Recap of recent COVID-19 news and updates

||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH |||

Newest numbers. The Department of Health reported a total of 151,019 confirmed cases as of 11:59 pm on November 23. There have been 2,690 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.

Note: The Department of Health and many state agencies will be closed Thursday, November 26 in observance of Thanksgiving. Therefore, the agency will not have any daily reports or dashboard updates to share. Regular reporting will resume on Friday, November 27.

We hope you choose to spend the holidays with members of your household instead of gathering with others so that we can slow the spread of COVID-19 together.

Coping with COVID: Regulating emotions during a pandemic. We’re almost eight months into the COVID-19 pandemic, and there’s a lot going on around us. We’re balancing a lot — work, school, family, and the upcoming holidays — during a time of great uncertainty. If you find yourself reacting more negatively to things you’re experiencing, you’re not alone. Feeling angry or frustrated is a normal response during a pandemic, but there are things you can do to manage those emotions.

In this episode of our “Coping with COVID” podcast series, Kira Mauseth, PhD and Doug Dicharry, MD discuss the causes of strong emotional reactions and what we can do to feel more in control during stressful times. Listen to the podcast and read the rest of the article here.

November behavioral health forecast now available. The COVID-19 pandemic strongly influences behavioral health symptoms and behaviors across the state due to far-reaching medical, economic, social, and political consequences. For the last several weeks, we have begun to experience the full force of the disillusionment phase of the pandemic. As such, many people are feeling burnt out, exhausted, and overwhelmed.

The monthly behavioral health forecast provides a brief overview of the potential statewide behavioral health impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic. Read the full forecast to learn more about these impacts and strategies for reducing them. Learn more about this work here.

Financial support for families and businesses. On Friday, Nov. 20, Gov. Inslee announced additional financial support funds for families and businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The governor was joined by Lisa Brown, director of Commerce, for the announcement. The total new economic supports amount to $135 million. Included in that total is:

• $70 million in business support grants – $50 million for a new round of Working Washington grants and $20 million for businesses who applied for earlier resiliency grants.
• $30 million for the recovery loan program – this is a longer-term financing tool that will be available the first quarter of next year.
• $20 million for rental assistance.
• $15 million for energy bills for low-income households.

The business support grants will focus on the hardest-hit industries. You can find more information on available business assistance here. Information about rental and energy assistance is available on the You and Your Family page of the state’s COVID-19 website.

Washington is nationally recognized for reducing risky holiday gatherings. According to a survey conducted for the New York Times, Washington state has “the lowest share of planned mixed-household Thanksgivings” in the nation. Read the full story here.

Lessons from the past. A Crosscut article last week took a look into Seattle’s past and painted a familiar picture for us. It’s October 1918, and Seattle is battling pandemic flu. People are wearing face masks and staying far apart from their loved ones. Businesses are closed.

Sound familiar? And just like we flattened the curve in April 2020, these precautions worked to control the flu in 1918. In fact, they worked so well that it looked like the epidemic was over, and the city ended the restrictions after five weeks.

Read the full story here.