COVID-19 updates: As cases rise, local school district delays return to classroom

The state Department of Health says there have been over 117,000 coronavirus cases in Washington state, and 2,439 people have died from the virus statewide. Check below for more updates.

Confirmed coronavirus cases across Washington state

Sunday, Nov. 8

3:53pm – There are now 117,331 confirmed cases statewide, as reported by the Washington State Department of Health, which is a one-day increase of 1,320 cases. The DOH does not update the death count on weekends.

8:09am – The Peninsula School District in Pierce County is delaying its plans to bring back more students for in-person learning as recent case counts have been as high as the beginning of the pandemic. Second-grade students were set to return to the classroom this Thursday, but the district’s superintendent wrote in a letter that cases at the elementary and high schools have made them rethink things. He also says they are still working on rolling out a testing program.

Saturday, Nov. 7

2:48pm – The state Department of Health is reporting 116,011 confirmed cases and 2,439 deaths in Washington, which is 1,770 new cases since Friday. The DOH does not update the death count on weekends. There have been 2,592,766 tests conducted statewide.

7:31am – With the surge of new coronavirus cases in Washington state, health experts are worried about local hospitals getting overwhelmed. The president of the Washington State Hospital Association, Cassie Sauer, tells KIRO 7 TV that hospitalizations lag three to four weeks behind the spike in COVID cases. She says deaths follow.

Friday, Nov. 6

5:27pm – Kitsap County crossed from the “moderate” to the “high” risk category with its latest COVID-19 numbers. The county has seen the rate of new cases in children at a high with the median age of positive tests at 12 years old.

4:14pm – The state Department of Health is reporting 114,241 confirmed cases and 2,439 deaths statewide, which is an increase of 1,691 new cases and eight new deaths since Thursday’s update.

3:01pm – Since September, cases have been increasing in King County, in the state of Washington, and across the United States, said Dr. Jeff Duchin in a briefing Friday. The new peak of cases reached in King County risks stressing local hospitals and health care systems in the coming weeks. However, Duchin reiterated that we know what works to stop the spread of COVID-19, and our individual actions “will determine the course of our outbreak.”

“Cases continue to accelerate in the wrong direction, and it’s best to hit the brakes before we crash and not after,” he said.

“We can choose our path forward or we can let the virus choose it for us,” he added.

Dr. Duchin also talked about the importance of wearing masks, even when keeping your distance from others, keeping gatherings few and small, and limiting contacts outside your household, especially as the holiday season approaches. Read more.

12:27pm – We’re still waiting for a COVID vaccine to be released, and one virologist has some questions about the way it’s being tested. Dr. William Haseltine has taught at Harvard and raised some concerns about some of the vaccine testing. He joined Seattle’s Morning News to discuss. Read more. 

10:49am – Dick’s Drive-in has temporarily closed two of its locations — Kent and Queen Anne — until further notice after a small number of employees tested positive for COVID-19. The closure was a suggestion from Public Health — Seattle & King County to reduce any further spread of the outbreak.

9:52am – King County health officials will be delivering a press conference at 2 p.m. Friday, to shed light on “the increased spread of COVID-19 in King County.”

7:01am – A new report from the Institute for Disease Modeling (IDM), released by the state Department of Health, supports the recommendation that in-person learning isn’t wise if community transmission rates of COVID-19 are high. Read more. 

5:36am – This week has again seen King County experience its highest number of cases in a single day, after tracking 517 cases between Wednesday and Thursday.

This comes amid a nationwide trend of rising cases, with the U.S. also setting its own single-day record with 109,858 cases, 5,000 more than the previous day, which held the previous record.

Thursday, Nov. 5

4:49pm – NBC News reports the U.S. has set a record for new coronavirus cases in a single day with a total of 109,858. That’s about 5,000 more than the previous day, which held the previous record.

According to data from Johns Hopkins University, the U.S. has the highest number of coronavirus cases (edging out India with the second highest number of cases) at over 9 million and deaths with more than 233,000.

3:56pm – The state Department of Health reports a total of 112,550 confirmed cases in Washington with 2,431 deaths, which is 1,070 new cases and 15 new deaths since Wednesday. Statewide, 2,541,074 tests have been conducted.

2:21pm – The WIAA has issued strict new guidelines for high school sports to return during the pandemic, which includes COVID cases in a specific region being very low, and at least half the competing schools would have to be eligible to play. However, with the current spike in coronavirus cases in Washington state, the WIAA says no sports are safe enough to play right now. Winter sports are supposed to start Dec. 28, but could still be canceled or delayed.

The WIAA has also scrapped state championships in favor of regional matchups.

12:30pm – The Pac-12 has officially canceled Saturday’s game between the UW Huskies and California Golden Bears due to a positive COVID-19 test by a Cal player. Read more. 

10:01am – UW Public Health is extending an invite to Washington residents “to better understand how to use technology to fight the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.”

You can participate by filling out a survey here.

7:38am – The U.S. hit a grim milestone in its COVID crisis Wednesday, cresting over 100,000 new COVID-19 cases in a single day, the first time the country has done that since the start of the pandemic.

That follows a week-long trend, which has seen the US hit is top five days for highest case numbers. The national seven-day average for new cases now sits around 89,800, a 108% increase over the last month.

5:56am – The latest data from the U.S. Department of Labor indicates that roughly 751,000 people filed for initial jobless claims last week, down slightly from the 758,000 people who filed the previous week.

That marks 10 consecutive weeks where the weekly total has been under 1 million people, indicating a gradual economic recovery as the U.S. continues to grapple with the ongoing pandemic.

Wednesday, Nov. 4

4:02pm – There are now 111,480 confirmed cases and 2,416 deaths in Washington, according to the state Department of Health. That’s 1,469 new cases and 16 new deaths since Tuesday’s update. There have been 2,519,494 COVID tests conducted statewide.

3:31pm – While it’s too early to tell how well this year’s flu vaccine is working, Snohomish County’s health officer Dr. Chris Spitters says the precautions being taken to prevent the spread of coronavirus are likely helping keep flu cases in check.

That said, Spitters says he’s not nearly as worried about the flu right now as he is about the surge in coronavirus cases. On Sunday, Snohomish County posted a new case record for a single day. Dr. Spitters did add that part of the reason for that high number is due to the 11 long-term care facilities reporting outbreaks, including one in Monroe where more than 50 people have tested positive.

12:45pm – A Snohomish County bar owner is not sure if he will open tonight as his liquor license has been suspended for six months for not enforcing coronavirus rules. Leo Moreno owns the Loggers Inn in Sultan, and he told KIRO Radio that he was not enforcing the mandates because there is not a problem with the virus in Sultan.

Moreno said he will fight the six-month liquor license suspension in court because he can’t turn a profit without alcohol sales.

11:24am – Regardless of the presidential election outcome, a vexing issue remains to be decided: Will the U.S. be able to tame a perilous pandemic that is surging as holidays, winter and other challenges approach? Read more from the Associated Press. 

9:01am – Students at the University of Washington are being provided with early access to a new app, which sends a notification to your phone if you’ve been in close proximity to someone exposed to COVID-19.

The app is been in development since April, and now enters into a pilot program to ensure its effectiveness.

7:12am – Flu activity in the United States remains low, says the CDC, but it’s still warning people to get vaccinated now. Because it can take two weeks for the body to build immunity after receiving the vaccine, it’s crucial to act now to mitigate that wait time before flu season kicks into full gear.

Tuesday, Nov. 3

5:36pm – There are currently 155 COVID-19 vaccines in development, 47 of which are in human trial, according to ABC News.

4:14pm – The Washington State Department of Health is reporting 110,011 confirmed cases and 2,400 deaths, which marks 657 new cases and 22 new deaths since Monday’s report. There have been 2,495,151 tests conducted statewide.

3:29pm – On Election Day, the good news virologist Dr. Angela Rasmussen had to share with KIRO listeners is that voting turnout is at record levels even with the ongoing pandemic. Dr. Rasmussen says, for her, electing leadership with a public health plan is more important than ever this year. Read more.

1:13pm – “Let’s keep trying to bend that curve and let’s get it pointed downward,” said Dr. Christopher Spitters with the Snohomish Health District.

In an update with Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers on Tuesday, Spitters said on Sunday, the county saw the highest number of newly reported COVID-19 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. He added that 25 hospital beds in Snohmish County are occupied by COVID-19 patients, seven of those are on ventilators.

11:12am – IHME Director Dr. Christopher Murray says it’s possible for the U.S. to avoid further lockdowns into the winter if the nation increases mask use to at least 95%. He pointed to Victoria state in Australia as a good example of a region that was able to increase mask usage very quickly.  Additionally, he Murray wearing masks could save thousands of lives.

9:08am – Restaurants continue to get creative as they grapple with doing business during the pandemic, with QFC and Tutta Bella Neapolitan Pizzeria are opening a counter service-style Tutta Bella location inside the grocery store’s University Village location.

The so called “grocerant” is the second of its kind, with the first opening last year inside QFC at the Kirkland Urban development.

The companies partnership also includes a line of grab-and-go items and take-home dinner options currently offered in more than 30 of QFC’s stores around the Puget Sound area.

7:31am – UW’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation is now predicting that the U.S. could see nearly 400,000 total COVID-19 deaths by February 1. With at least 95% of people wearing masks in public at all times, though, it predicts we could reduce that number by as many as 52,000.

You can see the latest projections from the IHME here.

6:11am – Pierce County is live with the list of restaurants participating in its coronavirus discount program.

The “Restaurant Rally” website is ready to view, making it so you can get 30% off your bill at more than 200 Pierce County restaurants.

The County will reimburse participating restaurants with grant money from the CARES Act passed by Congress.

The deal lasts two weeks and includes carry-out meals. The offer does not include alcohol or food ordered through third party delivery apps. It also does not apply on Fridays or Saturdays.

You don’t have to live in Pierce County to get the dining discount.

You can see the full list of participating restaurants here.

Monday, Nov. 2

5:34pm – The state Department of Health is reporting a total of 109,354 confirmed cases and 2,378 deaths. This marks an increase of 1,039 cases since Sunday’s report, and 12 new deaths since the last update on Friday. There have been 2,470,185 tests conducted.

2:30pm – Starting Thursday, anyone with a plane ticket will be able to get a COVID-19 test at Sea-Tac Airport before their flight, but it will cost $250. Travelers must schedule an appointment online first, up to 72 hours before their flight. The testing center will be available seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. This is a pilot program that will run through Jan. 31, 2021, but could be extended if the Port of Seattle finds a vendor who can offer testing services further into 2021.

Washington state does not currently require a COVID test prior to traveling, but some destinations, including Hawaii, do require a negative test.

11:19am – In collaboration with Safeway and Albertsons, the Washington State Department of Health is offering no-cost influenza vaccinations for uninsured adults. Read more. 

9:51am – UW Medicine researchers are reportedly developing a COVID-19 vaccine they say is 10 times more effective than others currently being produced. Clinical trials are expected to take place by the end of 2020.

8:23am – Seattle and King County health officials, including public health officer Dr. Jeff Duchin, provided insight on this week’s episode of 60 Minutes into what fueled the early days of the nation’s COVID-19 outbreak.

6:42am – During a rally in Florida, President Trump hinted that he might consider firing top infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci after the election.

This came after the assembled crowd began chanting “Fire Fauci.”

“Don’t tell anybody, but let me wait until a little bit after the election,” Trump responded. “I appreciate the advice.”

5:16am – A group of Seattle researchers from Fred Hutchinson, UW Medicine, and Brotman Baty sequenced the strain of COVID-19 connected to the White House super-spreader event that infected President Trump, his wife Melania, their son Barron, and several other Republican lawmakers and White House officials.

By sequencing the genome of that strain of coronavirus, researchers were able to determine that “the transmission chain leading to the White House cluster has circulated in the US for 5 or 6 months collecting an additional 5 mutations that have not been recorded in other sequenced samples,” Fred Hutch researcher Trevor Bedford described.

This will also allow researchers to identify future COVID-19 infections that descended from the White House’s outbreak.

You can see updates from last week here.

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