12/24: Tacoma Light Trail

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Rosemary Ponnekanti, Director of OceanFest, previews the light of the new year that can be experienced along the Tacoma Light Trail. A new track by Tacoma/Spokane-based artist B-Lyte rounds out this Daily Briefing. 

PERENNIAL RESOURCES

  • State-level updates on COVID-19 can be found online in multiple languages at coronavirus.wa.gov.
  • Dialing 311 will get you to the City of Tacoma’s non-emergency information line.
  • The state’s Coronavirus Q&A line is staffed 7 days a week, 6am-10pm, at 1-800-525-0127. For interpreters in other languages, press # when they answer and say your language.
  • You can also text the coronavirus Q&A line at 211-211 in any language.
  • Dialing 211 will connect you to community resources statewide through United Way, and you can also visit wa211.org online.
  • A number of mental wellness support phone lines and text services are available
  • The “Washington Listens” support line for managing stress is 1-833-681-0211.
  • The Suicide Prevention Lifeline phone number is 800-273-8255
  • The Crisis Text Line provides confidential text access from anywhere in the U.S. to a trained crisis counselor when you Text HEAL to 741741
  • Teens can call or text the Teen Link number at 866-833-6546
  • And individuals struggling with substance use or addiction can call or text the WA Recovery Help Line at 366-789-1511

STATE

  • The governor announced that he will be extending Washington state’s eviction moratorium through March 31, 2021, but details are expected next week after the Christmas holiday.
  • Washington Department of Social & Health Services is expected to provide extra food benefits up to the maximum allowed for each household for January 2021.
    • Those who would normally receive food benefits between January 1st and 4th will see the additional benefits on their EBT cards January 5
    • Those who would normally receive food benefits between January 5 & 20th will receive them and their supplements on their regular issuance dates.
    • Our state’s DSHS will continue to request future federal emergency supplements on a month-by-month basis.
  • More than 1.5 million people have activated WANotify, the system that notifies you if you come into contact with another WANotify user who later tests positive for COVID-19

REGIONAL

  • The Tacoma Pierce County Health Department reported 399 new COVID 19 cases today and 343 cases yesterday.
    • The department notes that record levels of testing over the past several weeks have caught many new cases, but that overall our percent positive percent rate is trending downward.
    • Batch processing of tests at some labs can cause reporting delays, and with the holidays, Pierce County may see more daily case count fluctuations.
    • The 14-day average offers the most accurate look at current COVID-19 disease burden in Pierce County.
    • The County’s average cases per day over the last 2 weeks is 299, and the 14-day case rate per 100,000 people is 464.
    • For reference, community spread of COVID-19 is said to be under control when that figure is below 25 per 100,000 residents.

TESTING SITES

  • There are numerous free COVID-19 testing sites in our region:
    • For King County locations visit KingCounty.gov.
    • Note that King County is no longer allowing individuals to book free COVID-19 tests days in advance, in order to discourage would-be holiday travelers, and to prioritize testing for those who’ve been exposed or those who are experiencing symptoms.
    • For Pierce County locations, visit TPCHD.org/covidtest.
    • The department’s mobile testing units are taking Thursday and Friday off, but will be back this weekend administering free COVID-19 tests:
    • Saturday, December 26: Bonney Lake High School, and at Bethlehem Baptist Church at 4818 Portland Ave E
    • Sunday, December 27, Tacoma Dome
    • No ID is required, tests are free and open to anyone, and most testing runs 10am-3pm, but check TPCHD.org for specifics
    • Results are available in 3-7 days
    • Bonus: Some COVID test sites are also doing free adult flu shots too!
  • A new program even arranges for a test to be delivered to you if you have mobility issues or trouble getting to a test site.
  • Cheney Stadium is partnering with Discovery Health to offer COVID-19 testing Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. through Feb. 28.
    • The site will be closed for the holidays on Dec. 24, 25, 31 and Jan. 1.
    • Individuals looking to get tested are asked to pre-register online at testdirectly.com, and those with health insurance are asked to enter their information during registration as well as bring it with them to the site.