State recap of recent COVID-19 news, updates

Statewide Response Updates

||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH |||

Newest numbers. The Department of Health reported a total of 248,580 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on January 4. There have been 3,541 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 COVID-19 risk assessment dashboard.

January 5, 2021 data note: Total case counts may include up to 700 duplicates. Negative test results data from November 21, 2020 through today are incomplete, thus percent positivity (Testing tab) and case counts should be interpreted with caution. The Epidemiologic Curves tab is the most accurate representation of COVID activity and is updated daily as new cases are identified and duplicates are resolved.

Weekly COVID-19 response media briefing tomorrow at noon. The weekly COVID-19 response media briefing with leaders from the state’s COVID-19 response will be Wednesday, Jan. 6 at 12:00 p.m. TVW will livestream the briefing here.

Inslee announces “Healthy Washington—Roadmap to Recovery.” Gov. Jay Inslee Tuesday announced “Healthy Washington—Roadmap to Recovery,” a COVID-19 phased recovery plan. Beginning on January 11, 2021, the state will follow a regional recovery approach with every region beginning in Phase 1.

Read the full update here.

Governor Inslee Press Conference on COVID-19 on January 5, 2021. Gov. Jay Inslee held a press conference at the State Capitol to give an update on the state’s response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. He also provided guidance on “Healthy Washington—Roadmap to Recovery,” the phased reopening plan for Washington. The recording is available from TVW here.

Second COVID-Related Incarcerated Death at Washington State Penitentiary. On December 31, 2020, an individual incarcerated at Washington State Penitentiary passed away at a local healthcare facility due to COVID-19 related illness.

As a result of the growing number of COVID-19 positive cases, the facility began COVID-19 testing of all staff within the facility on a weekly basis in August and has tested all of the incarcerated individuals housed at the Medium Security Complex. As of December 31, 2020, Washington State Penitentiary has a total capacity for 2,439 individuals and an average daily population of 2,021. Read the full news release here.