Government

Coronavirus Updates

Updated October 12, 2020

 

The City of Tukwila is actively engaged in the regional effort to address the coronavirus.   For more information, visit King County Public Health, which has a wealth of resources, including information in other languages.

 

Printable document with COVID-19 information and resources:

 

Free COVID-19 testing now available in Tukwila

CHI Franciscan’s St. Anne and St. Francis Hospitals will be offering  free COVID-19 testing for all ages through a partnership with King County Public Health and the Tukwila Fire Department. The testing is located at the Church by the Side of the Road (3455 South 148th Street). Drive-thru and walk-up testing is available, and you can register online.

 

King County is now in Phase 2

King County has entered the Phase 2 of Washington’s Safe Start plan to gradually and carefully reopen the local economy and other aspects of daily living.  Limited social gatherings may be held with five or fewer people outside your household. Restaurants, retailers and other businesses can once again serve customers.  Most businesses will be required to operate at reduced capacity and hours, and all will be required to follow state guidelines designed to ensure the health and safety of employees and customers.   These call for.  Continuing to take these precautions is crucial to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and allow us to resume normal economic activity.

Find information about the in Phase 2: KingCounty.gov/depts/health/covid-19/safe-start.aspx

 

Staying informed about COVID-19 outbreak in our community

It’s important for community members to know how the coronavirus is affecting Tukwila.   Businesses and activities allowed in Phase 2 must adhere to State health and safety guidelines.   However, everyone’s social distancing, hand washing and wearing of cloth masks is still crucial to reducing the spread of COVID-19.   Currently, Tukwila has a higher rate of COVID-19 infection per capita than King County.   The County has a web page featuring a helpful dashboard that shows all the numbers associated with the outbreak, for Tukwila and other cities.   To see the numbers and trends of coronavirus outbreaks, go to: KingCounty.gov/depts/health/covid-19/data/daily-summary.aspx

 

The City has enacted the following temporary operational changes in response to the regional coronavirus outbreak:

  • The City has moved many City functions to a Virtual City Hall.   City staff is available during business hours via phone and email. Many City services, including paying utility bills; applying for a job; looking up the status of permit; applying for a business license; and obtaining City records are available on the City’s website.
  • The Tukwila Parks & Recreation page details what is open and available to residents, along with a listing of programs not able to open according to Safe Start guidelines.
  • The Municipal Court is closed. Please refer to the court’s administrative order (2020-2) for details. Court hearings are being completed virtually.  Virtual court hearings are held Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Virtual in-custody hearings from SCORE jail are held Tuesdays and Fridays. All hearings are live streamed and available for viewing the via the  Live Video Stream page.
  • Police services remain open. For emergencies please call 9-1-1. If it is not an emergency, call the non-emergency number: (206) 241-2121. Please do not visit the City’s Police Station unless absolutely necessary. You can still file reports online with the  Police Online Reporting System. Fingerprinting services have been temporarily suspended.
  • All fire stations in the region, including the City’s fire stations are closed to the public.   This will help reduce the risk of Coronavirus transmission to first responders.

 

Mayor’s expectations for use of face coverings in City facilities:

  • In the future, when City facilities are open to the public again, all visitors will be asked to wear a face coverings.
  • All staff, visitors and contractors are expected to wear a face covering (cloth, disposable, N95, bandanna, etc.) in common areas of every facility when unable to be six feet from other people. This includes hallways, restrooms, breakrooms, conference rooms, vehicles, etc.
  • Anyone entering or exiting City Hall or the 6300 building will wear face coverings, as well as in common areas.
  • While in-person meetings are currently discouraged, if one, all participants are expected to wear a face covering AND  sit at least six feet apart.
  • Face coverings may be removed when folks are at their work station, provided it is more than six feet apart from another staff member.
  • Exceptions will be made in accordance with the Governor’s order, including not requiring masks on individuals with medical conditions.

 

The following are useful phone numbers and emails for City Departments:

 

There are things that we can all do to help contain the virus:

  • Wear a cloth face covering over your nose and mouth while in an indoor public setting where you may be within 6 feet of someone who does not live with you. Wear a cloth face covering in an outdoor public setting – like a farmers market or a crowded park – where it is difficult to maintain six feet of physical distance at all times.
  • Wash your hands often and well – hot water, soap and a duration of at least 20 seconds are the three critical steps
  • Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer when hand washing is not available
  • Clean frequently touched surfaces and objects
  • Avoid touching your face unless you have just washed your hands