Pierce County starts week with fewer than 100 new COVID-19 cases, no new deaths
Pierce County reported 97 new COVID-19 cases Monday with no new deaths.
Over the weekend, 136 new cases were reported Saturday and 134 on Sunday for a total of 270, one fewer than the previous weekend’s 271.
The county’s totals are now 47,217 cases and 551 deaths since the first confirmed coronavirus case was reported in March 2020.
Pierce County’s 14-day case rate per 100,000 was 369.5 as of May 14 with an eight-day reporting delay, according to the state’s Roadmap to Recovery metric.
New hospitalizations per 100,000 over seven days was at 11.5.
Pierce County, along with the rest of the state, will move into Phase 3 of the Healthy WA: Roadmap to Recovery reopening plan on May 18, which allows for 50 percent capacity for most indoor activities. The state plans to move to a full reopening (full capacity at all businesses) as of June 30, sooner if the rate of Washingtonians over age 16 initiating vaccinations hits 70 percent or more before that date.
Rollbacks are possible if statewide hospital ICU capacity reaches 90 percent at any time.
Testing is available at various places. Local libraries in Tacoma and Pierce County also offer test kits available for curbside pickup. More information on testing is available on the health department’s website.
GEOGRAPHIC TOTALS
Monday’s cumulative geographic totals with Friday’s reported totals in parentheses:
▪ Bonney Lake: 1,370 (1,360)
▪ Central Pierce County: 2,128 (2,120)
▪ East Pierce County: 2,214 (2,204)
▪ Edgewood/Fife/Milton: 1,909 (1,893)
▪ Frederickson: 1,754 (1,741)
▪ Gig Harbor area: 1,464 (1,461)
▪ Graham: 1,581 (1,571)
▪ JBLM: No longer reported
▪ Key Peninsula: 419 (417)
▪ Lake Tapps/Sumner area: 1,808 (1,799)
▪ Lakewood: 3,837 (3,800)
▪ Parkland: 2,276 (2,252)
▪ Puyallup: 2,683 (2,668)
▪ South Hill: 2,707 (2,692)
▪ South Pierce County: 1,566 (1,546)
▪ Southwest Pierce County: 682 (678)
▪ Spanaway: 2,218 (2,204)
▪ Tacoma: 12,735 (12,642)
▪ University Place: 1,495 (1,485)
▪ Unknown: 2,371 (2,317)
VACCINES
As of May 12:
▪ About 605,477 total doses have been given to Pierce County residents, according to TPCHD. More than 6.1 million doses have been administered statewide.
In the county, 37.36 percent of the total population has initiated vaccination, and 28.49 percent are fully vaccinated, compared with 46.53 percent in the state initiating vaccines, and 36.01 percent fully vaccinated, according to state DOH.
TPCHD estimates that JBLM’s vaccination information and doses administered by the Veteran’s Administration would add approximately 4 percent to 5 percent to the COVID-19 vaccination coverage rate for Pierce County. Those numbers are not included in overall totals because of Defense Department security protocol.
You can view vaccine participation by census tract on the health department’s website.
Go to tpchd.org/vaxtothefuture or the county’s FindYourCovidShot.com website for information on local sites offering vaccines and for vaccine registration. Walk-up vaccine sites run by the county and most TPCHD events now no longer require an appointment, and all TPCHD events are for first or second doses. Anyone age 12 or older can receive the Pfizer vaccine. Those younger than 18 still need parent or guardian approval. Locations of individual vaccine sites also can be found on the state’s vaccine finder: vaccinelocator.doh.wa.gov.
▪ Multiple Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson events are offered at the Tacoma Dome, noon to 8 p.m., every day. The site is closed May 30 and 31 for Memorial Day. No appointment necessary. Pierce Transit is providing free rides to the vaccination site (Route 42) or the Tacoma Dome Station. 12-17-year olds can get vaccinated with Pfizer at the Tacoma Dome if their parent or guardian is present.
▪ The health department’s call center to help those seeking vaccines is 253-649-1412.
▪ Pierce County also has a call center to help those searching for vaccines. Residents who need assistance signing up for an event can contact the call center at 253-798-8900 or email pcvaccine@piercountywa.gov for help.
