Recap of recent COVID-19 news, updates from State Health Dept.

||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH |||

Newest numbers. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 319,498 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 24. There have been 4,942 COVID-19 deaths in Washington.

Thursday, Feb. 25, 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.

COVID-19 vaccine distribution update from DOH. As of Feb. 22, more than 1,411,453 doses of vaccine have been given across the state, which is more than 75 percent of the 1,821,705 doses that have been delivered to our providers and long-term care programs. Washington is averaging 25,346 vaccine doses given each day. We hit a new record Feb. 11, administering 44,872 doses in a single day, which is extremely close to our goal of vaccinating 45,000 people per day. Read the full news release here [to be posted soon].

Department of Health launches weekly SARS-CoV-2 sequencing and variant report. DOH will begin publishing a weekly report summarizing genome sequencing coverage of Washington SARS-CoV-2 specimens from multiple laboratories from across the U.S. and our state. The report will provide a statewide view of sequencing capacity and data, including breakouts by county and demographics. Read the full news release here [to be posted soon].

New modeling report explores options for safer return to in-person learning. On Feb. 24, DOH and the Institute for Disease Modeling (IDM) released a report that explores how to minimize COVID-19 introductions in schools, and what can be done to mitigate its spread within schools and the larger community. Read the full news release here.

Metrics for case investigation and contact tracing conducted by Washington state centralized investigations. This weekly report shows the timeliness of reaching COVID-19 confirmed and probable cases and their contacts. Read the full Feb. 24 report here.

Gov. Inslee’s Feb. 25 press conference. The governor discussed the 2021 legislative session and the state’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He was joined by Scott Lindquist, MD, MPH, state epidemiologist for communicable diseases, and Nick Streuli, executive director of external affairs in the Governor’s Office. View the press conference here.

Inslee updates proclamation on truck driver hours. Gov. Jay Inslee announced updates to a proclamation that will extend the COVID-related commercial truck driver hours waiver to May 31, 2021, in alignment with federal waivers. Read the full proclamation here.

SBA prioritizes smallest of small businesses in the Paycheck Protection Program. The Biden administration and the U.S. Small Business Administration are taking steps with the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to further promote equitable relief for America’s small businesses, offering PPP loans to businesses with fewer than 20 employees and sole proprietors only beginning Feb. 24 through March 10, 2021. Read more here.