Coronavirus updates: DOH creates needs assessment survey
This page includes coronavirus developments around Washington state for Wednesday, August 19.
Updated at 5:50 p.m.
The Washington State Department of Health on Wednesday reported 425 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 13 deaths.
Pierce County reported 62 new cases and two new deaths Pierce County had a total of 135 deaths likely caused by COVID-19 as of Wednesday, according to the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department.
Statewide totals from the illness caused by the coronavirus are at 68,689 cases and 1,822 deaths, up from 68,264 cases and 1,809 deaths deaths on Tuesday.
Thirty-two people with confirmed COVID-19 cases were admitted to Washington state hospitals on Aug. 11, the most recent date with complete data. Late March had two days with 88 people admitted, the highest numbers to date during the pandemic.
The total number of tests conducted is temporarily unavailable, according to the DOH.
The test numbers reflect only polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, whichare given while the virus is presumably still active in the body.
King County continues to have the highest numbers in Washington, with 18,054 cases and 701 deaths. Yakima County is second, with 10,680 cases and 230 deaths. Pierce is third with cases at 6,186.
All counties in Washington have cases. Garfield and Wahkiakum have case counts of fewer than 10.
On Tuesday, Washington had a 906-per-100,000-people case rate. The national rate is 1,666, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Louisiana has the highest rate in the United States at 2,986. Vermont is lowest at 244.
There had been over 5.5 million confirmed coronavirus cases and 172,965 deaths from the virus in the United States as of Saturday evening, according to Johns Hopkins University. More than 784,000 people have died from the disease worldwide.
Pierce County reports 62 cases
Updated at 5:25 p.m.
Pierce County on Wednesday reported 62 new COVID-19 cases and two additional deaths.
The deaths were a Tacoma woman in her 70s with underlying health conditions and a South Hill man in his 90s with no known underlying health conditions, according to the health department.
County totals are now 6,186 cases and 135 deaths since the first case in the coronavirus pandemic was recorded March 6.
The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department has reported 933 cases in the past 14 days. The 14-day case rate per 100,000 people is 103.4 The goal for counties in Phase 2 is 25 or fewer per 100,000.
The average cases per day over the past 14 days is 66.6.
There are an estimated 2,194 still-active cases in the county as of Aug. 18, according to the health department.
The county ranks third for cumulative cases in the state.
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 testing sites, go to www.tpchd.org/covidtest.
Wednesday’s geographical case totals are listed below with previous day’s totals in parentheses:
▪ Bonney Lake: 148 (no change)
▪ Central Pierce County: 388 (386)
▪ East Pierce County: 176 (175)
▪ Edgewood/Fife/Milton: 249 (244 )
▪ Frederickson: 235 (234)
▪ Gig Harbor area: 161 (no change)
▪ Graham: 212 (210)
▪ JBLM: No longer reported
▪ Key Peninsula: 41 (no change)
▪ Lake Tapps/Sumner area: 194 (192)
▪ Lakewood: 580 (577)
▪ Parkland: 340 (338)
▪ Puyallup: 366 (361)
▪ South Hill: 324 (314)
▪ South Pierce County: 150 (148)
▪ Southwest Pierce County: 66 (65)
▪ Spanaway: 289 (284)
▪ Tacoma: 1,941 (1,925)
▪ University Place: 249 (248)
▪ Unknown: 77 (78)
Gimhae sends personal protection equipment, masks to Lakewood
Updated at 10:30 a.m.
The city of Gimhae, Korea, delivered 10,000 KF94 masks and 1,000 sets of personal protection equipment, which includes body suits, N95 masks, gloves, eye protection, and shoe covers, to the city of Lakewood on Monday.
Gimhae and Lakewood have shared Friendship Cities status since 2006. The masks and PPE were donated by Gimhae as an act of support, collaboration and friendship between the two cities.
“We are so incredibly grateful for Gimhae’s generosity and support as we continue to respond to the coronavirus pandemic here in Lakewood,” Lakewood Mayor Don Anderson said in a release. “This donation will make a significant difference in our ability to effectively suppress the spread of the virus, particularly for some of Lakewood’s most vulnerable residents. We look forward to many more future collaborations with Mayor Seong Gon Heo and the city of Gimhae.”
The donation was accompanied by a letter from Mayor Seong Gon Heo with the following message: “Gimhae City wishes to share the grieves and pains of health care professionals, officials, and people of Lakewood, who have been suffering on the front line... It is my hope that this small donation from Gimhae may help Lakewood get over with the COVID-19. I pray for Mr. Mayor and the people of Lakewood to stay healthy and well, and desire that the two cities will work together to continue mutual developments with the spirit of solidarity, engagement, and cooperation when the COVID-19 crisis ends.”
The city of Lakewood will be distributing the KF94 and KF80 masks to community members, non-profits and local businesses soon. The PPE sets will be used by first responders and for city responses to clean-ups involving potential workplace exposures to COVID-19.
State reports 543 new cases Tuesday
Updated at 8:45 a.m.
The Washington State Department of Health on Tuesday reported 543 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 24 deaths.
Pierce County reported 53 new cases and no new deaths Pierce County had a total of 133 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 68,264 cases and 1,809 deaths, up from 67,721 cases and 1,785 deaths on Monday.
Forty-six people with confirmed COVID-19 cases were admitted to Washington state hospitals on Aug. 10, the most recent date with complete data. Late March had two days with 88 people admitted, the highest numbers to date during the pandemic.
The total number of tests conducted is temporarily unavailable, according to the DOH.
The test numbers reflect only polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, whichare given while the virus is presumably still active in the body.
King County continues to have the highest numbers in Washington, with 17,908 cases and 698 deaths. Yakima County is second, with 10,665 cases and 227 deaths. Pierce is third with cases at 6,129.
All counties in Washington have cases. Garfield and Wahkiakum have case counts of fewer than 10.
On Tuesday, Washington had a 899-per-100,000-people case rate. The national rate is 1,613, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Louisiana has the highest rate in the United States at 2,972. Vermont is lowest at 244.
There had been over 5.4 million confirmed coronavirus cases and 171,636 deaths from the virus in the United States as of Saturday evening, according to Johns Hopkins University. More than 776,000 people have died from the disease worldwide.
DOH creates needs assessment survey
Updated at 8:45 a.m.
The Washington State Department of Health created the Community Recovery-Oriented Needs Assessment (CORONA) survey to better understand the impact of the COVID-19 on Washington residents.
The voluntary survey asks questions related to behavioral, economic, social and emotional impacts and needs. Health departments across the state will use the results of the survey to help our communities recover.
The online survey is available in six languages: English, Somali, Spanish, Russian, Tagalog and Vietnamese. To take the survey by phone, call 855-530-5787. Interpretative services are available.
More information is available on DOH’s CORONA survey web page.
Students unable to gain teacher certification due to WA requirement, COVID restrictions
Updated at 8:45 a.m.
Graduate students from the University of Washington in Tacoma are asking state leaders to waive an assessment they need to obtain their teacher certifications but are unable to complete because of COVID-19 restrictions amid a statewide teacher shortage.
About 30 candidate teachers sent a letter to Gov. Jay Inslee this month asking him to eliminate the edTPA, an assessment required by the state of Washington.
“Over the last year we have completed all other assessments and rigorous coursework to receive residency certification,” stated the Aug. 11 letter. “We have also successfully completed months of in-classroom internships, which included teaching students under the observation of licensed teachers. The only obstacle preventing us from obtaining full residency certification is the edTPA — a privately administered test that only a minority of states require.”
The new teachers compared the change to the Supreme Court of Washington waiving the bar exam for lawyers earlier this year.
“New lawyers have received similar relief. New teachers deserve no less,” they wrote. “We respectfully urge you to do so without delay to mitigate the ongoing damage teacher candidates are experiencing.”
Tara Lee, spokesperson for Inslee’s office, told The News Tribune that they are waiting on further recommendations of a subcommittee of the Professional Educator Standards Board.
“The governor could not eliminate this requirement through his emergency powers as it is in statute — but could waive a statute for one month,” she wrote. “That would not be sufficient to address the issue.”
Scott Overland, spokesperson for Pearson, which oversees the assessment, said Tuesday that Pearson “supports consistent, fair, and reliable standards for aspiring teachers and believes it is appropriate to provide flexibility for candidates to meet these standards during COVID challenges.”
King County awards COVID-19 relief grants
Updated at 8:45 a.m.
King County provided $2 million in one-time grants to science, arts and culture organizations and independent live music venues disrupted by COVID-19 across the region.
The program is tailored to organizations that draw tourists and is designed to ease the economic burden of the pandemic while also increasing public health measures.
“We must do everything possible to help our small businesses and arts and cultural organizations emerge from the crisis alive, well, and ready to put thousands of people back to work,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine.
“By carefully and thoughtfully helping with rent, payroll and other expenses, we can help ensure that more of our cultural touchstones survive and continue to contribute to the vitality of our region.”
This story was originally published August 19, 2020 at 8:51 AM.
