Coronavirus updates: In-person learning now possible for K-5 students in Pierce County, health officials say
The Washington State Department of Health on Friday reported 479 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and eight deaths.
Pierce County reported 53 new cases and no new deaths on Friday. Pierce County had a total of 155 deaths likely caused by COVID-19 as of Friday, according to the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department.
Statewide totals from the illness caused by the coronavirus are at 76,335 cases and 1,953 deaths, up from 75,856 cases and 1,945 deaths on Thursday.
The test numbers reflect only polymerase chain reaction tests, which are administered while the virus is presumably still active in the body.
King County continues to have the highest numbers in Washington, with 20,022 cases and 735 deaths. Yakima County is second, with 11,007 cases and 243 deaths. Pierce is third with cases at 6,990.
All counties in Washington have cases. Garfield and Wahkiakum have case counts of fewer than 10.
In-person learning now possible for K-5 students in Pierce County, health officials say
Pierce County students in kindergarten through fifth grade can return to school for in-person learning, the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department told school leaders on Thursday.
As of Thursday, Pierce County had a 14-day COVID-19 case county of 73.3 cases per 100,000 people, moving it into the “moderate” category of the state’s school reopening “decision tree” for the first time.
The moderate range is 25 to 75 cases per 100,000 over 14 days and recommends distance learning but allows for in-person classes for elementary students.
“So what that means for schools is that school can now begin to offer those plans as described in the decision tree, and opening up slowly and gradually starting with elementary school students for in-person learning,” Pierce County health department deputy director Nancy Sutton told The News Tribune in an interview on Friday.
On Friday, superintendents from 14 school districts — Bethel, Carbonado, Clover Park, Dieringer, Eatonville, Fife, Franklin Pierce, Orting, Puyallup, Steilacoom Historical, Sumner-Bonney Lake, Tacoma, University Place and White River — sent a letter saying they will be monitoring data and developing transition plans.
“None of our districts will bring students back before Sept. 22,” the letter stated. “Once a district decides to bring students back to school, they may need at least two weeks of operational transition time before they reopen their doors at the elementary level.”
Individual schools will have their own tailored plans for returning to school, Sutton said, but the health department will continue to work with schools to interpret guidance from the state.
Sutton said the department would handle an outbreak at an individual school through its typical investigation process.
“We might need to take some actions to close a particular building in response to an outbreak,” she said.
If the disease rates throughout the county increase, Sutton said, the department would work with schools to determine a path forward.
“We’ll be able to see trends, and we’ll be able to talk with them about the direction that we think the data is taking — whether trends are going up, whether they’re staying flat or whether they’re continuing to reduce,” Sutton said.
It’s up to districts to decide when they are prepared to return, Sutton said.
UW Huskies coach Mike Hopkins optimistic about basketball season
Washington head coach Mike Hopkins is confident there will be a 2020-21 basketball season.
He has reason to be optimistic lately. On Thursday, as Hopkins met with local media on a video call, the Pac-12 was announcing an agreement with diagnostic test leader Quidel Corp. to implement daily, rapid COVID-19 testing for athletes in close-contact sports. Equipment is expected to be delivered to each Pac-12 school by the end of September.
The conference decided in August to postpone all sports competitions until the end of 2021. But the latest development — called a “game-changer” by commissioner Larry Scott — has the potential to move up that timeline. Scott said he was “hopeful” the new tests could allow for a football season to begin before Jan. 1. That also means Pac-12 basketball teams could start with the rest of the country if the NCAA sets the expected Nov. 25 start date.
Hopkins is attempting to keep his team shielded from these hypothetical scenarios. His philosophy during their offseason workouts has been to control what they can control.
“Just those daily reminders with the guys,” Hopkins said. “Control the day. We’re going to have a season. I really believe that. The key is that when we have the opportunity to have that season or when it starts that we’re ready to do that. Keep them focused on that.”
No deaths after positive COVID-19 cases at Rainier School
Of the 167 clients currently living at Rainier School, a habilitation center for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities located within the city limits of Buckley operated by the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, there were six clients with an active case of COVID-19 and 14 staff members, as of Thursday evening. There have been zero deaths during that time, per a DSHS spokesperson.
In line with emerging Department of Health protocols, the DSHS implemented the screening of staff on all shifts and required PPE for isolation and quarantine, while encouraging staff to wear their own masks in areas not identified with COVID positive patients.
Upon a positive COVID-19 test in a DSHS facility, the following responses are put into place: Implementing isolation and quarantine wards, limiting staff movement across units, stopping unit transfers and starting to test staff.
Allison Needles and Lauren Kirschman contributed to this report.
