11/24: Tuesday Briefing

By rebecca No comments

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When we went to air, Governor Inslee was holding a press conference discussing the state’s healthcare system capacity to respond to COVID and other health needs. We’ll interrupt our 6pm reply if there are details to share, or include them during tomorrow’s 3pm broadcast

 

REGIONAL

  • The Tacoma Pierce County Health Department reported 343 new COVID 19 cases today.
    • The County’s 14-day case rate per 100,000 people has increased from 322 at the end of last week to 383 today.
    • For reference, the figure is recommended to be at 75 per 100,000 to consider bringing back youngest students for hybrid in-person learning at schools.
    • The department notes that more people are seeking testing at Pierce County’s mobile sites throughout the county, and the sharp increase in recent testing volume has caused delays in processing and reporting, and estimates that today’s case count is likely an undercount.
  • Pierce County is suspending new jury trials until at least Jan. 11 in response to the coronavirus pandemic
    • Jury trials already in progress will continue and jurors for those cases are expected to show up at their regularly scheduled time.
    • The emergency order affects trials scheduled to start “on or after Nov. 23.” It does not affect bench trials or other court appearances.
    • The court will also suspend all criminal and civil jury trials, starting Nov. 30 until at least Jan. 11.

TACOMA

  • The Tacoma City Council meeting will take place virtually tonight, streamed on TVTTacoma.com and via the city’s facebook Live, and also broadcast on TV Tacoma, at 5 p.m.
  • If you’d like to submit a comment relating to an item on the agenda, written public comments can be submitted to cityclerk@cityoftacoma.org before 4 p.m. or you can also speak during the meeting to share your public comment

TESTING SITES

  • There are numerous free COVID-19 testing sites in our region:
    • For King County locations visit KingCounty.gov.
    • A new site has been established at Highline College in Des Moines.
    • For Pierce County locations, visit TPCHD.org/covidtest.
  • This week’s remaining free mobile testing events in Pierce county include:
    • On Wednesday, November 25th, at MetroParks Peck Athletic Field
    • The county won’t be holding any mobile testing events on Thursday or Friday this week. All residents are urged to stay home and spend Thanksgiving only with members of your household.
    • On Saturday, November 28th, the health dept mobile testing units will be up and running at Key Peninsula Longbranch Improvement Club, Journey Church on Pearl St. in Tacoma, and at the Tacoma Dome.
    • And on Sunday, November 29th, testing will be held at 3 locations: the Narrows Sixth Avenue Park and Ride, Gig Harbor High School, and Key Peninsula Middle School
    • No ID is required and tests are free and open to anyone
    • results are available in 3-5 days
    • Testing runs 10am-3pm.