||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH |||

Newest numbers. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 392,754 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on May 19. There have been 5,690 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 Roadmap to Recovery Metrics dashboard. 

DOH will not update the Data Dashboard this weekend. Due to scheduled maintenance, we will not update the COVID-19 Data Dashboard on the weekend of May 22–May 23. We will include data from those days in total case and hospitalization counts for Monday, May 24.

COVID-19 trends moving in the right direction with the help of vaccination. The latest COVID-19 modeling and surveillance situation report from DOH shows disease activity is declining across the state. Immunity from vaccination is helping slow the spread of the virus and reduce its impact on the health care system. Vaccination efforts and other preventive measures (like wearing masks and maintaining distance if you’re unvaccinated) need to continue to keep trends from reversing. Read the full news release here.

State’s vaccine outreach shifts from mass vaccination sites to mobile vaccination clinics. After a successful four-month run, DOH is transitioning the state-led mass vaccination effort from stationary sites to mobile vaccination clinics. This new phase of vaccine outreach will help the state reach people who have experienced barriers in vaccine access and help distribute life-saving shots more equitably and conveniently across the state of Washington. Read the full news release here.

School testing program will now include funding for screening tests. DOH, in conjunction with Health Commons Project, is making it easier for schools across the state to do both diagnostic testing and screening testing for COVID-19. New funding will allow districts and schools the option to add screening tests to their COVID-19 testing strategy if they choose. Read the full news release here.

COVID-19 vaccine distribution update from the Washington State Department of Health. DOH continues to make progress with COVID-19 vaccine distribution and administration efforts. As of May 17, more than 6,424,110 doses of vaccine have been given across the state, which is nearly 84 percent of the 7,664,240 doses delivered to our providers and federal partnership programs. More than 47 percent of people in Washington 16 years and older are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and more than 59 percent of people 16 and older have received at least one dose. Read the full news release here.

Six Months with a COVID Vaccine: Where we started and what we know now. Our state’s leading experts will go beyond the headlines to address myths and bring you scientific facts on the COVID-19 vaccine. Submit your vaccine questions and reserve your spot at our free webinar on Thursday, May 27, at 5 p.m. Register now

May 19 COVID-19 media briefing. Washington State Secretary of Health Umair Shah provided an update on the state’s COVID-19 response. He was joined by Lacy Fehrenbach, deputy secretary of health; Michele Roberts, acting assistant secretary; Scott Lindquist, acting state health officer; Dan Laster, Vaccine Command and Coordination System (VACCS) director; and Rev. Mary Diggs-Hobson, African Americans Reach and Teach Health Ministry (AARTH) co-founder and former director. View the briefing here.

COVID-19 morbidity and mortality by race, ethnicity, and spoken language in Washington state. This bimonthly report provides an overview of confirmed or probable COVID-19 case, hospitalization, and death rates by race and ethnicity at state and regional levels. It also provides counts and percentages of confirmed or probable cases and hospitalizations by primary language spoken. Read the full May 19 report here.

Statewide COVID-19 outbreak report. This weekly document provides an overview of reported COVID-19 outbreaks in our state, based on information in DOH’s Washington Disease Reporting System (WDRS). Read the full May 19 report here.

SARS-CoV-2 vaccine breakthrough surveillance and case information resource. This weekly report provides data and criteria on fully vaccinated people who test positive with SARS-CoV-2 but may or may not develop COVID-19 symptoms. Read the full May 19 report here.

New language reflects the recent update to CDC’s masking and distancing recommendations for vaccinated individuals. People are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose in a two-dose series, like the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine, like Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine.

If it has been less than two weeks since your final dose, or if you still need to get your second dose, you are NOT fully protected. Keep taking all preventive measures until you are fully vaccinated.

Per CDC recommendations, fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear face coverings or physically distance outdoors or indoors, except in these settings:

  • Health care settings like hospitals, long-term care, or doctor’s offices
  • Correctional facilities
  • Homeless shelters
  • Schools

The federal order requiring masks on public transportation still applies.

Fully vaccinated individuals do not need to quarantine or get tested if identified as a close contact of someone who has COVID-19 unless symptomatic. If symptoms develop, follow quarantine recommendations and get tested.

Residents or employees of group settings, like a correctional or detention facility or group home, should quarantine and get tested if identified as a close contact regardless of vaccination status.

See the DOH guidance on masks and face coverings for complete information on the current mandates and health orders in place.

The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries regulates the requirements for face coverings in the workplace. Businesses retain the right to require masks in their establishments for staff and/or customers, and to ask for proof of vaccination.

Here is updated guidance:

Resources

Latest COVID-19 reopening guidance for businesses and workers. A full list of current reopening guidance from the Governor’s Office is available here.

Find a COVID-19 testing location near you. To make it easier to find a test near you, the DOH has created a webpage to help people find COVID-19 testing locations throughout the state.

Guidance and resources for employers and business owners. Sign up for the weekly Economic Resiliency Team business and worker newsletter here.

The state COVID-19 Assistance Hotline is a general information line related to COVID-19. If you need information or have a general question, call 1-800-525-0127, then press # or text 211-211 for help. New hours of operation are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday, and 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and observed state holidays. 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.

Washington Listens helps people manage stress and anxiety they may be experiencing because of COVID-19. If you or anyone you know is having difficulties managing stress, call the Washington Listens support line at 1-833-681-0211. Hours are from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. TTY and language access services are available by using 7-1-1 or their preferred method. Resources and self-help tips are available on walistens.org.

 

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