Coronavirus updates: State passes 32K cases; parks offer tips for safe gathering
This page includes coronavirus developments around Washington state for Monday, June 29.
Updated at 4:30 p.m.
The Washington State Department of Health on Monday reported 501 new cases of COVID-19 and 10 additional deaths.
Due to a data issue over the weekend, new deaths on Monday included deaths reported from June 27-29.
Statewide totals have reached 32,253 cases and 1,320 deaths, up from 31,752 cases and 1,310 deaths on Sunday.
King County continues to be the hardest hit with 10,019 cases and 610 deaths. Yakima County has 7,008 cases and 154 deaths while Snohomish County has 3,463 cases and 170 deaths. Pierce County reported 21 new cases and no deaths on Sunday, bringing its totals to 2,507 cases and 87 deaths.
Garfield, the state’s least populous county, remains the only county without a reported case. Six other counties are reporting fewer than 10 cases each.
There are 109 cases that have not been assigned to a county.
There were 24 people with confirmed cases of COVID-19 admitted to state hospitals on June 21, the most recent date with complete data. The total number of people who have been hospitalized in the state stood at 4,323 on Monday.
There have been 548,220 tests conducted in the state with 5.9% coming back positive.
The test numbers reflect only polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, which are given to patients while the virus is presumably still active in the body.
Pierce County reports 21 new cases
Updated at 2:35 p.m.
Pierce County reported 21 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on Monday and no additional deaths.
Pierce County totals are now at 2,507 cases and 87 deaths since the county’s first case was reported March 6, according to the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department.
Daily totals can change as the county receives new information about cases, finds duplicate data or is assigned cases originally attributed to other counties.
The county has reported 377 cases in the past 14 days, according to the health department. The 14-day case rate per 100,000 is 41.8, and average cases per day over the past 14 days is 26.9.
As of Monday, the county reported an estimated 552 active cases.
Over the weekend, the county saw a new spike in cases, pushing past 50 in one day on June 26, a level not seen since mid-April.
The county expects to consider applying for an expanded version Phase 2 this week.
Pierce County is among others in Western Washington to see numbers of new cases grow at rates more reminiscent of times earlier in the pandemic.
The state’s COVID-19 situation report noted late last week that “the upward trends in Snohomish and Pierce counties are not accompanied by a large testing volume change, suggesting that the upwards trends are connected to increasing transmission across the Puget Sound area.”
Testing is available at various sites in the county. For more information on local testing sites, go to www.tpchd.org/covidtest.
Monday’s geographical case totals are listed below with previous day’s totals in parentheses:
▪ Bonney Lake: 51 (no change)
▪ Central Pierce County: 170 (168)
▪ East Pierce County: 64 (63)
▪ Edgewood/Fife/Milton: 111 (110)
▪ Frederickson: 84 (83)
▪ Gig Harbor area: 68 (65)
▪ Graham: 75 (no change)
▪ JBLM: No longer reported
▪ Key Peninsula: 11 (no change)
▪ Lake Tapps/Sumner area: 66 (no change)
▪ Lakewood: 265 (261)
▪ Parkland: 146 (no change)
▪ Puyallup: 172 (no change)
▪ South Hill: 128 (no change)
▪ South Pierce County: 47 (no change)
▪ Southwest Pierce County: 28 (no change)
▪ Spanaway: 85 (no change)
▪ Tacoma: 810 (803)
▪ University Place: 105 (no change)
▪ Unknown: 21 (20)
State Parks and Recreation Commission offers tips for safe gatherings
Updated at 2:30 p.m.
The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission encourages safe and responsible gatherings in state parks during the upcoming Fourth of July holiday.
The Fourth of July falls on a Saturday this year, prompting concerns by State Parks staff about larger-than-normal attendance over the holiday weekend, crowding and poor etiquette, especially at parks on or near beaches, lakes and rivers.
To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, State Parks reminds celebrants to practice social distancing and good hygiene, use face coverings and limit party sizes.
Parks also strongly urges visitors to:
▪ Recreate close to home and only with members of the same household.
▪ Check for park closures before heading out.
▪ Bring extra supplies — including hand sanitizer and toilet paper.
▪ Pack out what they’ve packed in.
▪ Have a Plan B in case the park is too crowded.
For those visiting parks for day-use only, purchasing a Discover Pass before arriving at the park also will help.
Many communities adjacent to state parks are in Phase 1 or 2 of Gov. Jay Inslee’s Safe Start Washington plan. Several smaller counties may have difficulty serving an influx of visitors. Fueling up and grocery shopping before leaving home will help ease the burden on these communities.
Nearly $80 million in CARES Act funding allocated in Pierce County
Updated at 2:25 p.m.
Pierce County has allocated nearly $80 million over the last several weeks in an effort to combat the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Of that amount, nearly half has been directed to public health initiatives.
“We are closely monitoring case data, and we have more work ahead of us before applying for Phase 3,” said County Executive Bruce Dammeier. “Ramping up testing and contact notification are critical to effectively dealing with the spread of the virus.”
CARES Act funding announced today include money directed to public health initiatives to address diagnostic testing, investigations surge staffing, and isolation and quarantine centers.
The County has now allocated 60% of the total CARES Act funds authorized by Ordinance No. 2020-60 in the areas of Public Health Emergency Response, Economic Stabilization and Recovery Programs, and Community Response and Resilience. Further Council action is needed for the County to spend the remaining 40%.
“The Pierce County Council continues to support public health education and outreach to make sure all Pierce County residents receive necessary information to keep themselves safe during this time,” said Council Vice Chair Dave Morell. “We are also committed to assisting our agricultural industry, which is why we increased funding from the CARES Act to help our local farmers.”
Tacoma Rainiers to live stream fireworks show
Updated at 2:25 p.m.
The Tacoma Rainiers will be shooting their fireworks show next to Cheney Stadium on Friday, July 3 at 9:45 p.m. PT. Cheney Stadium.
The parking lot will be closed to the public due to coronavirus health protocol, but the show will be live streamed on the team’s Facebook channel. Those in the area are encouraged to practice social distancing if gathering to watch in-person nearby.
“July 3 is traditionally the biggest day of the year for the Rainiers and our fans,” said Tacoma Rainiers President Aaron Artman. “There’s decades of July 3 history at Cheney Stadium. It’s a special day for our fans that has passed through generations. We feel like it’s the perfect time to put on a show for Tacoma and give the city something to be excited about.”
The fireworks show will take place in the parking lot adjacent to Clay Huntington Way. The live stream on the Rainiers Facebook channel will show the display using drone shots and a variety of camera angles.
Washington state reports 348 new cases on Sunday
Updated at 9 a.m.
The Washington State Department of Health on Sunday reported 348 new cases of COVID-19 and no additional deaths.
Death reporting from June 27 and 28 may be artificially low due to a data issue that will be corrected June 29, the DOH website says.
Statewide totals have reached 31,752 cases and 1,310 deaths. Totals were 31,404 cases and 1,310 deaths on Saturday.
King County continues to be the hardest hit with 9,895 cases and 610 deaths. Yakima County has 6,920 cases and 152 deaths while Snohomish County has 3,438 cases and 168 deaths. Pierce County reported 21 new cases and no deaths on Sunday, bringing its totals to 2,487 cases and 87 deaths.
Garfield, the state’s least populous county, remains the only county without a reported case. Six other counties are reporting fewer than 10 cases each.
There are 51 cases that have not been assigned to a county.
There were 23 people with confirmed cases of COVID-19 admitted to state hospitals on June 20, the most recent date with complete data. The total number of people who have been hospitalized in the state stood at 4,275 on Sunday.
There have been 534,443 tests conducted in the state with 5.9% coming back positive.
The test numbers reflect only polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, which are given to patients while the virus is presumably still active in the body.
Aquariums reopening at Point Defiance
Updated at 9 a.m.
The Pacific Seas Aquarium and South Pacific Aquarium at Point Defiance Zoo are reopening July 1.
“Our aquarium animals, from sea turtles to jellies, are among the experiences our guests love the most,” said Alan Varsik, director of Metro Parks’ Zoological and Environmental Education Division.
All guests will need a timed online ticket for entry, including members. Tickets will not be available at the zoo’s front gate.
Timed online tickets are $18 for adults (13+), $14 for children (3-12) and free for members and kids under 3.
Tickets are available at pdza.org. Tickets can be scanned at a no-touch front gate from a phone or printed copy.
The Pacific Seas Aquarium features marine animals from around the Puget Sound, including hammerhead sharks, Japanese spider crabs and the giant Pacific octopus.
Guests also will get to meet the aquarium’s newest addition, Bruno, a 23-year-old green sea turtle, in the Baja Bay habitat.
The South Pacific Aquarium is home to massive warm water sharks such as nurse and tiger sharks. This aquarium also includes a myriad of tropical fish, crevalle jacks and eels.
Varsik said that while both aquariums were approved by the Gov. Jay Inslee for reopening along with the rest of the zoo during Phase 2 of Washington’s Safe Start plan, staff have taken extra time to prepare safety measures to guard against COVID-19.
EU finalizing virus ‘safe list,’ US unlikely to make the cut
Updated at 9 a.m.
The European Union is edging toward finalizing a list of countries whose citizens will be allowed to enter Europe again in coming days, with Americans almost certain to be excluded in the short term due to the number of U.S. coronavirus cases.
Spain’s foreign minister said that the list could contain 15 countries that are not EU members and whose citizens would be allowed to visit from July 1. EU diplomats confirmed that the list would be made public on Tuesday. The diplomats spoke on condition of anonymity because the procedure is ongoing and politically very sensitive.
EU envoys in Brussels worked over the weekend to narrow down the exact criteria for countries to be included, mostly centered on their ability to manage the spread of the disease. Importantly, the countries are also expected to drop any travel restrictions they have imposed on European citizens.
The number of confirmed cases in the United States has surged over the past week, and President Donald Trump also suspended the entry of all people from Europe’s ID check-free travel zone in a decree in March, making it highly unlikely that U.S. citizens would qualify.
Infection rates in Brazil, Russia and India are high, too, and their nationals are also unlikely to make the cut.
Spanish Foreign Minister Arancha González Laya said the EU is considering whether to accept travelers from China if Beijing lifts restrictions on European citizens. Morocco is another possibility, although its government doesn’t plan to open borders until July 10.
She said she wasn’t aware of pressure from the United States for the EU to reopen travel to its nationals, adding that countries have been chosen according to their coronavirus statistics — whether similar or not to that in the EU — trends of contagion and how reliable their data is.
“This is not an exercise to be nice or unfriendly to other countries, this is an exercise of self-responsibility,” she told Spain’s Cadena SER radio on Monday.
The safe country list would be reviewed every 14 days, with new countries being added and some possibly dropping off, depending on how the spread of the disease is being managed. Non-EU nationals already in the bloc wouldn’t be affected.
Puyallup farmers market on the brink
Updated at 9 a.m.
Area farmers rely on revenue from the Puyallup Farmers Market, but public health restrictions tied to the COVID-19 pandemic have left the market fighting to stay afloat.
The coronavirus created a dilemma for the organizers of farmers market. Should they hold the open-air event, where a fraction of the vendors are now allowed and only a tenth of normal attendance shows up? Or should they cancel and see farmers waste their crops and make no money?
They decided to open, but it hasn’t been pretty, from a financial standpoint, for anyone.
“We are skating on thin ice,” said Patty Villa, who manages the farmers market for the nonprofit Puyallup Main Street Association.
Kamal Sidhu with Sidhu Farms said his business is almost entirely dependent on area farmers markets.
“Without the farmers markets, which are almost 100 percent of business, we were going to see drops in numbers. And (the markets and online sales) are what gets us throughout the whole year,” he said.
The Puyallup Main Street Association has sponsored Pierce County’s largest farmers market for more than 37 years. Before the coronavirus, the market would see up to 15,000 shoppers at Pioneer Park and Pavilion on a Saturday. From April to October, about 200 vendors would sell produce, handmade goods and flowers while bands performed.
“It’s like a festival every Saturday,” Villa said.
This year, Villa had to re-invent everything. The market now is at the South Hill mall parking lot, with only about 60 vendors, and limited attendance of 250 shoppers at a time with required masks.
“We’ve seen a huge drop in the number of vendors selling and the number of shoppers shopping. That automatically means a drop in revenues generated,” Villa said.
The nonprofit gets a portion of sale, which account for 40 percent of its annual revenue, said Kerry Yanasak, executive director of the Puyallup Main Street Association.
“We’ve taken a huge financial hit —a huge financial hit —to hold this event,” Villa said.
Yanasak said they are “keeping all their options open” and considering staggered furloughs at the nonprofit to ensure there is enough money to start the farmers market next year.
This story was originally published June 29, 2020 at 9:02 AM.
