11/30: Monday Briefing & Reporte Semanal de COVID

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Today’s Daily Briefing is accompanied by the Reporte Semanal de COVID, a Spanish-language production of VT RadioUniversal, Latinx En Accion, and the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department.

STATE

  • The governor and the Department of Health (DOH) have launched “WA Notify,” an anonymous exposure notification app whose aim is to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
    • Washington residents who add WA Notify to their smartphones will be alerted if they spent time near another WA Notify user who later tests positive for COVID-19.
    • Officials stated that the app uses privacy-preserving technology jointly developed by Google and Apple to remain anonymous without collecting or revealing any location or personal data of users.
    • The app is available in 29 language and is free to download on iPhone or Android devices.
    • The states of New York, Virginia, and Colorado, along with the countries of Ireland, Canada, and Germany already use tools based on this technology.
    • More information is available at Governor.wa.gov in the “News and Issues” section, or at WANotify.org.
  • Health officials are reminding anyone who traveled outside of the state during the Thanksgiving holiday to follow Washington’s current travel advisory and quarantine for 14 days upon their return, and to consider quarantining if you spent time indoors with people from outside one’s household.
    • The numbers of travelers who passed through SEATAC airport over the week were the largest since the start of the pandemic.
  • If you find that your normal cleaning products are in short supply at stores, note that the following products are verified to eliminate the coronavirus from surfaces:
    • bleach
    • Lysol-brand cleaners
    • hydrogen peroxide,
    • rubbing alcohol 71% or higher
    • Pine Sol-brand cleaners

REGIONAL

  • The Tacoma Pierce County Health Department reported 166 new COVID 19 cases today, but notes that today’s case count is an undercount due to staffing and processing slowdowns related to the holiday.
    • Over the weekend, there were 411 positive cases on Saturday and 267 cases on Sunday
    • 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.
    • The department continues to play catch up and report cases from 2 to 3 days ago in addition to cases from yesterday.
    • In addition, Washington State Department of Health has suspended negative test reporting during the unprecedented surge of testing results, and consequently the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Dept won’t update the test positivity rate and number of total daily tests charts until state DOH resolves it backlog.
    • The County’s 14-day case rate per 100,000 people is 371.
    • 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 homeowners who are past due on their rent or mortgage payments can apply for emergency assistance at piercecountywa.gov/housinghelp

TESTING SITES

  • There are numerous free COVID-19 testing sites in our region:
  • This week’s mobile testing events include
    • Tuesday, Dec 1: Washington State Fairgrounds-Blue Lot in Puyallup
    • Wednesday, Dec 2: PLU and the Asia Pacific Cultural Center
    • Thursday, Dec 3: Bay Terrace Apartments at 2550 South G St., and the University of Puget Sound
    • and on Friday, Dec 4: Tacoma Nazarene Church at 3640 S M St, and at Fort Steilacoom Park
    • No ID is required and tests are free and open to anyone
    • results are available in 3-5 days
    • Testing runs 10am-3pm.