COVID-19 updates: 77,235 confirmed cases statewide, 1,953 deaths

The state Department of Health reports more than 77,000 cases of coronavirus in Washington state. The DOH says 1,953 people have died from the virus. The rate of positive tests has now dropped below 5%. Check below for more updates.

Confirmed coronavirus cases across Washington state

Sunday, Sept. 6

5:01pm – There are 77,235 confirmed cases statewide, as reported by the state Department of Health, which is a one-day increase of 399. The DOH is not reporting deaths on the weekends, so the number remains at 1,953. In total, there have been 1,563,053 tests.

3:22pm – Gas Works Park in Seattle will be closed all day Monday, Sept. 7, due to “anticipated crowding that could impact the public health of residents.”

8:10am – HealthPoint and Seattle-King County Public Health are opening a new COVID-19 testing site in Renton on Tuesday, Sept. 8, with the capacity to test up to 500 people a day at no cost to the patients. The site will offer drive-up or walk-up testing, open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday to Saturday. Make a reservation online here.

Another test site was recently opened in Auburn as well to better serve south King County communities. Find a list of all free testing sites in the county here.

Saturday, Sept. 5

5:52pm – The state Department of Health is reporting 76,836 confirmed COVID-19 cases with 1,953 deaths. The DOH says 1,550,477 have been tested in total.

7:47am – In a joint statement released Friday, leaders of Pierce County’s school districts say there is no chance of kids returning for in-person learning until after Sept. 22. The statement came after new guidance from the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department indicated that the county moved from high-risk to moderate risk, and can consider a gradual return to in-person learning.

School district leaders say they want students and staff back as soon as it’s safe, but are concerned that the positive trend of reduced infections could relapse with the long weekend ahead. District leaders encourage all county residents to “continue to wear their masks and observe social distancing standards while they enjoy the weekend with their friends and family.”

Friday, Sept. 4

5:37pm – The Employment Security Department is projecting that unemployment insurance taxes — which are paid by businesses — could rise as much as six times the current amount for some business owners next year. Read more.

3:30pm – Health officials say there have been 76,335 cases of coronavirus in Washington state, and 1,953 people have died from the virus. The state says there have been 1,534,090 tests conducted, which puts the rate of positive tests at 4.98%. That’s the first time the rate has been that low (below 5%) since the outbreak began.

1:33pm – Students are returning to Washington State University and they want to party, but they’re spreading COVID-19 by doing so. Now, the police chief of Pullman is tasked with trying to control the spread. So far, police have issued 10 infractions to hosts of parties, but students are finding clever ways to pay the fines. Read more.

12:17pm – Looking to get tested for COVID-19? King County now has a video providing details on what you’ll need to schedule a test at one of a handful of sites throughout the region.

9:39am – A new report from Seattle-King County Public Health provides in-depth analysis on COVID-19 deaths in the region, finding that communities of color — particularly Hispanic/Latinx and Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders — “continue to die at disproportionate rates compared to whites.” Read more. 

7:44am – For a second week in a row, the number of people waiting for benefits in Washington state is holding steady at nearly 20,000, a decrease of about 200 people from last week.

Seattle resident Paige Donald was laid off in March; she tells KIRO Radio that the Employment Security Department owes her for about 14 weeks. She has had trouble getting through to anyone who can help her, and has received contradictory information when she has gotten through.

She was also just told that she was disqualified because she did not send in information on forms she was sent in the mail — but she says she never received the forms. Now she is appealing.

In the meantime, Donald has gone through most of her savings just to pay for food and rent.

5:29am – New maps from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation show that mask usage in the United States decreased in August.

As of Aug. 10, most of the country was above 50% in terms of people who say they always wear a mask when they go out (including Washington). As of Aug. 24, Washington and many other states are now between 40-49% mask usage.

Thursday, Sept. 3

5:23pm – Washingtonians are still months away from seeing a coronavirus vaccine, but the state is already making plans in preparation. Even when a vaccine is available, however, most people will not be able to get it right away. Read more

4:04pm – The state Employment Security Department reports 18,172 initial claims for the week of 8/23-8/29. That’s a decrease from 18,389 the week prior, but up considerably as compared to the same week last year at 4,916. The peak was in March (22-28) at 181,975.

3:09pm – There are now 75,856 confirmed cases and 1,945 deaths statewide, according to the state Department of Health. More than 1.5 million people have been tested.

2:13pm – On behalf of business owners in the area, the Ballard Alliance received a temporary permit from the Seattle Department of Transportation that will modify the traffic flow on Ballard Avenue Northwest from 20th Avenue Northwest to 22nd Avenue Northwest to one-way in the northbound direction.

The goal of this is to allow businesses that have obtained a street cafe and merchandise display permit a greater footprint in the parking and street area in front of their business. More than 10 businesses along the modified stretch currently hold a Street Café and Merchandise Display permit with more expected to apply for permits in the next few weeks.

Deliveries and curbside pick-ups will remain open, and street parking will still be available in designated spaces. The temporary permit will expire in six months, but could be extended based on need and status of the Safe Start program.

11:29am – Increasing the availability and accessibility of COVID-19 testing across Washington state continues to be a challenge. However, the Washington State Department of Health is making progress thanks to the help of several organizations, volunteers, and health practitioners. Read more. 

9:23am -Because of the pandemic and remote learning, the Central Kitsap School District is putting 71 bus drivers, and 23 cafeteria workers on standby.

Furloughed workers can receive unemployment benefits, at least for a while. Central Kitsap Education Support Professionals President Lisa Danskin tells KIRO Radio that the cuts are painful, and that unemployment will only cover part of a bus driver’s regular pay. Danskin also says several drivers are already looking for other jobs, and some have been hired.

She adds that many of the district’s bus drivers come from single income families, making the furlough especially difficult for them.

7:59am – CDC head Dr. Robert Redfield reportedly sent a letter to U.S. governors in late August, saying that the CDC is “rapidly making preparations to implement large-scale distribution of COVID-19 vaccines by the fall of 2020,” and that states should prepare to have distribution facilities operating by November 1.

6:05am – The number of Americans seeking jobless benefits dipped to 880,000 last week. That’s down from roughly 1 million people in the previous week, suggesting at least slight improvements as the economy lurches toward recovery from the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

Wednesday, Sept. 2

6:00pm – According to a ranking released by Oxfam America, Washington is the best state for workers based on wages, worker protections, and workers’ rights during the pandemic.

“COVID-19 is not only a health crisis, but an economic one. This has dramatically impacted everyone in our state, businesses and workers alike, particularly those most vulnerable. This crisis has shined a light on the importance of strong worker protections and the far reaching impacts of income inequality. We must continue to do whatever we can to ensure that workers and families have what they need,” Gov. Inslee said. “In Washington we believe you can recover a strong economy, without sacrificing the health and safety of workers.”

Read more from the governor here.

4:16pm – The Museum of Pop Culture will reopen to the public beginning Friday, Sept. 18, and advance tickets will be available online starting next week. Guests ages five and above must wear a face covering at all times, and all visitors are required to maintain at least 6 feet of distance from others. Museum capacity will be decreased by 75% to help facilitate distancing.

3:32pm – The state Department of Health is reporting 75,377 confirmed COVID-19 cases with 1,935 deaths statewide. There have been a total of 1,496,353 tests conducted across the state.

2:24pm – State Secretary of Health John Wiesman asked all Washington residents to “remain vigilant with our prevention efforts” with the Labor Day holiday weekend on the horizon. Those efforts include minimizing social contact with others, keeping physical distance, wearing face coverings, and engaging in safe ways whether that’s a small, outdoor gathering or a video call from home. Previously, there been spikes in cases following long weekends, like Memorial Day and Fourth of July, when people are more likely to gather with friends and families.

Wiesman also reminded everyone that COVID-19 can be transmitted before someone even knows they have it or before they show any symptoms.

1:15pm – United Way of King County says more than 30,000 students in King County are eligible for a one-time, $399 cash assistance for food. Families have until Sept. 11 to apply for Pandemic EBT, an emergency federal program that provides cash assistance to buy food while schools are closed due to COVID-19.

Apply online at the Washington Connection website here.

11:29am – Washington state nurses union says they are “appalled at the conditions at St. Michael Hospital in Bremerton,” where more than 60 people have tested positive for COVID-19 as part of a recent outbreak.

Union leaders on Wednesday called on state officials to address the “serious shortcomings in oversight and transparency” they believe contributed to the outbreak. They say they are “deeply concerned that such an outbreak could happen elsewhere in the state.”

9:44am – While one or more options could be available toward the end of this year or early next, the path to delivering COVID-19 vaccines to 330 million people remains unclear for the local health officials expected to carry out the work. Read more from the Associated Press here.

7:07am – Dr. Scott Atlas, a new top COVID-19 adviser, is denying reports that he was pushing the president to adopt a herd immunity approach to fight the virus. Columbia virologist Dr. Angela Rasmussen, a weekly guest of KIRO Radio’s Gee & Ursula Show, explains why a herd immunity strategy isn’t feasible right now for the United States. Read more. 

5:13am – UW’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation predicts that by Dec. 1, COVID-19 could be the second leading cause of death in the U.S., just behind heart disease, and ahead of neonatal disorders, strokes, lower respiratory infections, and road injuries.

Tuesday, Sept. 1

5:01pm – Event venues around Seattle, the state and the nation will light up red tonight to bring attention to the plight of workers in the entertainment industry.

Jennifer Bacon, the President of IATSE Local 15, a union that represents some of the workers at these venues, says they hope this nationwide campaign and a rally in Seattle tonight will get entertainment workers the support they need from the government.

Bacon says, among other things, they are fighting for an extension of the expired $600 a week unemployment benefits from the federal government.

#RedAlertRESTART is raising awareness to jump-start relief for the live events industry. We can't wait to safely play live shows again for you, so we're joining the movement & are on RED alert for the 12 million people in our industry out of work due to COVID-19.

📸: Tim Durkan pic.twitter.com/4Un9PESrHt

— Pearl Jam (@PearlJam) September 1, 2020

4:47pm – Seattle will provide day care to 550 elementary age kids at 19 locations that will help support their virtual learning, Mayor Jenny Durkan announced on Tuesday. Additionally, the city will launch seven Teen Resource Hubs for internet access and other resources. Read more.

3:12pm – There are 74,939 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Washington with 1,931 deaths, as reported by the state Department of Health. The percent of deaths per confirmed cases is currently at 2.6%.

1:54pm – As a new school year kicks off, state Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal says 95% of students are starting the year fully remote in Washington, while 3-4% are starting in a hybrid model, and just 1% are in person. Read more.

12:01pm – Ten ham radio volunteers worked with the Snohomish County Office of Emergency Management to station themselves at 37 different locations around the county. The volunteers made 3,500 observations of people with or without masks at commercial settings, a transit center, and urban parks. Read more.

9:25am – Too many people are visiting Mount Rainier National Park, as the number of visitors has jumped 30% in the last ten years, according to the National Park Service.

Seventy percent of those visitors show up between June and September, causing hour-long waits to get into the park, filling up restrooms and parking lots. Amid the ongoing pandemic, that added volume has raised concerns from the park service.

A virtual public meeting will be held Tuesday at 6 p.m., to allow the public to weigh on ways to mitigate the recent overcrowding. You can tune here.

7:11am – While a new coronavirus advisor to President Trump pushes for a herd immunity strategy, top experts are concerned about potentially disastrous consequences.

According to vaccine expert Dr. Paul Offit, the idea of herd immunity is “fanciful.”

“It’s never happened before with any virus, and it’s not going to happen with this virus,” Dr. Offit told CNN.

5:35am – There’s a bit of good news to be found in the latest situation report from the state Department of Health, as data from the Washington Disease Reporting System through Aug. 24 shows an “overall plateau and potentially slight decline” in the number of new cases of COVID-19 statewide. Read more. 

Monday, Aug. 31

5:12pm – Families in the Olympia School District who qualify for subsidized lunch programs can also get help paying for child care during the pandemic as the district and numerous community partners announced they will be staffing child care at seven school facilities. In addition to care, workers will be able to help students with their school work.

3:41pm – The state Department of Health is reporting 74,635 confirmed COVID-19 cases with 1,915 deaths statewide. There have been 1,473,245 total tests. Deaths were not reported over the weekend.

2:03pm – The Museum of Flight begins a phased reopening to the general public on Labor Day weekend, Sept. 5-7, following two days of member previews. Daily attendance will be limited to 25% capacity in accordance with the state’s guidelines, and tickets must be purchased online for a timed admission entry. Face coverings will be required for all visitors, and a brief, no contact health screening will be asked upon entry.

12:27pm – The results of a recently-published study from Duke implied that wearing a neck gaiter is worse than wearing no mask at all in terms of limiting the spread of COVID-19, but authors of the study have since tried to walk back that interpretation.

10:12am – Seattle University is beginning to move students into the dorms with a handful of new restrictions. The university is requiring most students to live alone, and is only allowing 950 people into its dorms for the fall quarter. Move-in dates are by appointment only to encourage social distancing.

Classes will be mostly virtual, with some in person hybrid courses. A comprehensive testing plan is also in place for those returning to campus.

9:01am – For another week in a row, the Employment Security Department reported that 20,000 Washingtonians are still waiting on unemployment benefits. And they are not the only ones waiting on answers from the Employment Security Department. Read more.

7:06am – An outbreak at St. Michael Medical Center in Bremerton now totals 60 confirmed COVID-19 cases, as local health officials look for solutions. Read more.

5:14am – King County is holding a series of events in September, to hand out free face coverings and hand sanitizer across unincorporated parts of the county. You can see the full list of dates and locations here.

Read last week’s updates.

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