Most recent COVID updates from State Health Dept.

||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH |||

Newest numbers. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 406,399 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on June 7. There have been 5,785 COVID-19 deaths in Washington.

For the most recent tally of cases by county, demographics, and more, visit the Department of Health’s dashboard and the state’s Roadmap to Recovery Metrics dashboard. 

Statement from the Washington State Department of Health. DOH recognizes many people have experienced challenges while trying to confirm that their records were transmitted to the Washington State Immunization Information System (WAIIS) and that they are eligible for the “Shot of a Lifetime” lottery drawing. Read the full news release here.

Vaccine data reconciliation between state and federal sources will take time. The CDC reports 7,843,092 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Washington as of June 6, whereas DOH reports 7,253,646 doses have been administered as of June 5. The state’s data dashboard represents the most accurate information the department has control over, and there are a few reasons why the numbers are different. Read the full news release here.

Vaccination helping to control spread of COVID-19 and needs to increase. To keep the decline in disease trends on track, we need to keep increasing vaccination and continue preventive measures like wearing masks, maintaining distance, and moving gatherings outside if you’re unvaccinated. Read the full news release here.

Updated guidance documents. The Home Care and Hospice Guidance document includes these updates to the Protecting Staff and Patients section:

• Employer PPE information from the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries
• DOH’s Respirator and PPE Guidance for In-Home Care
• CDC guidance for PPE removal
• Additional information on aerosol-generating procedures

ICYMI: Inslee letter requesting border opening between the United States and Canada. Gov. Jay Inslee sent a letter last week to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas urging an immediate full or partial reopening of the U.S.-Canadian border to provide relief for individuals and communities impacted by the prolonged closure. Read the full news release here.

The COVID-19 Vaccine and Your Kids free webinar. Join Washington health and education leaders Wednesday, June 16, at 6 p.m. for a discussion on what you need to know about vaccinating your child. Speakers from DOH, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Kaiser Permanente Washington will discuss vaccine safety and eligibility for kids and will share what families can expect for the coming school year. ASL and Spanish interpretation will be provided. Register and submit your questions here.

COVID-19 long-term care report. As of June 7, a total of 20,527 COVID-19 cases and 2,711 deaths have been identified as associated or likely associated with a long-term care facility (such as nursing home, assisted living facility, or adult family home). These cases include residents as well as employees and visitors. Read the full June 8 report here.