Drafter
Clerk 09/08/2020
Title
A MOTION requesting the executive to contract with the University of Washington to conduct a retrospective analysis of the impacts of COVID-19 and the actions taken by King County leaders and public health - Seattle & King County to limit the spread of the virus.
Body
WHEREAS, the novel coronavirus first appeared in people in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, and
WHEREAS, the first confirmed case of COVID-19 identified in the United States occurred in January in a Snohomish County resident who had traveled to China, and
WHEREAS, public health - Seattle & King County activated the Public Health Departmental Emergency Operations Center on January 21, 2020, for a significant health emergency caused by novel coronavirus, and
WHEREAS, the King County executive issued a proclamation of emergency on March 1, 2020, in order to exercise the executive's emergency powers, and
WHEREAS, Washington Governor Jay Inslee issued Proclamation 20-25 on March 23, 2020 imposing a Stay Home - Stay Healthy Order throughout Washington State, and
WHEREAS, as of April 26, 2020, there have been 5,912 positive cases and 407 deaths in King County, and
WHEREAS, in Washington, public health - Seattle & King County and local institutions such as the University of Washington, including the Medical Center and Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, and the Gates Foundation have been at the forefront of the pandemic since it emerged in the United States in January 2020, and
WHEREAS, a retrospective analysis of the COVID-19 response in King County could provide decision makers in local government, the healthcare field and the community with valuable information to respond to future pandemics;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT MOVED by the Council of King County:
A. The executive is requested to contract with the Evans School of Public Policy and Governance at the University of Washington to conduct an independent retrospective analysis to include, but not be limit...
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