Latest COVID-19 news, updates from State Health Dept.

||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH |||

Newest numbers. The Department of Health reported a total of 314,655 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 17. There have been 4,803 COVID-19 deaths in Washington.

Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021, data note: Total case counts may include up to 400 duplicates. Negative test results data from Nov. 21–30, 2020, are incomplete. Thus, negative test results and percent positivity (Testing tab) for that period, and case counts, should be interpreted with caution. Otherwise, the incomplete time frames presented in the dashboard are correct and up to date. The Epidemiologic Curves tab is the most accurate representation of COVID activity and is updated daily as new cases are identified.

COVID-19 vaccine distribution update from the Washington State Department of Health (DOH). As of Feb. 15, more than 1,201,120 doses of vaccine have been given across the state, which is nearly 83 percent of the 1,453,425 doses that have been delivered to our providers and long-term care programs. Washington is currently averaging 26,204 vaccine doses given each day. This information can be found on the DOH data dashboard under the vaccines tab, which is updated three times per week. Read the full news release here.

Washington state experts host webinar on COVID-19 vaccine phases. DOH hosted a live webinar Feb. 18 to discuss the phasing and rollout of COVID-19 vaccines in our state. The webinar, “Understanding WA’s COVID-19 Vaccine Phases,” featured Umair A. Shah, MD, MPH, secretary of health; SheAnne Allen, COVID-19 vaccine director; and Dr. Christopher Chen, medical director – Medicaid, Health Care Authority. The conversation was moderated by Louis Shackelford, HIV Vaccine Trials Network project manager at Fred Hutch. Read the full news release here.

New guidance for the commercial seafood industry. DOH has published new guidance for the Commercial Seafood Industry in Washington State (PDF). This document serves as public health guidance to minimize the frequency and severity of outbreaks for the seafood industry’s workers and employers. The document demonstrates collaboration between the industry and state and local health authorities with the shared goal of mitigating virus transmission and preventing mortality from COVID-19.

Case investigation and contact tracing metrics for DOH centralized investigations. This weekly report shows the timeliness of reaching COVID-19 confirmed and probable cases and their contacts for case investigations and contact tracing activities. Read the full Feb. 17 report here.

COVID-19 morbidity and mortality by race, ethnicity, and age in Washington state. This bimonthly report provides an overview of confirmed or probable COVID-19 case, hospitalization, and death rates by race and ethnicity at state and regional levels. It also provides counts and percentages of confirmed or probable cases and hospitalizations by primary language spoken. Read the full Feb. 17 report here.

DOH COVID-19 long-term care report. As of Feb. 16, 2021, a total of 17,922 COVID-19 cases and 2,316 deaths have been identified as associated or likely associated with a long-term care facility (i.e., nursing home, assisted living facility, or adult family home). These cases include residents as well as employees and visitors. Read the full Feb. 17 report here.

COVID-19 response update media briefing. The Feb. 18 media briefing with Washington State Secretary of Health Umair Shah and other DOH COVID-19 response leaders can be viewed here.

ICYMI: Canada makes border exemption for Point Roberts residents. Gov. Jay Inslee announced Feb. 17 that Canada will not require COVID-19 testing for Point Roberts, Washington residents who travel through Canada for essential services. Land access to Point Roberts, located south of Vancouver, B.C, on the Tsawwassen Peninsula, is only possible via a 25-mile trip through British Columbia. Read the full news release here.