COVID updates: 1,260 new cases in Washington state

The state Department of Health says there have been over 344,000 confirmed coronavirus cases in Washington, and 5,278 people have died from the virus statewide. The state says 3,471,343 doses of vaccine have been administered. Check below for more updates.

Washington state is currently in Phase 1B, Tiers 3 and 4, of vaccine distribution, which includes all people 60 years and older, people 16 years or older with two or more co-morbidities or underlying conditions, restaurant workers, people who live or work in certain congregate settings, and more. Anyone who was eligible in an earlier phase or tier remains eligible now.

Find a vaccine location near you or call 800-525-0127 to get help finding an appointment.

Confirmed coronavirus cases across Washington state

Sunday, April 4

4:39pm – As many Seattle students return to in-person learning on Monday, the Seattle Department of Transportation is planning to close streets to cars and open them to families walking and biking to and from school. Additionally, school zone safety cameras will soon be switched back on. Read more.

7:43am – From the Associated Press:

VACCINES: More than 104.2 million people, or 31.4% of the U.S. population, have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Some 59.8 million people, or 18% of the population, have completed their vaccination.

CASES: The seven-day rolling average for daily new cases in the U.S. increased over the past two weeks from 54,471 on March 19 to 64,616 on Friday, according to Johns Hopkins University.

DEATHS: The seven-day rolling average for daily new deaths in the U.S. decreased over the past two weeks decreased from 1,160 on March 19 to 847 on Friday, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Saturday, April 3

5:32pm – Health officials say there have been 344,516 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Washington state, and 5,278 deaths since the outbreak began.

3:41pm – Vaccine passports being developed to verify COVID-19 immunization status and allow inoculated people to more freely travel, shop and dine have become the latest flash point in America’s perpetual political wars, with Republicans portraying them as a heavy-handed intrusion into personal freedom and private health choices.

They currently exist in only one state — a limited government partnership in New York with a private company — but that hasn’t stopped GOP lawmakers in a handful of states from rushing out legislative proposals to ban their use. Read more from AP.

8:11am – While cases are dropping in long-term care facilities across King County, Dr. Jeff Duchin, health officer for Public Health — Seattle & King County, says they’re seeing increases elsewhere.

Duchin explained in his weekly address on Friday that there’s an increase in cases at child care and K-12 schools settings to less than 2% in January to 5% over the last three weeks.

“We’ve also seen eight outbreaks associated with youth sport leagues in the last eight weeks,” he said, adding that those teams reported taking the precautions during games and practices. Read more.

Friday, April 2

5:05pm – Health officials say there have been 343,463 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Washington state, and 5,278 deaths since the outbreak began.

3:30pm – The Department of Justice is warning that fraudsters are putting out fake surveys that ask for personal information about your COVID-19 vaccination that is then used for scams.

Some of the surveys ask for credit card payments for shipping and handling fees to send you a prize that never comes. The DOJ says the surveys are used to steal money from consumers and unlawfully capture consumers’ personal information.

1:45pm – The race is on to vaccinate as many people as possible, but a significant number of Americans are so far reluctant to get the shots, even in places where they are plentiful. Twenty-five percent of Americans say they probably or definitely will not get vaccinated, according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

They are leery about possible side effects. They tend to be Republican, and they are usually younger and less susceptible to becoming critically ill or dying if they catch COVID-19. Read more from AP. 

12:19pm – Snohomish County will continue to offer drive-thru COVID-19 testing next week at a series of locations in Monroe, Lynnwood, and more. For more information you can head to this link.

10:41am – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its guidance to say fully vaccinated people can travel within the U.S. without getting tested for the coronavirus or going into quarantine afterward.

Still, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky urged caution and said she would “advocate against general travel overall” given the rising number of infections.

“If you are vaccinated, it is lower risk,” she said.

9:08am – Seattle Public Schools and the Seattle Education Association on Thursday announced that a tentative agreement was reached in providing in-person learning for grades 6-12, meeting the governor’s COVID-19 guidelines. Read more.

7:24am – Health leaders in Washington don’t expect the COVID-19 vaccine scheduling system to be overwhelmed when all adults are eligible on April 15. Read more.

5:13am – Amid concerns over rising COVID-19 cases in Washington, state leaders are urging residents not to travel for spring break.

Acting state health officer Dr. Scott Lindquist tells KIRO 7 TV people shouldn’t travel unless it’s absolutely necessary. He says we’re seeing cases of COVID in fully-vaccinated people who have traveled.

State Secretary of Health, Dr. Umair Shah says staying home is the safest for families, schools and communities.

Many school districts are going on spring break in the next two weeks, and Seattle-Tacoma Airport is expected to be the busiest its been.

The state says as of now, 1.3 million people in Washington are fully vaccinated, but that still leaves 83% of the population unprotected.

Thursday, April 1

5:06pm – There have been 342,269 confirmed COVID-19 cases with 5,262 deaths statewide, as reported by the Washington State Department of Health.

4:18pm – Don’t be lured by offers of prizes for taking a survey about your COVID-19 shot. The Department of Justice is warning that fraudsters are putting out fake surveys that ask for personal information that is then used for fraud. Some of the surveys ask for credit card payments for shipping and handling fees to send you a prize that never comes.

2:21pm – After months of decline, COVID-19 transmission is on the rise again in Washington, and a lot of that is due to variants. State Health Secretary Dr. Umair Shah says the B.1.1.7 strain appears to be more contagious and may possibly cause a worse illness. He says it’s important we continue to take all precautions, including skipping spring break travel and gatherings for upcoming holidays.

“A growing proportion of cases are B.1.1.7 strains,” Dr. Shah said. “We estimate that these will be more than 50% of the cases by mid-April in the state of Washington.”

12:53pm – Tacoma’s museum row will begin reopening on Friday with new exhibits at the Washington State History Museum, Museum of Glass, and America’s Car Museum. Many of the Tacoma’s other museums will follow suit later this month.

In Seattle, the Museum of History and Industry also reopens on Friday. Most museums are selling tickets online, with timed entry.

11:44am – Cocktails to go have only been allowed in Washington state since last May, but they’re a big hit with struggling restaurants. Read more. 

9:57am – The Washington Department of Health delivered its weekly briefing Thursday, indicating that the state is now handing out roughly 56,000 vaccine doses a day over the last week.

The state had originally set a goal of 45,000 daily doses. Thanks to increased supply from the federal government, it has since exceeded that benchmark.

8:46am – New data on Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine indicates that it’s 91% effective against symptomatic cases at six months and 95% effective against severe cases. It’s also been found to be 100% effective against the B.1.351 variant, first identified in South Africa.

7:11am – After the start of Major League Baseball’s 2020 season was delayed due to the pandemic, the Mariners are returning on schedule this year. Read more. 

5:24am – A batch of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine failed quality standards and can’t be used, the drug giant said Wednesday.

The drugmaker didn’t say how many doses were lost, and it wasn’t clear how the problem would impact future deliveries.

A vaccine ingredient made by Emergent BioSolutions — one of about 10 companies that Johnson & Johnson is using to speed up manufacturing of its recently approved vaccine — did not meet quality standards, J&J said.

Wednesday, March 31

4:43pm – There have been 341,361 confirmed COVID-19 cases with 5,247 deaths statewide, as reported by the Washington State Department of Health. More than 3.3 million vaccine doses have been given.

4:02pm – On April 15, the COVID-19 vaccine will be available to all adults who want it, ages 16 and up, in Washington state. Read more.

2:30pm – Pierce Transit joins Link light rail in giving free rides to people traveling to and from COVID-19 vaccinations. The offer also extends to inoculation staff and volunteers. Passengers may be asked to confirm their appointment or work status.

11:21am – As of Wednesday, Seattle is running a new vaccination station at North Seattle College. That marks the city’s fourth clinic and the first in North Seattle. The hub hopes to vaccinate at least 1,200 people a week.

8:57am –  The City of Redmond will be bringing back summer camps this year, after the COVID crisis saw those camps canceled in 2020. Kids ages 3 to 15 can get involved with soccer, tennis, art, nature, and more. To keep everyone safe, all camps will take place outside, with social distancing.

Registration starts on April 5 for Redmond residents and April 12 for non-residents.

7:33am – Pfizer announced Wednesday that its COVID-19 vaccine is safe and strongly protective in children as young as 12 years old.

This marks a major milestone for expanding vaccinations worldwide, as it’s been limited to those 16 and older thanks to uncertainty regarding safety and efficacy in kids.

In a study of 2,260 U.S. volunteers ages 12 to 15, preliminary data showed there were no cases of COVID-19 among fully vaccinated adolescents compared to 18 among those given dummy shots, Pfizer reported.

7:02am – As of Wednesday, March 31, COVID-19 vaccine eligibility in Washington state now includes those in Phase 1B, tiers 3 and 4. Read more. 

5:21am – The Washington Department of Health said Monday that it is investigating reports of so-called “vaccine breakthrough” cases, where people tested positive for COVID-19 more than two weeks after becoming fully vaccinated. Read more.

Tuesday, March 30

5:22pm – There have been 340,371 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 5,237 deaths statewide, according to the Washington State Department of Health’s data dashboard.

4:01pm – King County’s Auburn vaccination site has moved to accommodate more people. The site is moving from the General Services Administration Complex to the Outlet Collection shopping center. Six times as many people will be able to get vaccinated each day at the new site. It also provides easier access for those arriving by public transit.

3:27pm – There is some indication that the vaccine may help improve the symptoms experienced by COVID-19 “long-haulers,” or patients who have COVID-19 symptoms for months or even a year after being infected. Read more.

1:14pm – Nearly two dozen Republican legislators signed a letter asking their colleagues to end the governor’s state of emergency and fully open up the state. The legislators point to downward COVID-19 trends, a return to in-person learning, and the ability to reopen businesses in recent weeks as evidence that it’s time to end the “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order from one year ago.

They say this needs to be done within the next month, before the session ends and the Legislature adjourns on April 25.

11:40am – After a legislative win on Monday, Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant is hoping to use that momentum to extend the city’s pandemic-driven eviction moratorium. Read more. 

10:03am – Vaccination appointments are available today and “later this week” at the county’s Auburn Outlet Mall locations for all eligible south King County residents.

You can register online here to schedule an appointment.

8:34am – Several health authorities in Germany announced Tuesday that they are again suspending the use of AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine for residents under age 60 amid fresh reports of unusual blood clots in people who recently received the shots. Read more from the Associated Press.

7:02am – You may have seen a piece in The New York Times about Ivan Agerton, a photographer on Bainbridge Island. He contracted COVID-19 in November, but it didn’t go away, and he experienced some intense psychological symptoms as a result. Read more.

5:21am – King County reported Monday that it has now administered over 1 million vaccine doses.

That includes one-third of all adults in King County who have received at least one dose, a milestone that Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan described as “huge.”

Monday, March 29

5:58pm – There have been 339,761 confirmed COVID-19 cases with 5,226 deaths statewide, as reported by the Washington State Department of Health. More than 3.2 million vaccine doses have been given across the state.

4:49pm – A COVID-19 outbreak was reported at Western Washington University in Bellingham on Monday, one day before the start of spring quarter. The Bellingham Herald reports at least 30 students living in residence halls have tested positive in the past week.

Contact tracing is underway to notify all those who may have been exposed.

3:10pm – Two COVID-19 testing sites run by the City of Seattle will stay open longer than expected due to the recent surge in cases. The walk-up sites in Rainier Beach and West Seattle were scheduled to close Tuesday and focus only on vaccinations, but will now remain open as testing sites until April 17.

The city is continuing to operate its drive-through testing sites in Aurora and SoDo as well, with many appointments available each week. There are also available appointments at Curative kiosks located throughout Seattle.

1:38pm – Some Washington hospital leaders are hopeful the state will open vaccines for all adults before May 1. Cassie Sauer, president and CEO of the Washington State Hospital Association, said Monday that many other states are already allowing all adults to get in line.

“When I talk to my colleagues around the country, we have considerably more rules than most other states do right now about who can get vaccinated,” Sauer said.

She says it’s important to vaccinate those most at-risk for severe illness and death, but also notes that the people spreading COVID-19 right now tend to be younger people who are not yet eligible, so she says they need to get the vaccine too.

12:55pm – Just as we are all seeing the light at the end of the COVID tunnel, a new strain of the virus has emerged in Brazil. We’re told that this strain is a lot more virulent and dangerous. So what are the chances that we end up having it here? Mercer Island MD Dr. Gordon Cohen joined Seattle’s Morning News to discuss. Read more. 

11:34am – President Joe Biden released a fact sheet Monday, estimating that by April 19, 90% of all adults in the United States will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine.

Biden also indicated that his administration will soon be increasing the amount of pharmacies in the federal pharmacy vaccination program from 17,000 to almost 40,000, along with “a dozen more” mass vaccination sites by April 19.

10:10am – Seattle schools began the process Monday of returning students to part-time in-person classes, beginning with preschools and elementary special education intensive services pathways.

All other kindergarten to fifth-grade students, and students enrolled in middle and high school special education intensive pathways will return on April 5.

Students will be offered four half-days of in-person instruction per week in a morning or afternoon block. Wednesdays will be remote learning for all students.

8:50am – In 2020, the town of Tenino, Washington, printed its own wooden money to help businesses struggling in the early days of the pandemic. Now, it’s bringing the alternative currency back through the rest of the year. Read more.

7:02am – After the pandemic shut down the Seattle International Film Festival in 2020, SIFF is back this year with a fully online iteration. Read more. 

5:34am – According to a new report from the World Health Organization, COVID-19 likely originated in animals before being passed on to human populations.

The report, while vague on details on the specifics of the virus’ origin, says that it’s “extremely unlikely” COVID originated in a lab, countering a theory floated recently by former CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield.

The report was first revealed by the Associated Press, and is expected to be publicly released Tuesday.

Check last week’s updates.

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