Most recent recap of COVID news, updates from State

||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH |||

Newest numbers. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 342,269 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on March 31. There have been 5,262 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.

Thursday, April 1, 2021, data note: Negative test results data from Nov. 21–30, 2020, are incomplete. Thus, negative test results and percent positivity (Testing tab) for that period 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.

DOH’s April 1 COVID-19 media briefing. Washington State Secretary of Health Umair Shah provided an update on the COVID-19 response in Washington state. He was joined by Lacy Fehrenbach, deputy secretary of health; Michele Roberts, acting assistant secretary; and Dr. Scott Lindquist, acting state health officer. View the briefing here.

DOH COVID-19 vaccine distribution update. As of March 29, more than 3,325,998 doses of vaccine have been given across the state, which is 83% of the 4,006,330 doses that have been delivered to our providers and long-term care programs. Washington is currently averaging 55,894 vaccine doses given each day. Read the full news release here.

Statement from Secretary of Health Umair Shah. DOH announced everyone age 16 and older will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine starting April 15, which also marks the four-month anniversary of vaccine rollout in Washington. Read the full statement here.

Cases of COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough confirmed in Washington state. DOH is investigating reports of people who tested positive for COVID-19 more than two weeks after being fully vaccinated. Scientists call these “vaccine breakthrough” cases, which are expected with any vaccine. Read the full news release here.

DOH and Labor & Industries release new guidance. The new guidance provides information for health care workers and employers on when to use certain types of personal protective equipment (PPE) and what to do if a facility cannot obtain the recommended PPE:

• L&I and DOH Respirator and PPE for Long-Term Care Facilities
• L&I and DOH Respirator and PPE for In-Home Care Agencies

Gov. Jay Inslee’s March 31 press conference. The governor discussed the 2021 legislative session and the state’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He was joined by Secretary of Health Umair Shah, DOH Acting Assistant Secretary Michele Roberts, and Nick Streuli, executive director of external affairs, Office of the Governor. View the press conference here.

DOH SARS-CoV-2 sequencing and variant report. This weekly report summarizes genome sequencing coverage of Washington SARS-CoV-2 specimens from multiple laboratories from across the U.S. and our state. It provides a statewide view of sequencing capacity and data, including breakouts by county and demographics. Read the full April 1 report here.

COVID-19 outbreaks in Washington state K-12 schools. Between Aug. 1, 2020, and Feb. 28, 2021, 134 COVID-19 outbreaks and 526 COVID-19 cases in K-12 schools were reported to DOH. Read the full March 31 report here.

Department of Health COVID-19 long-term care report. As of March 29, a total of 19,293 COVID-19 cases and 2,571 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 March 30 report here.

Resources

Latest COVID-19 reopening guidance for businesses and workers. A full list of current reopening guidance from the Governor’s Office is available here.

Find a COVID-19 testing location near you. To make it easier to find a test near you, the DOH has created a webpage to help people find COVID-19 testing locations throughout the state.

Guidance and resources for employers and business owners. Sign up for the weekly Economic Resiliency Team business and worker newsletter here.

The state COVID-19 Assistance Hotline is a general information line related to COVID-19. If you need information or have a general question, call 1-800-525-0127, then press # or text 211-211 for help. New hours of operation are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday, and 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and observed state holidays. You can also text the word “Coronavirus” to 211-211 to receive information and updates on your phone wherever you are. You will receive links to the latest information on COVID-19, including county-level updates, and resources for families, businesses, students, and more.

Washington Listens helps people manage stress and anxiety they may be experiencing because of COVID-19. If you or anyone you know is having difficulties managing stress, call the Washington Listens support line at 1-833-681-0211. Hours are from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. TTY and language access services are available by using 7-1-1 or their preferred method. Resources and self-help tips are available on walistens.org.