Recap of today’s COVID-19 news and updates

— from Emergency Operations Center, Camp Murray —

Numbers: As of May 13, there are 17,773 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Washington state, an increase of 261 cases in the last 24 hours.
Visit the Department of Health’s website for cases by county, demographics, and more.  

Statewide Response Updates 

Long Term Care Facility (LTCF) Reporting: As of May 9, a total of 3,214 COVID-19 cases (19% of total cases) and 587 deaths (61% 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. 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.
• We are working to improve this information going forward.

Outdoor recreation guidance: Today Gov. Jay Inslee issued guidance clarifying Phase 1 outdoor recreation requirements and set forth outdoor recreation guidance for Phase 2. Today’s guidelines build on the original outdoor recreation requirements released on April 27. For counties granted variance to move to Phase 2, additional recreational activities may resume, effective May 14. For more information click here for the memo and here for guidance. Here is a Full list of guidance for all current businesses. 

Through the Washington “Safe Start” plan, more businesses and activities will re-open in phases, with adequate safety and health standards in place. Each phase will be at least three weeks. Additionally, counties with a population of less than 75,000 that have not had a new case of COVID-19 in the past three weeks can apply for a variance to move to Phase 2 of “Safe Start” before other parts of the state. County variance applications will be approved or denied by the secretary of the Department of Health. Eight counties have received the variance. 

Using telehealth to stay healthy: Physical distancing has taught us how to do so much of our daily lives online! We’re learning how to grocery shop, do our jobs, go to school, hang out with friends and family, all without leaving our favorite screen. It’s about time we learn how to get our health care over the computer too. Telehealth is any use of electronic communications to get health care when you and the doctor aren’t in the same place at the same time. If you have a phone or a device with the internet, you already have everything you need to do telehealth! For more information visit the Department of Health website    

If you or someone you know has recently lost or will be losing health insurance coverage, download the mobile app, WAPlanfinder, or visit wahealthplanfinder.org to browse health insurance options and get covered. Apple Health enrollment is open year-round. 

Trusted tools in preventing disease:  Case investigations and contact tracing are trusted public health tools for preventing the spread of disease. This week, Gov. Jay Inslee described a statewide plan to use these tools so that more businesses can open and more people can be active in public while public health works to slow and prevent the spread of COVID-19. Click here for more information. 

Weekly food security report:  This week, Washington State Department of Agriculture’s (WSDA) Food Assistance program distributed 1.4 million pounds of food to serve an estimated 171,000 weekly clients. In addition, more than 60 foodbanks across the state continued to receive support from the Washington National Guard, which helped box more than 3 million pounds of food and assembled nearly 64,000 meals this week. 

Statewide News Items 

Resuming personal and professional services for Phase 2 Counties: Gov. Jay Inslee issued guidance today for resuming personal services and professional services for counties granted variance under the Safe Start Phase 2 recovery plan laid out last week. For counties granted variance to move to Phase 2, personal services may resume, effective May 13. 

Personal services includes cosmetologists, hairstylists, barbers, estheticians, master estheticians, manicurists, nail salon workers, electrologists, permanent makeup artists, tattoo artists, cosmetology schools, and esthetics school,” the guidance states. For more information click here for the memo and here for the list of requirments.  

Inslee also released guidance today regarding the operation of professional services. A professional service provider is defined as an office-based occupation that typically serves a client base. This includes but is not limited to: accountants, architects, attorneys, engineers, financial advisors, information technologists, insurance agents, tax preparers, and other professional service occupations. For more inform click here for the memo and here for the list of requirements.  

Through the Safe Start approach, counties with a population of less than 75,000 that have not had a new case of COVID-19 in the past three weeks can apply for a variance to move to Phase 2 of “Safe Start” before other parts of the state.  So far eight counties have received the variance.  

The Economic Resilience Team newsletter: a roundup of information covering guidelines for phased opening, contact tracing, wifi hotspots and the latest from Employment Security. Click here for more information. 

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.