Recap of Today’s COVID-19 News and Updates

Statewide Response Updates

— from Emergency Operations Center, Camp Murray —

Numbers. For the most recent tally of cases by county, demographics, and more, visit the Department of Health’s website.

Long-term Care Facility Reporting: As of May 25, a total of 3,728 COVID-19 cases (19% of total cases) and 667 deaths (62% of total deaths) have been identified as associated with a long term care facility, including nursing home, assisted living facility or adult family home. These cases may include residents as well as employees and visitors, and currently, we have limited ability to distinguish amongst them.

• These numbers have been identified using several sources of information including interviews with patients, medical record review and cross-matching address information.
• We cannot say for certain that all of these cases were exposed at a LTCF. Many cases visited multiple places during their exposure period, and some individuals may have visited a LTCF after disease onset.
• Data are updated as we receive information that is more complete and may change over time as we learn more. We are working to improve this information going forward.

Inslee press conference on COVID-19, Wednesday May 27 at 2:30 pm. Gov. Jay Inslee will address media tomorrow via streaming video and telephone to give an update on the state’s COVID-19 response. The press conference will be livestreamed by TVW.

Inslee issues updated guidance for outdoor recreation. Gov. Jay Inslee today issued guidance further clarifying outdoor recreation requirements in Phase 1 and Phase 2. Guidance documents: 

Full list of guidance for all current businesses.

Seven new counties approved to move to Phase 2. Washington State Secretary of Health John Wiesman approved variance applications for Cowlitz, Grant, Island, Jefferson, Mason, Pacific and San Juan counties to move into Phase 2 of Gov. Jay Inslee’s Safe Start plan on Saturday. A total of 21 counties have now been approved to move to Phase 2: Adams, Asotin, Columbia, Cowlitz, Ferry, Garfield, Grant, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, Lewis, Lincoln, Mason, Pacific, Pend Orielle, San Juan, Skamania, Spokane, Stevens, Wahkiakum and Whitman.

Clallam, Kitsap and Thurston counties are eligible to apply for a variance to move to Phase 2.

Applications from Kittitas and Clark counties are on pause until further discussion this week due to outbreak investigations.

Tuesday briefings with state COVID-19 response leaders now streaming online. Every Tuesday, the JIC hosts a media briefing with several of our state’s top leaders to cover everything from testing and contact tracing to PPE and epidemiologic trends. TVW is streaming the briefings live and you can find today’s briefing online. Today’s briefing included a special focus on concerted efforts to curb COVID-19 activity in Yakima and ended with a Spanish language Q&A.

Strike team deployed to Yakima Valley for infection control support. On May 11, Washington State Department of Health (DOH)  deployed a team of ten infection specialists (eight DOH staff and two CDC staff) to support the Yakima Health District’s response to COVID-19 on many fronts. The county has multiple outbreaks at long term care facilities, including nursing homes and adult family homes. Upon arrival, Dr. Scott Lindquist, the team lead, requested an infection preventionist from CDC to support the nearly 30 adult family homes in the county to make sure they were following guidance and had adequate supplies of PPE and access to testing. Dr. Lindquist also requested one CDC epidemiologist to set up a data dashboard for the county (which should be finalized next week). Full news release here.

Resources

Don’t get fooled by misinformation. The World Health Organization has said we are experiencing an infodemic — too much information (some accurate and some not) that makes it hard for people to tell the difference between reliable information and harmful speculation. Check out some facts here.

Washington 211 COVID-19 Call Center. Do you need information or answers to your questions and concerns about the novel coronavirus (COVID-19)? You can call 1-800-525-0127 or text 211-211 for help. You can also text the word “Coronavirus” to 211-211 to receive information and updates on your phone wherever you are. You will receive links to the latest information on COVID-19, including county-level updates, and resources for families, businesses, students, and more. 

Interested in volunteering during disasters and significant events like COVID-19? Register with the Washington State Emergency Registry of Volunteers (WAserv) to partner with public health and others who need assistance in their response to the COVID-19 pandemic.