Coronavirus updates: State reaches 1.6k deaths; updates to indoor fitness guidance
This page includes coronavirus developments around Washington state for Tuesday, August 4.
Updated at 7:55 p.m.
The Washington State Department of Health on Tuesday reported 664 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 19 additional deaths.
Pierce County reported 80 new cases Tuesday and two new deaths. Pierce County had a total of 119 deaths likely caused by COVID-19 as of Tuesday, according to the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department.
Statewide totals from the illness caused by the coronavirus are at 59,379 cases and 1,619 deaths, up from 58,715 cases and 1,600 deaths on Monday.
Data was not complete for several statistics on Tuesday, according to the DOH dashboard.
Forty people with confirmed COVID-19 cases were admitted to Washington state hospitals on Monday, July 27. Late March had two days with 88 people admitted, the highest numbers to date during the pandemic.
Washington state has conducted 1,008,822 coronavirus tests. On July 27, 16,410 specimens were collected statewide, with 5.4% testing positive. The average positive test rate for the seven days prior was 5.6%.
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 15,726 cases and 659 deaths. Yakima County has the second highest, with 10,081 cases and 210 deaths.
All counties in Washington have cases. Garfield and Wahkiakum have case counts of less than 10.
On Tuesday, Washington had a 772 per 100,000 people case rate. The national rate is 1,418, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
There had been more than 4.7 million confirmed coronavirus cases and 156,668 deaths from the virus in the United States as of Tuesday, according to Johns Hopkins University. More than 698,000 people have died from the disease worldwide.
Pierce County reports 80 new cases
Updated at 7:55 p.m.
Pierce County on Tuesday reported 80 new COVID-19 cases and two new deaths.
The deaths involved a Tacoma man in his 70s and a Gig Harbor woman in her 70s, both with underlying health conditions.
County totals are now 5,229 cases and 119 deaths since the first case in the coronavirus pandemic was recorded March 6.
The Tacoma Pierce-County Health Department has reported 1,340 cases in the past 14 days. The 14-day case rate per 100,000 people is 148.6. The average cases per day over the last 14 days is 95.7. There are an estimated 2,324 still-active cases in the county, according to the health department.
Daily totals for cases and deaths can change as the county receives new information, 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 other 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: 121 (no change)
▪ Central Pierce County: 351 (343)
▪ East Pierce County: 139 (135)
▪ Edgewood/Fife/Milton: 205 (202)
▪ Frederickson: 196 (no change)
▪ Gig Harbor area: 139 (138)
▪ Graham: 164 (160)
▪ JBLM: No longer reported
▪ Key Peninsula: 31 (30)
▪ Lake Tapps/Sumner area: 156 (154)
▪ Lakewood: 483 (474)
▪ Parkland: 294 (293)
▪ Puyallup: 329 (324)
▪ South Hill: 277 (272)
▪ South Pierce County: 110 (107)
▪ Southwest Pierce County: 55 (no change)
▪ Spanaway: 223 (218)
▪ Tacoma: 1,675 (1,652)
▪ University Place: 229 (219)
▪ Unknown: 52 (56)
PLU announces phase return to in-person learning
Updated at 11:20 a.m.
Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma announced plans Monday to return to in-person learning for the upcoming academic year.
In an email to The News Tribune, director of communications Zach Powers said PLU officials “are updating our plans to include a measured and phased return to in-person learning, a decrease in the number of in-person classes we will offer, decreases in residential capacity, and a comprehensive testing plan.”
“Our goal is to reduce housing density enough for every student residing on campus to be assigned a single room, limiting close contact in common living spaces and shared bathrooms,” Powers said. “That would put us at 850, about 350 down from last year.”
The email elaborated that “all learning will be remote for at least the first week of class” and then transition to “in-person learning after the first week,” which “will happen when doing so is supported by public-health authorities and aligns with faculty preferences.”
Powers said “the first week gives extra flexibility for adequate testing and quarantine periods for our campus community.”
The plan also is to require remote learning for three weeks after the Thanksgiving break, extended passing periods and in-person instruction priority given to certain classes such as those taking place in labs. Additionally, there will be an offer to undergraduate students for a “PLUS Year,” which would give them a tuition-free additional year at PLU.
State reports 542 new cases Monday
Updated at 9:20 a.m.
The Washington State Department of Health on Monday reported 542 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and four new deaths.
Pierce County reported 92 new cases Monday and one new death. Pierce County had a total of 117 deaths likely caused by COVID-19 as of Monday, according to the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department.
Statewide totals from the illness caused by the coronavirus are at 58,715 cases and 1,600 deaths, up from 58,173 cases and 1,596 deaths on Sunday.
Forty people with confirmed COVID-19 cases were admitted to Washington state hospitals on Sunday, July 26, the most recent date with complete data. Late March had two days with 88 people admitted, the highest numbers to date during the pandemic.
Washington state has conducted 1,008,822 coronavirus tests. On July 26, the most recent date for which data is complete, 4,633 specimens were collected statewide, with 6.6% testing positive. The average positive test rate for the seven days prior was 5.6%.
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 15,603 cases and 658 deaths. Yakima County has the second highest, with 10,047 cases and 205 deaths.
All counties in Washington have cases. Garfield and Wahkiakum have case counts of less than 10.
On Monday, Washington had a 772 per 100,000 people case rate. The national rate is 1,418, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
There had been more than 4.6 million confirmed coronavirus cases and 155,196 deaths from the virus in the United States as of Monday, according to Johns Hopkins University. More than 690,000 people have died from the disease worldwide.
Inslee announces updates to indoor fitness guidance
Updated at 9:20 a.m.
Gov. Jay Inslee announced updates for Phase 2 and Phase 3 fitness guidance as part of Washington’s Safe Start phased reopening plan. The guidance is effective Aug. 10.
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
Updated at 9:20 a.m.
The Washington state Department of Commerce is releasing $100 million of federal CARES act funding earmarked for rent assistance to counties.
The funding will be administered by existing county-level organizations that provide homeless prevention services.
The money can cover up to three months of past owed, current, or future rent through December 2020, and will be paid directly to landlords, according to program details released by Commerce on Monday.
Gov. Jay Inslee first announced the funding on June 30.
The eligibility is broad but the available funds will not meet the demand, according to a Commerce Department press release. According to data from the Census Bureau, 17% of renters in Washington State missed their July rent payment.
For this reason, additional criteria will target the funds toward those at the highest risk of becoming homeless if evicted.
Gov. Inslee, AG Ferguson announce update on challenges to Governor’s emergency powers
Updated at 9:20 a.m.
Gov. Jay Inslee and Attorney General Bob Ferguson provided an update regarding the legal challenges to the governor’s Stay Home, Stay Healthy orders.
The Attorney General’s Office has successfully defended all 17 legal challenges.
State and federal courts across Washington have rejected the plaintiff’s requests for emergency relief in many of the cases, and the plaintiffs in several other cases have given up and abandoned their claims.
While more than 10 motions to temporarily block the orders have been filed in the various cases, not one has been granted. Court rulings have called the arguments by plaintiffs “frivolous,” “unpersuasive” and “completely devoid of merit.
“We will continue to defend the Governor’s ability to manage this crisis and keep Washingtonians safe,” Ferguson said.
Bloodworks NW Puyallup hosting pop-up donor centers
Updated at 9:20 p.m.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, blood banks across the nation have been struggling to keep their shelves stocked.
Bloodworks Northwest is teaming up with several community partners to host pop-up donor centers throughout the region, including one at Old Hot Yoga Studio in Puyallup.
Appointments are required, but same day appointments may be available
Old Hot Yoga Studio Pop-Up Donor Center
▪ Date: August 5 & August 8
▪ Time: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
▪ Schedule appointments: schedule.bloodworksnw.org
▪ Address: Old Hot Yoga Studio; 10418 156th St E; Ste 103; Puyallup, Wa. 98374
This story was originally published August 4, 2020 at 9:25 AM.
