Health & Fitness

Washington Reports 19 Deaths, 670 New Coronavirus Cases

The news comes as the western portion of the state grapples with increased transmission rates. Catch up on the latest developments.

At test patient receives a COVID-19 vaccination from RN Jose Muniz as she takes part in a vaccine study at Research Centers of America in Hollywood, Florida.
At test patient receives a COVID-19 vaccination from RN Jose Muniz as she takes part in a vaccine study at Research Centers of America in Hollywood, Florida. (Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WA — The Washington State Department of Health reported 19 more deaths and 670 new coronavirus infections late Friday.

The new numbers come as the state struggles with mixed results battling the coronavirus: the latest report from the Washington State Department of Health says that while transmission rates have been slowing down in eastern Washington, they're up and likely increasing on the west side. High case counts around Puget Sound have been cause for concern, particularly in Pierce County, which saw between 56 and 123 cases a day this week. Conversely, previously troublesome counties like Benton and Franklin have made real gains against the virus out east.

Another concern: an overall rise in older patients in both eastern and western Washington. Last month health officials repeatedly warned that the spike in patients 20-39 would not remain isolated to their age group for long, and that appears to be bearing out with a rise in cases in people 40 and older.

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"I’m very concerned to see these increases in older age groups, as we predicted. This was likely following the recent spike among younger people," said Secretary of Health John Wiesman. "We all have a responsibility to protect the most vulnerable people in our communities."

The good news, according to the DOH, is that the data does prove one point: mask use can be an effective tool in slowing the spread of the disease. The DOH says that cell phone data from counties that are reducing transmissions shows that the people in those counties are as mobile as ever— but since people are still moving through their communities, it must be increased mask usage keeping transmissions low.

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The latest numbers mean that a total of 1,672 Washington residents have died and 61,587 cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed since the pandemic began. The number of coronavirus tests performed since the beginning of August remains unknown due to issues with data reporting, but shortly before July ended DOH officials confirmed that more than 1 million tests had been performed.


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Catch up on the latest developments:

King County launches new plan to enforce restaurant safety guidelines

King County says one of the biggest drivers behind their recent spike in coronavirus cases has been restaurants, taverns and bars, and they're not going to let that continue.

To tamp down on the number of transmissions in those businesses, they've launched a program called Safe Start for Taverns and Restaurants, or SSTAR.

It sends investigators to restaurants, bars and taverns across King County to check and make sure they're following coronavirus guidelines, and in worst-case scenarios, they can take away their permits until they clean up their act.

The program grades businesses on a variety of metrics including mask use in patrons and employees, social distancing and sanitation. If SSTAR inspectors think the restaurant or bar is an immediate threat, they can take away their permit right away, but in most cases the businesses will be given a warning and 72 hours to shape up and come into compliance.

Public health says they'll do everything they can to help those businesses get it figured out, including helping design floor layouts for safe social distancing and offering free masks for employees. Already 423 SSTAR visits have been performed, and Public Health - Seattle & King County says the majority have been successful, with businesses either already in compliance or willing to make changes to improve safety.

Read more: Public Health Program Will Enforce Coronavirus Safety Guidelines

Significant improvements in Yakima County

As mentioned above, eastern Washington has made significant progress slowing the spread of the coronavirus, but special mention must go to Yakima County.

At one point the county had the most coronavirus cases per capita across the whole west coast, now theyve seen fewer than 100 coronavirus cases for 12 straight days. As the Yakima Herald-Republic reports, Wednesday the county reported just 29 new cases— the least new cases they've had since back in early May.

Read the full report on The Seattle Times

Rare coronavirus-related condition appears in more Washington children

A total of 11 Washington children have now been diagnosed with MIS-C, a little-understood but extremely dangerous disorder that has been closely linked with the coronavirus.

MIS-C is a disorder similar at first to Kawasaki's disease: presenting as an inflammation of the heart, lungs, kidneys, skin or other organs in young children. The disorder was first recognized by health care workers in the UK in late April, and much about the syndrome is still unknown.

Washington's first cases were reported in Snohomish and King counties in May. Now, health officials have accounted for a total of 11 cases across King, Yakima, Franklin, Snohomish and Skagit counties. Six are in patients nine or younger, the remainder are in juveniles 10 or older.

Because much about the disease remains unknown, it can only be identified as a disorder occurring in "a patient under the age of 21 with a fever, laboratory evidence of inflammation and severe illness involving more than two organs that requires hospitalization." The patient must also have no other "plausible diagnoses" and have tested positive for COVID-19 or been exposed to the virus at some point.

Read more: Rare Coronavirus Linked Condition Found In 11 Washington Children

Total coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and deaths by county:

CountyConfirmed CasesHospitalizationsDeaths
Adams423 (+6)21 4
Asotin25 12
Benton3,690 (+58)319 (+2)114 (+1)
Chelan1,276 (+21)47 (-1)10
Clallam102 (+2)40
Clark1,749 (+37)16243 (+1)
Columbia1331
Cowlitz472 (+10)42 (+1)5
Douglas908 (+18)357
Ferry22 (+1)00
Franklin3,447 (+35)253 (-2)48
Garfield200
Grant1,422 (+29)8412 (-1)
Grays Harbor109122
Island247 (+6)3211
Jefferson54100
King16,222 (+144)2,072 (+11)670 (+6)
Kitsap721 (+14)57 (-4)7 (+2)
Kittitas360 (+5)1618
Klickitat109 (+1)93
Lewis207 (+10)25 (+2)3
Lincoln22 (+2)10
Mason201 (+14)151
Okanogan836 (+16)26 (+4)3 (+1)
Pacific48 (+1)6 (+1)2
Pend Oreille39 (+1)50
Pierce5,522 (+45)625 (-2)137
San Juan2810
Skagit85881 (-1)21
Skamania57 (+2)51
Snohomish5,369 (+43)704 (+2)191
Spokane 4,277 (+85)302 (+5)79 (+7)
Stevens105 (+3)121
Thurston694 (+14)65 (+1)11 (+1)
Wahkiakum500
Walla Walla495 (+8)35 2
Whatcom970 (+5)8138 (+1)
Whitman103 (+14)10
Yakima10,210 (+43)719212 (+1)
Unassigned168 (-24)2 (-1)3 (-1)
Total61,587 (+670)5,890 (+16)1,672 (+19)

The above numbers are provided by the state Department of Health, and some numbers differ from the totals provided separately by county health agencies.


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