11/30/2020 COVID19 Updates for Muslims

Asalamu Alikum Brothers and Sisters, 

This email contains the following information:

• New this week

1. COVID 19 updated graph and new guidance update by King County. 

2. First Aid Mental Health training – 8 hours. Recommended for Imams, scholars, and leaders. Free with the coupon. 

3. Rental assistance help for the residents in Kirkland and Redmond. 

4. Rental assistance program for tenants and landlords in King County. Application deadline is Dec 4th. 

5. New financial assistance programs to support Washington businesses and families totaling $135 million

• From last week in case you missed it

6. Public Health Seattle & King County is providing one-time cash stipends to qualifying workers in King County to Isolate and Quarantine (SWIQ) program

7. Registration is now recommended prior to testing for COVID19.

8.  Free prayer pocket mat, disposable and reusable face masks

9. Free and reduced flu vaccine clinics

10. Grants to families in WA State from $1000 to $3000 per family.

11. Islamic Centers are required by law to follow the governor’s guidance. 

12.WA State Quarantine for interstate and international travel.

13. Support for workers during COVID-19 outbreak

14. Free prayer pocket mat, disposable and reusable face masks.

The details: 

1. COVID 19 Positive cases in WA and King County

(Above image is the COVID19 cases in King County)

Please check the COVID 19 Outbreak Summary and the King County Indicator. Below is the graph for the first two weeks of Nov. 

2. First Aid Mental Health training – 8 hours. Recommended for Imams, scholars, and leaders. Free with the coupon. Please register using this link by Dec 4, 2020, to use the 100% free offer. The free offer will be available to everyone on Dec 2, 2020 at 2:00pm. The training consists of 2 hours on demand video training, 6 hours live virtual training in 2 different days.  If you will not be able to attend, please cancel your registration because spaces are limited to 15 people only. Virtual training is Dec 14, and Dec 15, 5:30pm to 8:30pm, with a break for Mugrib Salah. Future training will be shared soon, feel free to ask questions through muslimcna@gmail.com

3. Rental assistance help for the residents in Kirkland and Redmond. Please contact IAWW and mention that you are coming from MCNA. Please reachout to IAWW email address. IAWW is the Indian Association of Western Washington.

4. Rental assistance program for tenants and landlords in King County. Application deadline is Dec 4th. Check here for more info. Assistance provided by King County Eviction Prevention and Rent Assistance Program.

5. New financial assistance programs to support Washington businesses and families

Last week, Governor Inslee announced additional economic support to WA state totaling $135 million. Included in that total is:

• $70 million in business support grants.
• $30 million for the recovery loan program.
• $20 million for rental assistance.
• $15 million for energy bills for low-income households.

6. Stipends for Workers to Isolate and Quarantine (SWIQ) program

• Program did not start yet
• Tested positive for COVID-19 and/or
• Are a close contact of a positive case

More details

7. Due to high demand at King County test sites, we encourage everyone to register before going to the test site. To register for a test, select the highlighted “Make reservation online” link below your preferred testing location at KingCounty.gov/covid/sites. Online registration is available in English and Spanish. For other languages, or if you have difficulty registering, call the King County COVID-19 Call Center at 206-477-3977 (open daily from 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM). If you need an interpreter, please tell us in English what language you need.

 8. Free prayer pocket mat, disposable and reusable face masks

MCNA & Tarteel School are distributing free prayer pocket mats and face masks, please use this form to order for your Muslim Community center. No need to order if you need it for your family, but you will need to call ahead of time to make sure face masks are available in the pickup location: Zebra Printing, in Bellevue. Thank you Zebra printing for the help. 

9. Free flu vaccine clinics. Free and reduced-cost flu vaccination and other vaccines:

10. Grants to families in WA State from $1000 to $3000 per family

Please consider applying to Washington State COVID-19 Relief Funds. Eligible recipients will receive $1,000, with a limit of $3,000 per household.   For the Washington COVID-19 Immigrant Relief Fund, applications are open at immigrantreliefwa.org from Oct. 21 through Dec. 6. Benefits will be disbursed by Dec. 28.

11. Gov Inslee Guidance to religious based organizations. Many Islamic Centers had not been following the Governor guidelines, especially for the 6 feet distance and wearing face masks. Please share this document with the Muslim leaders, and let them know it is ileagal not to follow the Governor guidence. Gov. Jay Inslee announced a few weeks ago an updated guidance for religious and faith based organizations as part of Washington’s Safe Start phased reopening plan. The religious and faith-based guidance is updated to: “Clarify that physical distancing between non-household members must be 6 feet in all directions;” Islamic center members must follow the 6 feet distance, wear face masks and must have a floor/ground mark for each member that is 6 feet apart. Here is the King County guideline poster for Muslims. 

12. WA Travel advisory. With COVID-19 cases doubling in Washington over the last two weeks, Gov. Jay Inslee issued a travel advisory for Washington, recommending a 14-day quarantine for interstate and international travel. Please stay close to home to slow the spread.

13. Public Health Seattle & King County is providing one-time cash stipends to qualifying workers in King County so you can isolate or quarantine. This stipend can help cover 2-3 weeks of a family’s expenses and varies by household size. The program is not yet launched, more information can be found here. 

14. Support for workers during COVID-19 outbreak:

• Return to work letter. Public Health — Seattle & King County strongly discourages employers from requiring workers to get tested after they have completed isolation or quarantine. We have drafted a letter that you can share with your employer explaining the rationale for this policy.

Please feel free to share your feedback.