Second virus death in Gig Harbor as cases reach 139; Maritime Festival is canceled

A second COVID-19 death was reported in the Gig Harbor area on Tuesday, as confirmed cases in the area reached 139. Cases on the Key Peninsula reached 31.

The reported death was of a woman in her 70s from Gig Harbor. It was the second pandemic death in Gig Harbor; the first occurred during the first outbreak in March.

The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department reported totals as of Tuesday, Aug. 3, of 5,229 cases and 119 deaths, as the virus continued to spread rapidly among younger people who are not taking precautions.

The county has reported 1,340 cases in the last 14 days, for an average of 96 a day.

41.4% of cases in the last two weeks are among 20-39 year-olds, the health department said.

The Washington State Department of Health on Sunday reported 632 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and four additional deaths. Statewide totals from illness caused by the coronavirus are at 58,173 cases and 1,596 deaths.

The North Gig Harbor Canterwood area (Census Tract 072505) had the highest number of cases on the Peninsula, with 30 confirmed. The southern end of the Peninsula, including Uptown and the Wollochet Bay shoreline, (Census Tract 072408) had 25.

Fox Island had 12 cases. The Artondale area (Census Tract 072406) had 14.

On the Key Peninsula, 11 cases were reported in the Purdy-Wauna area (Census Tract 072503), none in the rest of the Peninsula.

Maritime Festival canceled

Gig Harbor’s Maritime Festival, already delayed, has been canceled for this year, the Chamber of Commerce has announced. Originally set for June, it had been rescheduled for the weekend of August 22-23.

Now it appears even that will not be possible, said chamber president Warren Zimmerman.

“I am sorry to say with all of the current restrictions and no end in sight we have finally given up on having this important community celebration in 2020,” said Zimmerman.

The Maritime Festival has traditionally been Gig Harbor’s largest summer event, with a parade, a car show, food and art events filling most of downtown.

“This too shall pass and when it does, we will have the biggest community celebration Gig Harbor has seen for some time,” he added. “For now, stay safe and healthy.”

Second wave of rent aid on the way

The Washington State Department of Commerce is distributing approximately $100 million in state Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding through its existing network of homeless services organizations to operate a new rent assistance program launched Aug. 1.

The program will focus on preventing evictions by paying up to three months of past due, current and future rent to landlords for eligible participants.

“Funds addressing Washington’s homelessness crisis were limited before the pandemic, and the need is deepening as this pandemic continues to push more people toward the brink while we work to carefully reopen our economy,” said Commerce Director Lisa Brown. “We are targeting limited resources as quickly and equitably as possible, to those with the greatest needs.”

This rent assistance program will address some of the need resulting from the coronavirus pandemic, and hopes to reduce some of the stress both renters and landlords are facing now and in the future, Brown said. Rent assistance is limited to three months and the program ends Dec. 31, 2020.

A survey recently showed 17% of renters in Washington state missed their July rent payment. Since February, state’s employment has declined 12% — over twice that of the worst point in the Great Recession – and use of basic food assistance programs has increased by 15%.

This story was originally published August 4, 2020 at 7:22 PM.