1/26: Tuesday Briefing

By sam No comments

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 15:01 — 6.9MB)

Subscribe: RSS

STATE

  • After the State’s COVID-19 Assistance Hotline experienced high call volume yesterday, the Department of Health added more staff and capacity, and lines are fully open.
    • An alternate number which still works is 888-856-5816.
  • Governor Inslee was in the middle of a press conference when we went to air; we expect to update you tomorrow with any actionable news or additional resources.

VACCINE INFO

  • Washingtonians can find out if they are eligible for COVID-19 vaccines online at FindYourPhaseWA.org.
    • Those currently eligible for vaccination include the following individuals:
      • All people 65 years and older
      • People 50 years and older in multigenerational households, defined as someone caring for their grandchild, niece or nephew.
      • This equates to roughly 1.7 million Washingtonians, in addition to all those in Phase 1A who were able to be vaccinated in late December and early January.
      • So far, 500,000 Washingtonians have received their first vaccine dose.
      • All vaccine providers in the state will be able to administer up to 100,000 initial vaccine doses per day with at max infrastructural capacity.
    • Next up but not yet currently eligible will be Phase 1B tiers 2-4, which include those who work in group settings that include agriculture, food processing, correction facilities, grocery stores, public transit, schools, and child care.
    • The Washington State Department of Health, along with the Washington State National guard and other partners, is launching 3 mass COVID-19 vaccination sites in Eastern Washington and one in Clark County
      • The sites are currently offering vaccinations by appointment only for those in Phase 1A or in Tier 1 of Phase 1B.
      • Appointments can be made by calling the state coronavirus hotline, or online at prepmod.doh.wa.gov
    • Appointments for the two Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department’s COVID-19 vaccination clinics this week filled up in just hours on Friday afternoon, shortly after being announced.
      • The department advises that more pop up clinics are expected, including one in Gig Harbor.
      • Due to registration and email issues for this week’s Lakewood and Puyallup pop ups clinics, the department is resending confirmation emails to everyone who registered.
      • Those who received a green check mark at the end of their registration process have confirmed appointments, but through a form error, there are some instances where individuals signed up for the correct location, but the wrong date, and those individuals will have to swap locations for their appointment.
    • The following health systems and clinics in our region are offering vaccine appointments for eligible individuals:
      • MultiCare, Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, Kaiser Permanente, Sea Mar, Orting Family Practice, OM Life Health Clinic, University Place Medical Clinic, and UW Medicine
    • The following pharmacies also have vaccine programs by appointment:
      • Safeway pharmacies in Bonney Lake & Lakewood
      • Kirk’s Pharmacy in Eatonville
      • Lincoln Pharmacy in Tacoma
      • Alberton’s pharmacy in Puyallup
    • Pierce County Council has approved 4 million dollars from its reserves, to be used for COVID-19 mass vaccination operations
    • SEIU Healthcare 1199NW is looking for current or former healthcare workers to be volunteer vaccinators in locations where they are most needed.

REGIONAL

  • The Tacoma Pierce County Health Department reported 224new COVID 19 cases today and 198 cases yesterday.
    • The County’s average cases per day over the last 2 weeks is 232, and with a 6-day lag to account for data accuracy, the case rate per 100,000 people is 359.
  • Tacomaprobono Community Lawyers are hosting a virtual Eviction Moratorium Update Wednesday, Jan 27th at noon.
    • Landlords and renters from anywhere in Pierce County are welcome
    • Advanced registration is required–registration links can be found on daily.ktqa.org shortly after this live broadcast. Link to register., as well as on the Tacomaprobono Community Lawyers’ facebook page.

SPORT

  • Baseball officials with the Cactus League have asked the MLB Commissioner to delay the start of baseball spring training due to high COVID-19 activity in Maricopa County, Arizona, where the Seattle Mariners and 14 other teams practice in the spring.
  • The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association Executive Board recently announced that when and where safe, high school sports seasons will begin with traditional fall sports Feb 1st.
    • Season 2 will consist of spring sports and is slated to run March 15 to May 1
    • Season 3 will consist of traditional winter sports, and is projected to begin April 26 and run till the end of the school year.
    • More info is available at WIAA.com

TACOMA

  • The city of Tacoma is facilitating the Resurgence Business Loan Program for small businesses can request to borrow up to $25,000
    • Neither collateral nor equity is required, and loan recipients will not have to make payments until 2022.
    • The Loan is available to small businesses with brick-and-mortar establishments, home-based businesses, and food trucks operating within Tacoma city limits with 20 or fewer full-time equivalent employees.
    • A business must have operated for at least six months starting from, or prior to, June 2020.
    • Detailed application information will be available at makeittacoma.com/resurgenceloan.
  • The Tacoma City Council will hold its regular weekly meeting today at 5pm via zoom. It will be broadcast live on TV Tacoma and streamed on Facebook and TVTacoma.com.
  • Wednesday at 6pm, the city of Tacoma will host a 90 minute virtual community meeting to provide information and respond to questions about the Salvation Army site that will be used as a temporary shelter and warming center.
    • Attendees can listen and participate via Zoom with a computer or phone
    • See the City’s facebook page for details, or call 311 and ask for login information for the meeting
    • Clickable links will also be posted at daily.ktqa.org shortly after this live broadcast.
    • https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82813154893 Passcode: 841039

TESTING SITES

  • There are numerous free COVID-19 testing sites in our region, including at Multicare, Franciscan, and Kaiser facilities; at Community Healthcare and SeaMar Community Health Centers; at Cheney Stadium, at the Lakewood State Emissions Testing Center, and more.
    • You can go to coronavirus.wa.gov and follow links for “Find Covid Testing Near Me” for specific locations.
    • In addition to permanent regular testing locations, The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Dept’s mobile testing events this weekend and next week are as follows:
      • Wednesday, Jan 27: Pierce College in Puyallup
      • Thursday, Jan 28: Centro Latino in Hilltop ,Our Savior Lutheran Church at 4519 112th St. E.
      • Friday, Jan 29: Fort Steilacoom Park, Bethlehem Baptist Church located at 48th & Portland Ave E, and Old Spanaway Elementary School
    • No ID is required, tests are free and open to anyone, and most testing runs 10am-3pm, except the Lakewood station goes till 5:30), but check TPCHD.org for specifics
    • Results are available in 3-7 days