Recap of recent COVID-19 news, statewide response updates

||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH |||

Newest numbers. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 331,820 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on March 17. There have been 5,168 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 Road to Recovery Metrics dashboard.

Thursday, March 18, 2021, data note: Vaccination data posted yesterday, March 17, 2021, were incorrectly dated March 13, 2021. The correct date is now shown. 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.

Vaccine Command and Coordination System (VACCS) leverages unique public-private partnership innovations to help Washingtonians find vaccine appointments. The VACCS Center makes it easier for all Washingtonians, whether digitally savvy or not, to easily find information about vaccines and vaccine providers, schedule an appointment, and receive their COVID-19 vaccine. Read the full news release here.

Gov. Inslee’s March 18 press conference.The governor discussed the state’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He was joined by Dan Laster, director, COVID-19 Vaccine Action Command and Coordination System (VACCS) Center, Department of Health. View the press conference here.

Inslee announces extension of eviction moratorium, expansion of vaccine eligibility, long-term care visitations may resume. Gov. Jay Inslee announced that the statewide eviction moratorium will be extended through June 30, as well as upcoming vaccine eligibility expansion, including restaurant workers and Washingtonians 60 and older. He also announced that effective immediately, visitations at long-term care facilities and nursing homes may resume. Read the full news release here.

Phase 1b-2 expansion: Individuals with disabilities that put them at high risk become eligible for vaccines. Gov. Jay Inslee announced a March 17 advancement to Phase 1b-2 of vaccine eligibility, which includes pregnant women, individuals with disabilities that put them at high risk for severe COVID-19 illness, and a number of high-risk worker groups. Read the full news release 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 March 18 report here.

Case investigation and contact tracing metrics for DOH centralized investigations. This weekly report shows the timeliness of reaching COVID-19 confirmed and probable cases and their contacts for case investigations and contact tracing activities. Read the full March 17 report here.

COVID-19 morbidity and mortality by race, ethnicity, and age 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 March 17 report here.

DOH COVID-19 long-term care report. As of March 15, 2021, a total of 19,057 COVID-19 cases and 2,537 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 16 report here.

Inslee updates proclamation on consumer debt garnishments. A technical update to the proclamation will protect the new federal COVID-19 relief in the same way it protected federal stimulus payments. Read the full news release here.