Washington - Coronavirus COVID-19

[PommyMommy]

MAY 5, 2021
Washington state remains in 4th COVID wave but new numbers are ‘hopeful,’ officials say | The Seattle Times
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Modeling as of April 16 showed that immunity from vaccines has lowered transmission, but COVID transmission was still increasing, Shah said. Daily case counts averaged about 1,300 cases in late April, which is higher than counts during the second wave over the past summer.

Hospitalizations are also up; however, those who are being hospitalized tend to be younger and have shorter stays than those previously hospitalized, said Dr. Scott Lindquist, acting state health officer.

More than 50% of eligible Washington residents have received at least a first dose of the vaccine, and about 39% of eligible residents — about 2.4 million people — are fully vaccinated.

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MAY 31, 2021
COVID-19 cases surge 73% in Washington state (kitsapsun.com)
Editor's note: Washington State's Department of Health began adding thousands of backlogged cases in late May, which means that the number of new cases reported in the latest release, which this story was based upon, did not necessarily occur in the week prior. The data that includes older cases will make week-to-week comparisons inaccurate.

New coronavirus cases leaped in Washington in the week ending Sunday, May 30, rising 73% as 8,355 cases were reported. The previous week had 4,829 new cases of the virus that causes COVID-19.

Washington ranked first among the states where coronavirus was spreading the fastest on a per-person basis, a USA TODAY Network analysis of Johns Hopkins University data shows. In the latest week coronavirus cases in the United States decreased 20.4% from the week before, with 140,886 cases reported. With 2.29% of the country's population, Washington had 5.93% of the country's cases in the last week. Across the country, five states had more cases in the latest week than they did in the week before.

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[PommyMommy]

JUN 15, 2021
Highly transmissible strain causing COVID spreads in Washington state, say UW virologists | The Seattle Times
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The delta variant, also known as B.1.617.2, is more transmissible than other variants of the virus, health experts say. First identified in India, it has caused waves of new cases in India, China, Sweden and the United Kingdom — and is now on the rise in the United States, UW Medicine said.

Roychoudhury said FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccines provide the best available protection against the delta variant, as well as all other variants detected since the beginning of the pandemic.

JUN 29, 2021
Washington state fully reopens, ending more than a year of COVID restrictions | king5.com
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On Wednesday, the state moved past Gov. Jay Inslee's "Roadmap to Recovery" plan, and all businesses were able to return to normal capacity and operations. Since May, all counties have been in the third phase of a four-stage reopening plan, with indoor capacity limited at 50%.

Masking requirements for the state will continue to abide by guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Currently, masks are required for unvaccinated people in indoor public settings, in outdoor crowded settings, and in indoor sports practices and competitions. Everyone is required to wear a mask in schools, childcare facilities, health care facilities, correctional facilities, homeless shelters and public transportation.

King County, Washington's most populous county, reverted to CDC masking guidance Tuesday, lifting Health Officer Dr. Jeff Duchin's mask directive after 70% of residents ages 16 and older became fully vaccinated.

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[PommyMommy]

JUL 12, 2021
6,000 people have died from COVID-19 in Washington state | The Seattle Times

JUL 27, 2021
COVID-19 cases are increasing across the state > Washington State Department of Health
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OLYMPIA – The latest COVID-19 modeling and surveillance situation report from the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) shows a new surge: cases are increasing in the state as the Delta variant becomes more widespread. As cases stemming from the Delta variant rise, anyone who has signs or symptoms of COVID-19 should get tested, regardless of vaccination status or prior infection.

Report findings include:

• Statewide case counts and hospital admissions flattened starting in mid-June, and case counts began increasing over the first week of July. Multiple counties were experiencing an uptick in case counts as of July 8, and additional counties appear to be seeing increases in more recent incomplete data.
• As of July 8, case rates flattened in age groups that were previously seeing declines, and rates were increasing in people ages 20-39. Hospital admission rates began to flatten across all age groups in the last week of June. As of July 8, admission rates were increasing in people ages 40-49 and 70-79 and may have been starting to increase in ages 20-39 and 60-69. More recent daily reports from hospitals showed admissions increasing in all adult age groups over the week ending July 18.
• Around the end of June, estimates of statewide transmission increased sharply. The best estimate of the reproductive number (which tells us how many new people each COVID-19 case will infect) on July 2 was 1.46. The high degree of uncertainty in the estimate make it difficult to know for sure how big of an increase we may be seeing, but a reproductive number above one means the virus is spreading faster. To see cases decline, the reproductive number needs to stay well below one for a substantial amount of time.
• The delta variant, a more transmissible strain of the virus, is now the dominant strain in circulation. The latest genetic sequencing data show delta variant cases made up almost 58% of sequences with specimens collected between June 20 and July 3. Model-based projections estimate that on July 19, 92% of cases may be attributable to the delta variant.
• While overall population immunity continues to increase, the pace has slowed considerably and more vaccination is needed to keep cases from spiking higher. On July 8, the best model-based estimate of statewide population immunity (including from vaccination and from prior infection) was 51.9%. However, it is important to keep in mind that immunity levels vary widely across counties, communities and social groups.
• Despite increasing transmission and a bigger presence from the delta variant, vaccination is still working to protect people from severe COVID-19 illness. As of July 4, estimated hospital admission rates among unvaccinated people ages 45-64 were about 20 times higher than rates among people of the same age who were fully protected by vaccination. For ages 65 and older, the estimated admission rate for unvaccinated people was about nine times higher than for those who were fully protected.

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JUL 30, 2021
KUOW - What we know about breakthrough Covid in Washington state – and what we don’t
How common are breakthrough cases in Washington state?

Not common at all.

From January 17 to July 24, only 0.1% of fully vaccinated Washingtonians tested positive for Covid.

And only 52 of the about 4 million Washingtonians who have been fully vaccinated have died of Covid; 37 of them had pre-existing conditions. And for 15 of them, it's unknown whether they had pre-existing conditions or not. Their median age was 83 years old.

Being vaccinated is the surest way to avoid the disease.

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[PommyMommy]

AUG 9, 2021
COVID numbers increasing in Washington - State of Reform | State of Reform
Cases of COVID-19 have been increasing across the country and in Washington state in what is being labeled as the fifth wave of the pandemic.

According to the Washington State Department of Health, as of Aug. 5, the seven day rolling average for COVID-19 cases was 1,527, roughly where it was last November. Hospitalizations are also high, with a seven day rolling average of 73.

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This surge is being largely driven by the delta variant, a more infectious mutation of the original COVID-19 virus. Cases across the U.S. exceeded 100,000 per day on Saturday — a benchmark that was last hit during the 2020 winter surge.

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AUG 19, 2021
COVID-19 transmission and hospitalizations at a new all-time high > Washington State Department of Health
OLYMPIA – The latest COVID-19 modeling and surveillance situation report from the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) shows current COVID-19 cases and hospital admissions at their highest levels to-date. These upward trends are likely to continue in the coming month due to the delta variant. With hospital staff and capacities strained statewide, both masking and vaccination are now crucial to control and manage disease transmission.

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AUG 30, 2021
COVID patients expected to strain Washington's ICU capacity this fall - Washington State Wire
The COVID-19 pandemic’s fifth wave is sweeping through Washington State and will likely continue through the holidays, placing pressure on health care systems along the way.

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In the worst case scenarios, where social distancing and mask use aren’t implemented, the state could be in for death counts at levels twice as high as previous peaks. And even in the reference scenario, which assumes vaccinations distribution will continue as projected and mask use will continue at the same rate seen over the prior seven days, the state would still be in for peaks on par with last winter.

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[PommyMommy]

SEP 4, 2021
The Latest: Washington state vaccine mandate moves forward (apnews.com)
Days after suing to block what is believed to be among the nation’s strictest COVID-19 employee vaccine mandates, Washington’s largest state labor union has announced a tentative agreement for Gov. Jay Inslee’s order for state workers.

The Northwest News Network reports the Washington Federation of State Employees has negotiated terms for Inslee’s mandate that all 46,000 of its union members be fully vaccinated by October 18 or lose their jobs.

The new agreement, which still needs to be ratified, was announced Saturday and defines the exceptions and religious and medical exemptions process for employees who can’t or won’t get their shots.

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SEP 9, 2021
COVID victims overwhelm morgue in Washington state

 

[PommyMommy]

SEP 14, 2021
Over 7,000 people have died from COVID in Washington state | The Seattle Times
The update brings the state’s totals to 609,911 cases and 7,037 deaths, meaning that 1.2% of people diagnosed in Washington have died, according to the DOH. The data is as of 11:59 p.m. Monday. Tallies may be higher earlier in the week because new state data isn’t reported on Sundays and COVID-related deaths aren’t reported on the weekends.

In addition, 34,255 people have been hospitalized in the state due to the virus — 201 new hospitalizations. In King County, the state’s most populous, state health officials have confirmed a total of 143,546 coronavirus diagnoses and 1,808 COVID-19 deaths.

Since vaccinations began in mid-December, the state and health care providers have administered 8,774,782 doses and 56.1% of all Washingtonians have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to vaccination data, which the state updates on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Providers are currently giving an average of about 13,382 vaccine shots per day.

SEP 15, 2021
COVID-19 update: Over 7,000 deaths reported in Washington state | king5.com
Dr. Steve Mitchell, medical director for the Washington Medical Coordination Center, said there were 1,592 COVID-19 patients hospitalized across the state Wednesday, which is the equivalent of four Harborview Medical Centers at capacity.

Earlier this week, the Washington State Hospital Association reported that as cases have begun plateauing, the number of COVID-19 patients taking ventilators has continued to increase significantly.

 

[PommyMommy]

OCT 28, 2021
Inslee: Plateauing of COVID-19 cases in Washington is 'serious concern' | The Spokesman-Review
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The state is still seeing more than 2,000 new COVID-19 cases each day, he said, adding he does not want to see the state enter into a “sixth wave.” The fifth wave, caused by the delta variant, began in August and lasted through September, before case rates and hospitalizations began to fall.

The plateau is concerning to public health officials because case rates and COVID hospitalization rates are still similar to last winter’s wave, meaning capacity is tight and disease rates are still much higher than they were earlier this summer or spring.

Inslee said the state has reached “a fork in the road.” Residents can either accept COVID-19 or continue to fight it, and the only way out is by getting vaccinated.

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A new rule in King County went into effect on Monday that requires patrons to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test at bars, restaurants, gyms and indoor entertainment venues.

Inslee also announced earlier this month that people attending large events would be required to provide proof of vaccination or a negative test for entry. That rule begins Nov. 15 and will affect concerts or sporting events.

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[PommyMommy]

NOV 5, 2021
Washington state now issuing QR codes that serve as proof of COVID vaccination (seattlepi.com)
Washington residents can now receive a state-provided QR code that will serve as proof that they’ve been vaccinated against the coronavirus, which should help streamline the process of getting into businesses or events that require proof of vaccination to enter.

Users can receive their QR code by visiting the state Department of Health’s WA Verify webpage. They will be asked to enter their first and last name, their date of birth and their mobile phone number or email address. They’ll also be asked to create a four-digit pin number they’ll need to enter when accessing their QR code.

If the state has your vaccine record on file, it will send you a link to your individualized QR code via text or email. You need to click the link and enter the four-digit pin you created to access your code. Once done, you can screenshot, download or print the code, which can then be presented at businesses or events that require proof of vaccination to enter.

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[PommyMommy]

NOV 29, 2021
Washington state testing for COVID-19 omicron variant | king5.com
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“I think all of our panelists and I agree, wholeheartedly, that omicron is in the U.S.,” Washington State Hospital Association CEO Cassie Sauer said during a briefing Monday morning. “I think that there is almost no chance that it’s not.”

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Washington is among the top 10 states for sequencing in the U.S. and has “some of the best eyes out there” looking for the variant, according to Dr. Alex Greninger, the assistant professor in the department of laboratory medicine and pathology at the UW School of Medicine and assistant director of the Clinical Virology Laboratories at the University of Washington Medical Center.

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Greninger said almost all of the COVID-19 antigen tests target the virus’ nucleocapsid protein, which is “not highly mutated. Most of the mutations in the omicron variant are found in the spike protein.”

“So, from a testing standpoint, we’re going to be able to detect [the omicron variant],” said Greninger.

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Greninger said the state is rapid screening all positive COVID-19 tests to look for the “hallmark” the omicron variant shares.

Concern over the COVID-19 omicron variant comes as hospitalizations in the state have decreased since last week. Sauer said hospitalizations have decreased about 14% since last week. However, patients on ventilators increased by 6% since last week.

“We’re still seeing 10 to 15 people in the state die a day, and it’s almost always preventable,” said Sauer.

5 things to know about the new omicron variant of COVID-19

 

[PommyMommy]

DEC 4, 2021
Omicron COVID-19 variant discovered in three counties across Washington > Washington State Department of Health

The Washington State Department of Health (DOH), in partnership with the UW Medicine Virology Laboratory, has confirmed a total of three cases of omicron variant in Thurston County, Pierce County, and King County. The patients range in age from 20 to 39, two men, one woman.

The patients are:

• a man in his thirties from Thurston County,
• a man in his twenties from Pierce County, and
• a woman in her twenties from King County.

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The best protection from this variant and others comes from getting vaccinated and getting boosters as soon as possible. This is especially important for children and adults with chronic conditions that place them at higher risk for severe disease from COVID-19.

“Even with a highly mutated virus like omicron, we are not going back to square one of the pandemic,” said Dr. Jeff Duchin, Health Officer, Public Health – Seattle & King County. “Omicron may pose new challenges that we will need to respond to, but compared to the early days of the pandemic, we know much more about COVID-19, and we’re better prepared for it. We know layered protections work together to maximally reduce risk, and that will continue to be the case for delta and for omicron if that becomes a dominant strain circulating in our community.”

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[PommyMommy]

DEC 22 updated DEC 23, 2021
Experts predict 3.2 billion new COVID-19 infections in early 2022 | king5.com
The University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) is predicting Washington state could see the number of daily COVID-19 infections hit roughly 38,700 in February 2022 due to the omicron variant.

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While the IHME is predicting infections will skyrocket, it does not predict hospitalizations or even deaths will reach the highest levels of the pandemic, which came during the recent delta wave in August and September.

Still, the IHME is predicting the state could see roughly 30 COVID-19 deaths a day by the end of February. This is about 10 fewer than the peak in late August and early September when the seven-day rolling average was more than 40 deaths per day.

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[PommyMommy]

DEC 28, 2021
Washington sees record daily COVID cases on Christmas Eve | king5.com
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The latest data from the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) shows that the state hit a record number of new daily COVID-19 cases on Christmas Eve with 6,235. The previous record was 5,526 new cases on Dec. 7, 2020.

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While the sudden rise in cases caused by the highly infectious omicron variant is startling, health experts say the effects of the surge will likely not be felt by the hospitals as much as they were with the delta wave. The prediction was based on early studies that showed infection with the new variant doesn’t typically cause severe illness, especially for those who have received a third shot of the COVID-19 vaccine.

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DEC 29, 2021
Latest Washington state coronavirus, COVID-19 cases, deaths | Tacoma News Tribune (thenewstribune.com)
The Washington state Department of Health reported 4,800 new COVID-19 cases and 17 deaths Wednesday.

As of Wednesday, statewide totals from the illness caused by the coronavirus are 842,196 cases and 9,839 deaths. The case total includes 100,781 infections listed as probable. Death data is considered complete only through Dec. 11. DOH revises previous case and death counts daily.

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CASE RATES
For the past seven days, Washington has had a strong upward trending case rate of 392 per 100,000 people. The national rate for the same period was 585 per 100,000, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

VACCINE
According to DOH, 62.7 percent of the total state population has been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

On the national level, 61.9 percent of the population has been fully vaccinated, according to CDC statistics.

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