Coronavirus updates: Port of Seattle unveils new safety measures; state passes 41K cases
This page includes coronavirus developments around Washington state for Tuesday, July 14.
Updated at 2:45 p.m.
The Washington State Department of Health has published a new death data report that includes different categories of COVID-19 deaths.
Among those who have tested positive for COVID-19, these categories include confirmed due to COVID-19, suspected of being due to COVID-19, non-COVID-19 deaths and deaths pending or missing cause of death.
In addition, there are 77 deaths that are probably due to COVID-19, but they are not among those who have tested positive for COVID-19.
Approximately 89 percent of the deaths among lab confirmed COVID-19 cases also reference COVID-19 on the death certificate. An additional 4 percent have been determined not to be COVID-19 related and have been removed from the dashboard count.
The remaining 7 percent are pending or the death certificate is unclear and requires further examination and review. The data dashboard represents approximately 96 percent of all deaths to lab confirmed COVID-19 cases.
Pierce County reports 68 new cases Tuesday
Updated at 2:40 p.m.
Pierce County reported 68 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday and three new deaths.
There have now been 3,334 cases and 100 deaths recorded since the county’s first case was reported March 6 in the pandemic.
The county estimates 1,165 still-active cases.
The new deaths involved two Lakewood men, one in his 50s and another in his 80s, with underlying health conditions, and a Puyallup man in his 90s with no major underlying health conditions.
The county has reported 782 cases in the past 14 days, an average of 55.9 cases per day. The 14-day case rate per 100,000 people is 86.7.
The largest age group of the county’s cases involve those ages 20-29, representing 22 percent of the county’s cases.
Daily totals for cases and deaths can change as the county receives new information about cases, finds duplicate data or is assigned cases originally attributed to other counties.
Testing is available at various sites in the county. For more information on local testing sites, go to www.tpchd.org/covidtest.
Tuesday’s geographical case totals are listed below with previous day’s totals in parentheses:
▪ Bonney Lake: 80 (75)
▪ Central Pierce County: 218 (211)
▪ East Pierce County: 89 (85)
▪ Edgewood/Fife/Milton: 146 (144)
▪ Frederickson: 123 (122)
▪ Gig Harbor area: 92 (90)
▪ Graham: 95 (92)
▪ JBLM: No longer reported
▪ Key Peninsula: 18 (no change)
▪ Lake Tapps/Sumner area: 110 (108)
▪ Lakewood: 335 (333)
▪ Parkland: 188 (185)
▪ Puyallup: 222 (219)
▪ South Hill: 165 (154)
▪ South Pierce County: 62 (no change)
▪ Southwest Pierce County: 40 (39)
▪ Spanaway: 115 (114)
▪ Tacoma: 1,054 (1,038)
▪ University Place: 154 (152)
▪ Unknown: 28 (27)
State reports 1,101 new cases Monday as death total drops
Updated at 9:05 a.m.
The Washington State Department of Health on Monday reported 1,101 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 while the cumulative death total dropped by 39.
On its COVID-19 dashboard, the state said it had dropped the 39 deaths because they were determined to be natural deaths.
“We will continue to update death counts as additional information on cause of death is received,” the state said.
Pierce County reported 62 new cases and no deaths Monday. Pierce County had a total of 97 deaths likely caused by COVID-19 as of Monday, according to the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department. The state health department put the total number of deaths at 110.
Statewide totals from the illness caused by the coronavirus are at 41,757 cases and 1,399 deaths, up from 40,656 cases and down from 1,438 deaths on Sunday.
Fifteen people with confirmed COVID-19 cases were admitted to Washington state hospitals on July 5, the most recent date with complete data. March 23 saw 89 admittances, the highest number to date during the pandemic.
Washington state has conducted a total of 708,274 coronavirus tests. On July 5, the most recent date for which data is complete, 4,244 specimens were collected statewide — of which 6.1 percent tested positive. That compares with 6,462 specimens and a 5.9 percent positive rate on June 5; 5,081 specimens and a 5.1 percent positive rate on May 5 and 1,923 specimens and a 8.8 percent positive rate on April 5.
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.
King County continues to have the highest numbers in Washington, with 12,077 cases and 624 deaths. Yakima County has the second highest numbers, with 8,325 cases and 180 deaths.
All counties in Washington are now reporting cases. Five counties are reporting fewer than 10 cases each.
There have been more than 3.3 million confirmed coronavirus cases and 135,582 deaths from the virus in the United States as of Monday, according to Johns Hopkins University. More than 571,000 people have died from the disease worldwide.
Two employees in state veterans homes test positive
Updated at 9 a.m.
The state Department of Veterans Affairs announced this weekend that an employee at the Washington Veterans Home in Port Orchard and an employee at the Washington Soldiers Home in Orting were diagnosed with COVID-19 and are now self-isolating at home.
The homes are taking additional precautions regarding screening, testing and cleaning, according to a release. Both homes are now conducting enhanced surveillance and additional environmental cleaning took place. The homes are in the process of notifying and testing anyone who had direct contact with the employees.
You can find the release with more information as well as updated test numbers for staff and residents at all four DVA facilities on DVA’s COVID-19 web page.
Port of Seattle unveils new safety measures
Updated at 9:05 a.m.
The Port of Seattle unveiled the latest update to the FlyHealthy@SEA program on Monday, which included a demo of a voluntary temperature check equipment, new PPE vending machines and highlighting the Mask Up Street Team at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
You can watch video of the demonstration here:
Inslee requests extension of National Guard mission
Updated at 9:05 a.m.
Gov. Jay Inslee sent a letter to the Trump administration requesting an extension of federal authority and funding for Washington National Guard employment in support of COVID-19 pandemic emergency response operations through December 31, 2020.
The Washington National Guard has supported missions to support food bank operations, COVID-19 mapping, assembling test kits and operating community based test sites. It has delivered more than 1.3 million meals, tested over 14,000 people and built more than 150,000 test kits.
Read the full letter here.
State continues efforts to expand broadband
Updated at 9:05 a.m.
Safe reopening and economic recovery both require access to broadband.
The Washington State Public Works Board is accepting applications for broadband infrastructure construction grants and loans through September 9, 2020. Approximately $9.1 million is available for low-interest loans and $8.6 million for grants.
Cities, towns, counties, public port districts, special purpose districts, quasi-municipal corporations, tribes, nonprofit organizations, cooperative associations, limited liability corporations organized for the purpose of expanding broadband access, and incorporated businesses or partnerships are eligible to apply.
For more information and to apply, visit the Public Works Board’s Broadband Financing web page.
Meeker Days Arts & Music Festival canceled due to COVID-19 concerns
Updated at 9:05 a.m.
Puyallup’s Meeker Days, a three-day street festival, has been canceled, the Puyallup Main Street Association announced Monday.
Executive Director Kerry Yanasak said it was the only choice once the Washington State Fair announced its cancellation.
With positive COVID-19 cases on the rise, the nonprofit said in a statement that a large-scale event was not in anyone’s best interest.
“I don’t think there will be an event in Pierce County,” Yanasak said. “I don’t want to hold an event that I would not feel comfortable going to or bringing my grandchildren to.”
Historically, a 15-block radius of Downtown Puyallup is shut down for three days on Father’s Day weekend.
The event started in 1939 to commemorate the city’s founder, Ezra Meeker. It has since become a summer celebration that includes live music, bouncy houses, face painting, vendors and a beer garden.
Jill Starks, the event coordinator, said the 81-year-old festival brings about 100,000 visitors downtown. Meeker Days helps downtown businesses, local vendors and micro businesses.
While calling vendors to let them know of the cancellation, Starks said many told her they likely will not be around next year.
“The impact is huge on an economic level for many,” she said.
This story was originally published July 14, 2020 at 9:09 AM.
