Today’s recap of COVID-19 news and updates

— from Emergency Operations Center, Camp Murray —

Newest numbers. The state of Washington reported 633 new COVID-19 cases. This brings the total number of cases to 58,173 as of August 1, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. The total number of deaths are at 1,596.

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.

DOH experienced some issues with its reporting system which caused interruptions in several functions. The agency is able to report cases, deaths and hospitalizations but are reporting only 437 negative test results from 8/1. DOH is working hard to address the issue and will post new information as soon as it is available.

Inslee announces updates to indoor fitness guidance. Gov. Jay Inslee today announced updates for Phase 2 and Phase 3 fitness guidance as part of Washington’s Safe Start phased reopening plan. The guidance is effective August 10, 2020. 

Updates include:

• Clarification on when facial coverings are required in indoor fitness facilities
• Changes to calculation of occupancy limits for large facilities
• Allowance for fitness and sports training other than group fitness classes

Read the full fitness guidance document here. 

Read the attached memo here. 

Find a full list of current reopening guidance here. 

$100 million rental assistance headed to Washington communities. The Washington State Department of Commerce is distributing approximately $100 million in state Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding to operate a new rent assistance program launched Aug. 1. The program will focus on preventing evictions by paying up to three months of past due, current and future rent to landlords for eligible participants. Rent assistance is limited to three months and the program ends Dec. 31, 2020.

A survey recently showed 17% of renters in Washington state missed their July rent payment. Since February, the state’s employment has declined 12% – over twice that of the worst point in the Great Recession – and use of basic food assistance programs has increased by 15%.

Commerce provided guidance and formula-based grant amounts to its Consolidated Homeless Grant program lead grantees and organizations serving the Office of Homeless Youth in every county of the state. These organizations will use grant funds to provide rent assistance that will be paid to landlords on an eligible client’s behalf. Equity is a primary program goal, with a focus on groups of people who historically have not been provided equitable access to rent assistance and those who have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. Program information is on the Commerce web page.

Employment Security Department hits major milestone for application processing; launches new dashboard. ESD announced today the agency has resolved all claims included in its Operation 100% initiative, and has restored processing times to an average of four weeks. The initiative included all individuals who had applied for unemployment benefits between March 8 and June 18 who had yet to receive payment and needed ESD to take action to resolve their claims.

The department has also launched a new benefits data dashboard to report information about payments, the claimant population, status of claims processing and more. This dashboard, which will be updated weekly, will allow the public stay up to speed on the status, progress and performance of benefits claims and processing as the pandemic continues.

ESD Commissioner Suzi LeVine provided a detailed update to the media today about these efforts, including releasing figures of confirmed fraudulent claims and specifics on fraud payments prevented. The video and slideshow can be found in the newsroom on ESD’s website.

One-minute survey can help expand broadband access across Washington. The Washington State Broadband Office and state Public Works Board last week launched a comprehensive mapping initiative to identify gaps in high-speed internet service and areas of broadband infrastructure needs. This is part of the state’s effort to ensure universal broadband access in Washington by 2024.

This is a first-of-its-kind survey to collect broadband access and speed data at this level of detail. The data collected will provide the foundation for achieving the state’s long-term goal to provide quality, high-speed broadband access to everyone in Washington. COVID-19 has shown how crucial broadband access is for people who need to work, learn or access health care online.

The first step is for Washington residents to perform a one-minute access and speed survey found at broadband.wa.gov. Using the easy-to-follow instructions and a simple link, anyone can complete the speed test at home using any computer or mobile device.