceans and ice – a lead author explains what the warnings mean
Humans are unequivocally warming the planet, and that’s triggering rapid changes in the atmosphere, oceans and polar regions, and increasing extreme weather around the world, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warns in a new report.
The Pandemic Has Devastated the Mental Health of Public Health Workers
Public health workers have been vilified by a portion of the public and attacked by some political leaders and media figures. They have been fired or forced from office. They have been subjected to protests—some on their own front lawns—as well as curses, threats and even, on at least one occasion, racist taunts.
U.S. health system ranks last among 11 high-income nations, study finds.
Remarkably, a high-income person in the U.S. was more likely to report financial barriers than a low-income person in nearly all the other countries surveyed: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the U.K.
Compliance and Defiance: States React to New CDC Mask Guidelines
CDC’s reversal on mask recommendations led to more disagreement between Republican and Democratic politicians over masks and other pandemic-related public health precautions.
New State Laws Hamstring Public Health Officials
Newly minted state laws may prevent many public health measures—or at least make them difficult to impose.
Puget Sound health agencies call on all to wear masks when in indoor public spaces
COVID-19 rates are increasing across the region largely due to the spread of the more contagious delta variant.
Why did it take so long for the West to adopt masks?
Masks help prevent the spread of COVID-19, yet masking policies in the West have featured some spectacular policy wrong turns.
Heat-related deaths in Washington state climb to 78 after historic heat wave
To compare, in 2020, there were seven heat-related deaths in Washington state from mid-June to the end of August. From 2015 to 2020, there were a total of 39 deaths during warmer months
Trees: The Critical Infrastructure Low-Income Neighborhoods Lack
The wealthiest Seattle neighborhoods have 65% more tree canopy cover than the highest poverty neighborhoods.
Benjamin Franklin’s fight against a deadly virus
Colonial America was divided over smallpox inoculation, but he championed science to skeptics
The dip in the US birthrate isn’t a crisis, but the fall in immigration may be – UW researcher warns
Migrants tend to be young, and to work. They contribute to the economy and bring dynamism to the society, along with supporting existing retirees, reducing the burden on current workers.
King County’s mask directive ends
Unvaccinated people will need to continue wearing masks in indoor public spaces and crowded outdoor spaces.
Washington state is lifting its COVID-19 restrictions: Do we still need to take precautions?
COVID-19 is still here, and more contagious variants are spreading locally in King County and nationally.
Inslee to rely on state’s statistics, not CDC’s in his decision on reopening
CDC says the state has achieved its 70% goal, but state’s statistics say we’re still falling short.
VACCINATION LEVELS UP, COVID-19 RATES DOWN: KING COUNTY MASK DIRECTIVE LIFTS ON JUNE 29
In King County, 70% of residents age 16 and older are fully vaccinated.