Recap of Recent COVID-19 News and Updates

||| from Emergency Operations Center, Camp Murray

Newest numbers. The Department of Health reported a total of 75,856 confirmed cases as of 11:59 pm on September 2. There have been 1,945 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 COVID-19 risk assessment dashboard.

Safer parties use COVID-19 prevention practices this Labor Day weekend. Here is a short list of things to remember when it comes to gathering together in the time of COVID-19:

• Outside is safer than inside.
• Small groups are safer than large groups.
• Less time together is safer than more time together.
• Within six feet, face coverings are better than no face coverings.

So, while a Zoom happy hour might be your safest choice, an outdoor barbecue with one other family, with the chairs set up six feet apart, where the hand sanitizer flows freely, and everyone goes home early, is a less risky option, as far as these things go. Read the full blog post from DOH here.

Inslee extends 26 COVID-19 related proclamations. Gov. Jay Inslee announced the extension of 26 proclamations yesterday in response to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. The extensions were approved by the state Legislature.

Letters from the Legislature on August 27 and August 31 extend the following proclamations until October 1, 2020. 

• 20-15.7: Department of Licensing (20-15.6)
• 20-20.7: Department of Revenue – Relief from Penalties, Fees, Interest, Due Dates (20-20.6)
• 20-21.7: Unemployment Benefit – 1 Week Waiver (20-21.6) 
• 20-23.8: Ratepayer Assistance and Preservation of Essential Services (20-23.7)
• 20-28.9: Open Public Meetings Act and Public Records Act (20-28.8)
• 20-29.7: Telemedicine (20-29.6)
• 20-30.7: Unemployment Benefit – Job Search Requirement (20-30.6)
• 20-31.7: Division of Child, Youth, and Families – Child Care and Background Checks (20-31.6)
• 20-32.7: Department of Health– Health Care Workers (20-32.6)
• 20-36.5: Department of Health – Health Care Facilities and Hand Sanitizer (20-36.4)
• 20-41.8: Department of Licensing – License and Permit Renewal Extension (20-41.7)
• 20-43.6: Office of Financial Management, State Human Resources Division – Annual Leave and Pay Procedures (20-43.5)
• 20-44.6: Nursing Home Transfer or Discharge for COVID-19 Cohorting Purposes (20-44.5)
• 20-45.6: Protection Orders and Personal Service (20-45.5)
• 20-48.6: Department of Licensing – CDL Health Certificates and Other Requirements (20-48.5)
• 20-49.8: Garnishments and Accrual of Interest (20-49.7)
• 20-51.7: Community Associations Meetings and Late Fees (20-51.6)
• 20-52.6: Statewide Orders Relating to Long-Term Care (20-52.5)
• 20-56.4: Tribal Fuel Tax Refund Restrictions (20-56.3)
• 20-58.3: Shared Work (20-58.2)
• 20-59.4: Temporary Licensing – Dental and Pharmacy Graduates (20-59.3)
• 20-63.2: Department of Social and Health Services – Family Emergency Assistance Program (20-63.1)
• 20-64.1: Public Records Act – Contact Tracing — Personal Information (20-64)
• 20-65.1: Long Term Care – Workers, Facilities, and Resources (20-65)
• 20-66.1: Long-Term Care – Operations and Visitation (20-66)

The letter also extends proclamation 20-27 until September 30, 2020. 

• 20-27.7: Electronic Notary (20-27.6)

A healthy start to the school year. Here are some things we can do to help the kids get the school year off to a good start:

• Structure. Set up a fun place for them to learn. Even if it’s just the kitchen table, find a way to make it special for school. Maybe they can color a special learning placemat to set the stage. Set up a schedule for each day, with predictable mealtimes, snack times, family time, outside time, learning time, and fun play time.
• Sleep. For kids who haven’t had a bedtime or wake-up time since March, the start of the school year means it’s time to start revisiting some bedtime structure. Like all of us, kids will sleep better with a regular, calming bedtime routine, and if there are no screens in their rooms.
• Healthy, nurturing foods. The kids can help plan what healthy foods they would like for meals and snacks. Make sure to offer a fruit or vegetable, protein, and carbohydrate at each meal to power them through.
• Exercise. Exercise will help with almost everything. Nerves, too much energy, nothing to do. Exercise is good for the brain, and helps with learning and managing our emotions. And with enough exercise, they just might sleep and get hungry enough to eat those vegetables you put in front of them.

And if all else fails, read to them. Cuddle. Tell them how proud you are of them.

Read the full blog post from DOH here.

Statement from the Department of Health on COVID-19 vaccine. The Washington State Department of Health is closely monitoring progress toward development of a vaccine for COVID-19. We are engaged in vaccine planning efforts and we will be ready to distribute a safe and effective vaccine as soon as the time comes. However, all vaccine candidates are still in clinical trials to determine their safety and efficacy.

DOH’s position is that any COVID-19 vaccine should complete Phase 3 trials before being distributed, unless an independent board of scientists reviewing the data finds otherwise based on data from those trials. At this crucial juncture, it is incumbent upon the federal government to critically evaluate these new vaccines for their safety and efficacy in an unbiased way.

In the meantime, DOH will continue working with federal and local partners to build the infrastructure needed for distribution. When a vaccine is ready, we will be prepared to deploy it in a manner that is equitable, safe and timely for the people of Washington.

Read the full statement here.