— 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.
Tuesday JIC briefing with state COVID-19 response leaders. Top leaders engaged in the state’s COVID-19 response held their weekly media briefing today. The weekly briefings will now include Lacy Fehrenbach who was appointed to serve as DOH’s newly-created position of Deputy Secretary of Health for COVID-19 Response. Reporters asked multiple questions about increasing COVID-19 activity throughout the state. TVW livestreamed the briefing and you can listen here.
Weekly long-term care report released. The Department of Health’s weekly report detailing infections and deaths at long term care facilities can be found here. Going forward the report will be used on Wednesdays instead of Tuesdays. The next report will be published on June 24.
Hospital bed capacity numbers on pause until June 26. Due to a CDC driven change in the way beds are being counted, data on hospital beds capacity will be unavailable on the state’s COVID-19 risk assessment dashboard until Tuesday, June 26 as our partners adjust to the new forms and way of counting beds.
Pacific County approved to move to Phase 3 of Safe Start plan. Secretary of Health John Weisman approved Pacific County to move into Phase 3 of the Safe Start plan today. Pacific County joins 11 other counties in Phase 3. Grays Harbor and Lewis counties have also applied to move to Phase 3 and King County has applied to move to Phase 2. Their applications are still under review. Applications for Benton and Franklin counties to move to Phase 2 are on pause. Visit the county status page see which phase each county is in. The What’s Open page has an overview of activities allowed during each phase.
Inslee visits Yakima to meet with local leaders about COVID-19 response. Gov. Inslee held a series of meetings at Yakima Valley Community College today with local elected officials, local health care system leaders, and business representatives. The latest data analysis from the Institute for Disease Modeling shows an increase in COVID-19 activity in Yakima, Benton, Franklin, and Spokane counties that may require additional efforts to curb the spread of the virus including expanded hospital capacity and testing. KING-5 news has video of the media avail after today’s meetings.
Inslee extends proclamation providing flexibility and relief to courts relating to protection orders until July 1. The original proclamation which legislative leaders agreed to extend yesterday removes certain statutory hearing deadlines and service of process requirements as it relates to protection orders including domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, extreme risk, and other similar orders. You can read the full proclamation here.
Resources
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.
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It is worth noting that our nearest neighbor, Skagit County, may be prevented from moving (as planned on June 26th) to Phase 3 due to a recent uptick in cases per capita and hospitalizations.