Most recent Washington state update on COVID-19 cases

||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH |||

Newest numbers. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 431,743 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on July 28. There have been 6,119 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 Washington Ready and COVID-19 Risk Assessment Dashboard. 

New data reveals COVID-19 impact on unvaccinated. The new data shows that between February and June 2021, at least 94% of COVID-19 cases, deaths, and hospitalizations in individuals 12 years or older from Washington state occurred in those who were not fully vaccinated. As of July 24, 2021, 61.4% of those eligible to receive vaccines have completed an approved vaccination series in our state. Read the full news release here.

Masks required for all K-12 students and staff heading back to the classroom. DOH released updated guidance for the 2021-2022 school year. The guidance aims to minimize transmission and maximize in-person instruction and is informed by the latest science, recently released CDC guidance, and recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Read the full news release here.

Gov. Jay Inslee’s July 28 press conference. The governor discussed the state’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He was joined by Umair Shah, secretary of health, Department of Health; and Nick Streuli, executive director of external affairs, Office of the Governor. View the press conference here. 

Updated DOH guidance document. Updates to K-12 Schools Requirements 2021-2022 reflect recently released CDC recommendations and seek to achieve two primary goals:

• Minimize transmission of COVID-19 among students and staff in K-12 schools and to their families and broader community.
• Maximize in-person instruction.

Other updates to the document include:

• Vaccination and face coverings/masks are the most effective tools to prevent transmission of COVID-19.
• All staff and students must continue to wear face coverings/masks, regardless of vaccination status.
• Physical distancing requirements have been updated to support provision of full time in-person instruction.
• Information on how schools should “layer” mitigation strategies for the best outcome is provided.
• Quarantine protocols have been updated to reduce student exclusions from instruction.
• Expanded information on diagnostic and screening testing is provided.
• Updated links to relevant L&I orders are provided.
• General alignment updates to COVID-19 language are made.
• Extra- and co-curricular requirements will be published in early August.

*NEW* COVID-19 cases, death, and hospitalizations in persons who are not fully vaccinated. This weekly report provides a brief overview of confirmed or probable COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths among those who are not fully vaccinated in Washington state. Read the full July 28 report here.

Statewide COVID-19 outbreak report. This weekly document provides an overview of reported COVID-19 outbreaks in our state, based on information in DOH’s Washington Disease Reporting System (WDRS). Read the full July 28 report here.

COVID-19 morbidity and mortality by race, ethnicity, and spoken language 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 July 28 report here. 

DOH SARS-CoV-2 sequencing and variants report. This weekly report summarizes genome sequencing coverage of Washington SARS-CoV-2 specimens from multiple laboratories from across the United States and our state. It provides a statewide view of sequencing capacity and data, including breakouts by county and demographics. Read the full July 28 report here.

SARS-CoV-2 vaccine breakthrough surveillance and case information resource. This weekly report provides data and criteria on fully vaccinated people who test positive with SARS-CoV-2 and may or may not develop COVID-19 symptoms. Read the full July 28 report here.

Inslee rescinds three proclamations related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Gov. Jay Inslee rescinded two COVID-19 emergency proclamations and gave advance notice of the rescission of a third emergency proclamation. Read the full news release here.