Pierce County starts week with fewer than 80 new COVID-19 cases reported
Pierce County reported 79 new COVID-19 cases Monday, with no additional deaths.
On March 20, 148 new cases were reported; March 21, 99 new cases were confirmed.
The county’s totals are now 38,156 cases and 499 deaths since the first confirmed coronavirus case was reported in March 2020.
The 14-day case rate per 100,000 is 129, with six-day data lag, down from 196.2 on Feb. 22. That data point offers the most reliable look at COVID-19 disease burden in Pierce County, according to health officials. Case numbers for the most part have been declining in Pierce County for a few weeks.
An estimated 3,400 cases remain active in the county, down from 7,200 estimated Feb. 1.
Testing is available at various places. More information on testing is available on the health department’s website.
GEOGRAPHIC TOTALS
Monday’s cumulative geographic totals with Friday’s totals in parentheses:
▪ Bonney Lake: 1,027 (1,020)
▪ Central Pierce County: 1,748 (1,736)
▪ East Pierce County: 1,701 (1,671)
▪ Edgewood/Fife/Milton: 1,529 (1,523)
▪ Frederickson: 1,390 (1,376)
▪ Gig Harbor area: 1,198 (1,186)
▪ Graham: 1,273 (1,260)
▪ JBLM: No longer reported
▪ Key Peninsula: 350 (347)
▪ Lake Tapps/Sumner area: 1,382 (1,368)
▪ Lakewood: 3,140 (3,121)
▪ Parkland: 1,906 (1,891)
▪ Puyallup: 2,205 (2,193)
▪ South Hill: 2,159 (2,132)
▪ South Pierce County: 1,234 (1,228)
▪ Southwest Pierce County: 554 (549)
▪ Spanaway: 1,797 (1,789)
▪ Tacoma: 10,691 (10,606)
▪ University Place: 1,241 (1,239)
▪ Unknown: 1,631 (1,614)
VACCINES
As of March 17:
▪ About 266,100 total doses given in Pierce County, according to the health department.
Among county residents, about 158,519 have received just their first vaccine dose (17.6 percent of population); 84,802 have received two doses and are fully vaccinated (9.4 percent of population).
More than 2 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been given throughout the state, and 79.53 percent of all doses received in the state had been administered. The current seven-day average is 44,165 vaccines a day, compared to the goal of achieving 45,000 per day. About 21.41 percent of the state population has initiated vaccination, with 12.37 percent fully vaccinated.
As of March 17, the state has opened vaccines for those in Phase 1B Tier 2, including high-risk critical workers who work in certain congregate settings: agriculture; fishing vessel crews; food processing; grocery stores; corrections; prisons, jails or detention centers; public transit; remaining first responders. Also included: People 16 years or older who are pregnant or have a disability that puts them at high risk for severe COVID-19 illness.
You can go to FindYourPhaseWA.org to check eligibility. Go to tpchd.org/vaxtothefuture for information on local sites offering vaccines. Or, go to the state’s vaccine finder: vaccinelocator.doh.wa.gov.
▪ The health department’s call center to help those eligible now for vaccines is 253-649-1412.
▪ Pierce County has launched a call center to help those searching for vaccines. Residents who qualify within the WA State Phase Finder and cannot sign up for an event, can contact the call center at 253-798-8900 or email pcvaccine@piercountywa.gov for help.
PHASE 3
All counties in the state moved to Phase 3 in the state’s reopening plan as of March 22. Counties will be re-evaluated individually every three weeks with the next metrics released April 12.
Pierce County must meet two metrics to remain in Phase 3:
▪ Fewer than 200 new cases per 100,000 over two weeks
▪ Fewer than five new hospitalizations per 100,000 over one week.
Additionally, if the statewide intensive care unit capacity reaches greater than 90 percent, all counties will revert to Phase 1.
In the new plan, the county will no longer be a part of the 3-county Puget Sound Region with King and Snohomish counties.
