Today’s recap of COVID-19 news and updates

— from Emergency Operations Center, Camp Murray —

Numbers: As of 11:59 p.m. on May 7, there are 16,388 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Washington state, an increase of 157 cases in the last 24 hours. Visit the Department of Health’s website for cases by county, demographics, and more.  

Statewide Response Updates 

Five counties move to phase 2: Today Washington State Secretary of Health John Wiesman approved applications from Columbia, Garfield, Lincoln, Ferry and Pend Oreille counties to move into Phase 2 of Gov. Jay Inslee’s Safe Start plan early. In addition to the counties approved today, Kittitas, Skamania, and Wahkiakum Counties have applied for a variance and their applications are under review. Stevens County has applied, however they are not yet eligible based on the outlined criteria. The state is still working to determine when and how counties with a Phase 2 variance can move to Phase 3, and considering additional options to support different regional needs in reopening. 

Learn more about county variances and the statewide response to COVID-19 at coronavirus.wa.gov. 

Inslee releases additional Safe Start Phase 1 guidance: Gov. Jay Inslee released additional guidance today for businesses and services under Safe Start Phase 1, including the ability for retail outlets to provide curbside service, pet walking and landscaping.

Statewide news items  

SR504 Spirit Lake Memorial Highway to remain closed: The seasonal reopening of SR504 is delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Each spring, the gates on state Route 504 near Coldwater Lake usually swing open to allow travelers onto the upper reaches of the road, also known as Spirit Lake Memorial Highway. Click here for more information.

Resources for older adults: The spread of coronavirus across our state has created a very stressful environment for all Washingtonians, especially older people and those with underlying health conditions who are at heightened risk. TVW and AARP team up to provide important COVID-19 tips and resources for older adults.  Click here for more information.  

Drop in vaccination leaves children vulnerable to other diseases:  The number of immunizations given to children is dropping during the COVID-19 pandemic, both in Washington and nationally. This leaves children and communities at risk. 

The Washington State Department of Health and its partners are concerned that children aren’t getting all the vaccines they need to protect them. Slowing or stopping access to immunizations increases the risk that we could see an outbreak of a vaccine-preventable disease. Adding more outbreaks on top of COVID-19 not only would put more people’s health at risk, it also could overload the health care system. 

Encourage parents and guardians in your area to make an appointment right away for any missed immunizations. Find information to share with parents and caregivers here. 

For more information, visit the CDC website. Press release is also available in Spanish. 

Even in a pandemic, kids need their shots: view the latest blog from the Department of Health.

When you or your family members are hospitalized during COVID-19: view the latest Department of Health blog in Spanish titled cuando usted o sus familiares están hospitalizados durante COVID-19.

Infographics now compatible with screen reading technology: All English language infographics on the COVID-19 Partner Toolkit have been remediated to be compatible with screen readers. Screen readers convert digital text into speech. They are used by people who are blind, have low vision, or have certain cognitive or learning disabilities. Click here for color or here for black and white.  

Paycheck protection update: The US Small Business Administration (SBA) resumed accepting Paycheck Protection Program applications from participating lenders on Monday, April 27, 2020 at 10:30am EDT. The Paycheck Protection Program is a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll. SBA will forgive loans if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and the money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities. Learn more.

Sad news from Veterans Affairs: Yesterday the Spokane Veterans Home mourned the passing of a Veteran diagnosed with COVID-19. This marks the sixth Spokane Veterans Home resident who has tested positive for COVID-19 and subsequently passed away, either from the effects of COVID-19 or due to other medical conditions that were present prior to the COVID-19 diagnosis. Click here for the full release.

Link to yesterday’s mental health briefing: In a Joint Information Center phone briefing for members of the media, Washington state’s leading experts in disaster psychology and mental health discussed the typical psychological cycles and timelines communities experience during large scale disasters and emergency incidents. They discussed the significant mental health impacts that employers and state leaders should be anticipating over the next several months as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and statewide efforts to bolster mental health and substance use disorder supports in anticipation of greater need. Link to the briefing.   

Resources  

TVW: Find links to past and future coverage regarding COVID-19 and resources from TVW’s partners at https://www.tvw.org/covid-19/  

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.