The Bainbridge Island Review site has lifted the paywall on this developing story to provide readers with critical information. To support vital reporting such as this, please consider a digital subscription (https://www.bainbridgereview.com/subscribe/). This story first appeared in the May 1 print edition of the Bainbridge Review.
Our slow slog to normalcy continues.
Our determined march hit a new milestone this week, though.
Gov. Jay Inslee outlined how he will lift restrictions from his “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order at a news conference Wednesday in Olympia.
Inslee said that Wednesday marked the 100th day since the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in Washington state.
He noted that the 100-day benchmark of progress was first attributed to the first term of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
“We will see how history treats us,” Inslee said.
Washingtonians, he added, have responded admirably to the COVID-19 crisis.
Inslee acknowledged that the recovery period seems long, but added that he did not want the state to endure another shutdown with another wave of COVID-19.
Washington state will be guided in lifting the stay-at-home restrictions based on data and science, he stressed.
“We do not want to go through this pain again,” he said. “We want to make this a one-and-possibly-done situation.”
“Let’s just do this once and get it over with,” Inslee said.
In the weeks ahead, Inslee said the state will slowly begin “turning the dial” on physical distancing restrictions in accordance with changing epidemiological and public health data.
“We have to get these numbers down, to a level where we have wrestled them down to the ground,” he said.
“This is showing some progress, but we are not out of the woods yet,” Inslee added.
The governor promised to give more details on reopening the economy on Friday.
Tragic numbers
The Washington State Department of Health reported 14,070 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Washington as of 11:59 p.m. April 28 — an increase of 228 cases in the last 24 hours — and 801 deaths.
In Kitsap County, the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus rose to 150 infections Tuesday. Two deaths from the disease have been reported in Kitsap.
Nationwide, the number of COVID-19 cases hit the million mark this week, and the death toll, now more than 60,000, passed the number of Americans killed during the two decades of the Vietnam War.
A rolling thank-you
A community parade is being organized to bring cheer to the residents of Bainbridge Island Health & Rehabilitation.
The nursing home has not allowed visitors for more than a month, so staff is inviting family and friends of the center’s residents to join in a parade by driving in front of the facility on Madison Avenue at 2:30 p.m. Friday, May 1.
Honking horns, balloons, and homemade signs are welcome.
Adam Canary, administrator at Bainbridge Island Health & Rehab, said in announcement that it’s a celebration for the community, one and all, but one that will be done from a safe distance.
“Our community has sacrificed so much, knowing that the right thing was to protect each other, at all costs,” Canary wrote.
“I can’t express the magnificence of such an action. I want to celebrate the everyday superheroes that put themselves on the line every day to take care of others, I want to celebrate the residents who have trusted us and helped guide us along the way, I want to celebrate the families who share with us and commit in doing the right things, I want to celebrate the community for lending their unwavering support and work toward allowing us to do what we do,” he added. “This is a time to celebrate humanity for all the good that it does.”
Island stays at 11
Kitsap Public Health District added another case of COVID-19 for Kitsap County Wednesday, bringing the countywide total to 151.
A total of 3,371 residents have tested negative — of those tested, the positive test rate is about 4 percent.
Of the 151 cases, 43 have been reported in Bremerton, 39 in South Kitsap, 31 in North Kitsap, 27 in Central Kitsap and 11 on Bainbridge Island. Two deaths have been confirmed by Kitsap Public Health District as well.
In the tank
They’ve been left alone, isolated in quiet solitude, with no visitors.
But there’s good news: The Big Guy is still getting fed.
The Bainbridge Public Library has been shut down for more than a month due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Ever since the March 17 closure, however, staff haven’t forgotten the tropical fish in the large coral reef aquarium in the children’s section of the library.
Courtney Childress, branch manager of the Bainbridge Public Library, said the fish are still getting fed, even with no one in the building.
The big tank has five inhabitants; two clown fish, a blue damsel fish, a phantom banner fish (aka the Big Guy), and an orange flaming hawkfish called Harold.
“They have an automatic feeder, but they’re used to their protein snack three times a week so I try to go a couple times a week to keep them happy,” Childress said.
The aquarium staff also comes every two weeks to clean the tank.
PPE on the way
Washington is still awaiting most of the personal protective equipment that the state has ordered.
According to the state Department of Health, approximately $342 million worth of personal protective equipment (PPE) that has been ordered through April 27, but only $8.3 million in PPE has been received. The PPE gear that has arrived, some 10.7 million items, has already been distributed or is being readied for distribution.
Last week, the biggest day for the distribution on PPE was April 20, when more than 3 million items were distributed.
The state also placed orders for more than 19.9 million gloves on April 21, and on April 24, placed orders for more than 15 million items, including 7.6 million gloves and 7.9 million gowns.
State officials note that demand is far outpacing supply for PPE, and that global supply chains have been interrupted since the COVID-19 pandemic started.
Shortages have been prompted by the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases, panic buying, and the hoarding of supplies.
Officials also report that because the country has not adopted a national system of procurement, all 50 states are competing for crucial supplies.
The toughest items to buy right now: medical gowns and PAPR (respiratory protection systems), and PAPR filters and hoods.
Washington has been looking at all available sources to get PPE, including private manufacturers and retailers.
State officials said more than 100 manufacturers in Washington have retooled to produce PPE as of April 27, and the state plans to buy the full production capacity from five manufacturers for respirator and surgical masks, hand sanitizer and face shields. Other companies that have retooled are selling equipment directly to hospitals.
COVID-19 testing limited
Just 2.3 percent of Washington state’s population has been tested for COVID-19.
Testing in Kitsap County is nearly half that, according to an analysis of reported tests conducted in Washington state by the Review.
Washington state health officials said a total of 13,521 residents statewide have tested positive for COVID-19, as of 11:59 p.m. Saturday, April 25.
The Washington State Department of Health also reported that total deaths from the disease totaled 749 in the state.
Based on the numbers of people tested statewide, using 2019 population estimates conducted by the state, that means only 2.3 percent of the state’s population has received a COVID-19 test. (Washington state had an estimated population of 7,546,410 in 2019.)
Kitsap County has a population estimate of 270,100, and a total of 3,333 tests for COVID-19 have been done on Kitsap residents through Saturday. That puts the number of COVID-19 tests conducted in Kitsap at 1.2 percent of the county’s total population.
There have been two fatalities in Kitsap County through Monday that have been linked to the coronavirus.
The number of deaths in Kitsap County, based on the number of confirmed COVID-19 test results, is 1.3 percent of those who have been tested.
Testing has been limited nationwide due a shortage of tests and testing supplies.
Last week, Inslee called on the White House to create a national testing system.
In an April 21 letter to Vice President Mike Pence, Inslee said Washington state was attempting to get more tests, but needed federal assistance to get the millions of test kits needed for Washington state’s population.
“My state, for example, is working to procure 2.5 million test collection kits to support optimal testing levels, but we are nowhere near that today,” Inslee said in the letter. “Just as a driver cannot travel their full distance on a quarter-tank of gas, we cannot unlock the full capacity of our labs without additional testing supplies and infrastructure from the federal government.”
Currently, only 4,000 tests a day can be completed in Washington state labs.
Inslee said earlier that number needs to rise to 20,000 to 30,000 tests a day.
Earth Day is a go
The students were a world apart from where they’d usually be, but children from The Island School celebrated Earth Day as they have for more than a decade: by inventing, exploring and adapting.
Earth Day began for The Island School community with an all-school Zoom meeting and the big question: What will you do to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day?
Ideas abounded. Teachers at the school created a webpage of suggestions, like making a colorful butterfly with art teacher Dana Weir, listening to teaching assistant Sarah O’Donnell read “The Lorax” in her backyard woods, or playing Birdwatching Bingo with second-grade bird experts.
Some kids had other ideas.
School staff recounted how students spent their day in a busy way; pulling Scotch broom, picking up trash on a scooter ride, and weaving a rug from recycled plastic bags. Others went on an insect walk, planted a maple tree, helped clean a beach, plant vegetables, made signs for their neighborhood, or delivered bamboo poles for a neighbor’s garden.
One family even created a blender drink from sticky weed. Spoiler alert: It’s the flavor.
At the end of the day, everyone gathered again in a virtual Garden Party. Students shared their art, activities and plans for the future.
“In this time of distance learning, we’ve found learning is more meaningful when we work together, even if it is from our separate homes,” said Amanda Ward, Head of School.
“Knowing that we are working alongside a world full of people to make our Earth a greener and cleaner place is empowering,” she added.
COBI rolls with it
A slow rollout of relaxed restrictions on the state’s COVID-19 response began last Friday.
One change: Construction projects for residential homes could restart if builders obeyed social distancing practices and other requirements.
Islanders will likely notice activity at mothballed housing projects to restart.
“Local contractors are working to implement those changes and to be ready to resume their work,” City Manager Morgan Smith told the city council at this week’s COVID-19 update.
Smith added that other changes included the resumption of recreational activities such as hiking, golfing, fishing and boating, and noted that the city would follow the Bainbridge park district’s lead on public access to parkland, and likely apply that to the city’s public parklands.
The Bainbridge park district shut down access to sporting fields and other gathering places in March, and later followed up with closing parking lots at parks, trailheads and other facilities after reports of people congregating and ignoring restrictions on large gatherings and social distancing.
People must remain committed to social distancing and other measures to slow the spread of COVID-19, she added.
“The risks have not gone away,” Smith said.
The city estimates that the costs of staff time that’s been devoted to the health crisis are now at $350,000.
There have also been additional expenditures of $100,000 for the city’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak that were not budgeted.
A potential payback from the federal government is also looking thinner than expected.
“Our potential reimbursement changed significantly,” Smith told the council at this week’s meeting.
Previously, the city had been told that labor costs from running the city’s Emergency Operations Center would be reimbursed.
Not so, now.
This Monday, the city found out from the Federal Emergency Management Agency that that’s not the case.
“FEMA provided new guidance to agencies on Monday and that guidance changed,” Smith said.
The city’s potential reimbursement from FEMA is now $30,000.
Costs add up
Bainbridge Island officials said earlier this week the city has spent roughly $81,000 to support its COVID-19 response as of April 24.
That amount does not include significant staff time spent on emergency response activities and the work to shift to remote platforms to deliver some city services, said city spokeswoman Kristen Drew.
Items purchased for the COVID-19 response include at least 31 computer laptops that were bought in March from Costco, according to a city list of credit card purchases. The computers cost $40,547.
Other purchases include items such as nitrile gloves, face shields, cleaners, and sanitizer wipes.
Also in the city’s credit card bills: lunchtime meals for the workers in the city’s Emergency Operations Center. The total costs for March totaled $1,544; with the cost of lunches ranging from $33.81 (Town & Country Market) up to $260.35 (Ba Sa Restaurant).
KRL moving online
In a report to the Kitsap Regional Library Board of Trustees this week, Kwang Kye, KRL’s director of collection and technology services, said the library system has seen a significant jump in online use since library branches were closed.
In the month before libraries closed their doors, the RBdigital Unlimited Magazines program had 4,766 checkouts.
But in the month since, a total of 10,152 magazines have been checked out — an increase of 113 percent.
The library’s use of OverDrive — an application for smartphones and laptops that allow users to check out audiobooks, eBooks, videos, and more — has seen a 12.6 increase in users, a 30.5 percent increase in checkouts, and a 39.2 percent in holds, Kye reported.
A free, always-available collection of Duke Classics — with titles such as Herman Melville’s “Moby Dick,” Mark Twain’s “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,” Homer’s “Odyssey,” and Joseph Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness” — has also been added to OverDrive to help fill increasing demand.
New resources such as ArtistWorks and Tumblebooks have also been added to the collection.
Like pretty much everyone these days, library staff have been using Zoom a lot lately for meetings.
In the month since the closure, KRL said staff has held 286 Zoom meetings with a total of 1,290 participants, and the meetings consumed a combined time of 62,571 minutes.
Library staff have been talking about virtual programs that will be offered, and a plan is being put together that would move some of KRL’s core offerings — teen advisory boards, book discussions, storytime with the children’s librarians — to an online format, with other programs to follow.
KRL hopes to launch virtual programs by early May.
In a memo to KRL’s board of trustees this week, Library Director Jill Jean praised the work the library system’s employees during the COVID-19 shutdown.
“Never in my wildest dreams would I have anticipated leading our organization through a pandemic or even needing to make the decision to close our library system for an extended time period,” Jean said in an April 28 memo to the board.
“But, it has happened and has tested our agility and ability to pivot in ways we couldn’t have possibly anticipated. This new normal has also brought out the best in our already stellar leadership team.
“I simply could not ask for better people to go through something like this with,” she added. “We have pulled together, been decisive and, always, have kept the needs of our library patrons paramount in our minds. And because of this passion, this dedication, I know we will embrace this challenge, turning it into an opportunity to become an even stronger library system.”
It’s uncertain when library workers will go back to their branches.
Jean said she was hopeful that would happen by mid-June, at the latest, but noted any return depends on safety guidelines set by state and local officials.
A plan for a safe return of employees will include “what conditions it will be acceptable for staff to return to the workplace, what kinds of safety requirements will be established and how service will be redefined as we consider the new normal of our COVID-19 world.”
One option may be to open only a few branches in the first week, and slowly opening others based on the public reaction.
Another idea is to offer curbside pickup services.
“And we know that social distancing will need to become a regular part of our business for quite some time,” Jean added.
The plan is expected to be presented to the library board in early May.
The Kitsap library system has also put all employee recruitment efforts on hold until further notice.
Monica Houston, director of human resources, told the board this week that once the library district can resume hiring efforts, positions will be revisited and the library system will evaluate its needs.
City boards get reboot
Bainbridge Island City Hall will soon be restarting meetings of the city’s Planning Commission and Design Review Board.
The city will resume the meetings in May. Meetings for both the Planning Commission and Design Review Board were called off in March in response to the governor’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order.
The first Planning Commission meeting since the COVID-19 shutdown will be held May 14, and the first Design Review Board meeting would follow on May 18.
City officials expect the meetings to be held remotely, on the Zoom video conferencing platform.
Planning Commission meetings would also be streamed live on the city’s website, with the video recording being uploaded after the meeting.
According to city staff, potential topics for the first Planning Commission meeting would include review of FAR (floor area ratio) bonus density options, and a staff presentation on the council’s work plan priorities for the rest of the year.
The Planning Commission is also expected to develop plans to schedule and hold public hearings for changes to the city’s sign code, and small cell wireless facilities, that were cancelled in March.
The Design Review Board may review two short plats that have been submitted at its next meeting, as well as look at an earlier recommendation on the city’s proposed police/court facility following a request from the Planning Commission.
“This is one important milestone in turning back to our normal operations,” Smith told the city council at its meeting Tuesday.
Show goes on
The First Friday Art Walk at the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art is coming back.
BIMA announced it will present a “livestream, social-distanced exploration of our exhibitions” for this month’s First Friday Art Walk.
BIMA staff will be live on the museum’s Facebook page at 6:20 p.m. Friday, May 1 for about 15 minutes to help viewers connect with the livestream event.
According to the museum, many other downtown galleries will join in the exhibition.
Support for Five Fridays
The Bainbridge Island City Council passed a proclamation to support “small and independent businesses” at its council meeting this week.
The proclamation seeks public support for Bainbridge businesses that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our small and independent businesses have creatively and swiftly amended their models to support and serve their community in this time of need,” the proclamation says, and adds, “our small and independent businesses make up the lifeblood of our local economy.”
The proclamation names the five Fridays in May as “Buy Bainbridge – Support Tomorrow Days.”
“It is fitting and proper to ask our fellow residents, neighbors and visitors to aid our fellow small and independent business owners in this time of crucial need within the city of Bainbridge Island,” the proclamation notes, and it ends by encouraging “all citizens to join together to give back to the community in any way they can.”
“It’s a proclamation,but it’s a very serious one,” Councilman Joe Deets said at Tuesday’s council meeting.
Deets supported the announcement, and he also encouraged people to participate in the Pledge 1200 campaign, a nationwide effort to get people to promise to spend their $1,200 federal stimulus checks at local businesses.
Even if some islanders won’t get a check, he added, “You can still sign the pledge.”
The proclamation was passed unanimously by the council.
See you online
The future is going to look a bit different for the Bainbridge Island Metro Park & Recreation District, as well.
Recreation managers are developing new virtual programming options.
Already, a new webpage called Recreation Reimagined with free recreation, education, and cultural resources has been launched on the park district’s website at biparks.org.
Some programming has already made the move online. Practices for the gymnastics team are being done on Zoom, two to three days a week, and chess and eSports classes are also being offered online.
How much money will come in from programs this year is uncertain. But while revenues are not coming in at the normal rate, expenditures are also lower because the part-time programming staff is not at work and operational expenses are being kept to a minimum.
Employees have turned down the heat in the district’s buildings to save energy, and staff said the district’s water systems are still being monitored daily.
Stay tuned
The Bainbridge Island Farmers Market has plans to restart the market in Town Square on Saturday, May 9.
Opening day for this season’s market was called off after the governor imposed restrictions on large public gatherings in March.
Small bump for WSF
More folks have been getting on the ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge Island, according to ridership statistics released this week by Washington State Ferries.
Not many, though.
Total ridership (passengers and vehicles) on the Bainbridge route totaled 7,136 the weekend of Friday, April 17 through Sunday, April 19.
The following weekend, ridership was at 7,717 for the three-day span starting Friday, April 24.
The difference is an increase of 581 passengers and vehicles last weekend from the one before.
The passenger count on the Bainbridge run for April 17-19 was 3,082. The passenger count for April 24-26 was 3,360.
For all routes in the WSF system, total ridership totaled 58,476 passengers and vehicles from Friday, April 17 through Sunday, April 19.
In the weekend of Friday, April 24 through Sunday, April 26, ridership was 59,308 — an increase of 832 over the previous weekend.
