Coronavirus updates: State reaches 102,913 cases
Updated at 2:30 p.m.
The Washington State Department of Health on Sunday reported 649 new confirmed cases of COVID-19. The department is no longer reporting deaths on weekends.
Pierce County reported 95 new COVID-19 cases and no deaths on Sunday. Pierce County had a total of 189 deaths likely caused by COVID-19 as of Saturday, according to the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department.
Statewide totals from the illness caused by the coronavirus are at 102,913 cases and 2,296 deaths, up from 102,264 cases on Saturday.
King County continues to have the highest numbers in Washington, with 26,329 cases and 798 deaths. Yakima County is second, with 11,829 cases and 271 deaths. Pierce is third with cases at 9,895.
All counties in Washington have cases.
Pierce County reports 95 new cases
Updated at 2:20 p.m.
Pierce County reported 95 new COVID-19 cases Sunday and no additional deaths.
State and local officials this week have noted the state and Pierce County are in a third surge, which started after Labor Day.
The 20-39 age group comprise the highest number of cases at 38.2% of total cases in the past two weeks. The 0-19 age group cases increased by 40.5% recently, according to the department. It’s the fastest growing age group among cases with 11.6 percent of the total number and 16.3% of cases in the past two weeks.
County totals are now at 9,745 confirmed cases and 189 deaths since the first case in the coronavirus pandemic was recorded March 6.
The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department has reported 1,162 cases in the past 14 days. The 14-day case rate per 100,000 people is 128.8. Average cases per day over the past 14 days are 83.1.
There are an estimated 1,977 still-active cases in the county.
Geographic totals
Sunday’s geographic case totals for Pierce County are listed below with previous day’s total in parentheses:
▪ Bonney Lake: 250 (246)
▪ Central Pierce County: 567 (562)
▪ East Pierce County: 360 (357)
▪ Edgewood/Fife/Milton: 449 (444)
▪ Frederickson: 416 (415)
▪ Gig Harbor area: 258 (257)
▪ Graham: 324 (320)
▪ JBLM: No longer reported
▪ Key Peninsula: 74 (73)
▪ Lake Tapps/Sumner area: 360 (357)
▪ Lakewood: 870 (861)
▪ Parkland: 491 (486)
▪ Puyallup: 625 (610)
▪ South Hill: 545 (539)
▪ South Pierce County: 267 (264)
▪ Southwest Pierce County: 105 (no change)
▪ Spanaway: 431 (430)
▪ Tacoma: 2,918 (2,893)
▪ University Place: 349 (348)
▪ Unknown: 86 (84)
Washington state reports 919 new cases Saturday
Updated at 9:25 a.m.
The Washington State Department of Health on Saturday reported 919 new confirmed cases of COVID-19. The department is no longer reporting deaths on weekends.
Pierce County reported 109 new COVID-19 cases and one death on Saturday. Pierce County had a total of 189 deaths likely caused by COVID-19 as of Saturday, according to the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department.
Statewide totals from the illness caused by the coronavirus are at 102,264 cases and 2,296 deaths, up from 101,345 cases and 2,296 deaths on Friday.
King County continues to have the highest numbers in Washington, with 26,164 cases and 798 deaths. Yakima County is second, with 11,815 cases and 271 deaths. Pierce is third with cases at 9,792.
All counties in Washington have cases.
US ‘not going to control’ COVID-19 pandemic, White House Chief of Staff Meadows says
Updated at 9:25 a.m.
White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said during an interview with CNN on Sunday that the United States is “not going to control the pandemic.”
When asked why by CNN’s Jake Tapper, Meadows responded: “Because it is a contagious virus.”
Meadows said the country is “making efforts to contain it.”
“What we need to do is make sure that we have the proper mitigation factors, whether it’s therapies or vaccines or treatments to make sure that people don’t die from this,” Meadows said, according to CNN.
President Donald Trump and his administration have been saying a coronavirus vaccine will be available soon. During Thursday’s presidential debate, Trump said the vaccine will be ready “within weeks,” but health experts say that’s unlikely, McClatchy News reports.
Trump has also touted therapeutics — such as regeneron and remdesivir — that doctors say he was given when he was hospitalized with the virus.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday approved the antiviral drug remdesivir for the treatment of hospitalized coronavirus patients. It’s the first to receive such approval for COVID-19 treatment.
Regeneron has submitted an application with the FDA for an emergency use authorization, McClatchy reports.
Meadows’ comments come as the U.S. reported a record number of daily cases Friday.
Seattle Public Schools extends remote learning into 2021
Updated at 9:25 a.m.
Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Denise Juneau said Friday the district will remain in a remote learning model for the rest of the current semester because of an increase in COVID-19 cases.
Most students will continue to participate in school virtually through January 2021, Juneau said in a news release. The only exception will be for students who receive special education services that require in-person instruction.
Officials made the decision because of a recent increase in COVID-19 cases in King County and after consultation with the district’s Re-entry Leadership Team. Juneau says the team, which is made up of representatives of the School Board, Seattle Education Association, Seattle Council PTSA, the Principals’ Association of Seattle Schools, and students, will meet regularly to talk about next steps.
This story was originally published October 25, 2020 at 9:27 AM.
