3/23: Tuesday Briefing

By rebecca No comments

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VACCINE INFO

  • Lots of folks are eligible to receive vaccines right now; find your eligibility status and places you can access the vaccine at coronavirus.wa.gov
  • Veterans of any age can get vaccinated by directly calling the VA 206-716-5716.

STATE

  • The Washington State Department of Commerce will open applications for business grants on March 29th.
    • Grants are up to 25 thousand dollars, and open to industries that had to close as a result of COVID public health measures.
    • More info and application links available at at commercegrants.com.

REGIONAL

  • The Tacoma Pierce County Health Dept reported 81 new COVID cases today and zero new COVID-related deaths.
  • The 14-day case rate per 100,000 rose to 140.
  • In neighboring King County, Covid-19 cases are up 31% from just 2 weeks ago, with outbreaks linked to restaurants, bars, and travel.
  • Even though the current Moratorium on residential rental evictions has been extended to June 30th,anyone having trouble paying rent or utilities can apply for financial assistance by going to https://piercecountywa.gov/housinghelp or by calling 211 and asking to be referred to rental assistance.
    • Eligibility is open to those renting apartments or homes, renters staying in hotels or motels, people renting an RV space, those renting from a family member or friend or renting a room in a shared house, as well as those using a section 8 voucher.

TACOMA

  • The Tacoma City Council will hold its weekly meeting this afternoon at 5pm; it will be broadcast on TVTacoma and streamed on Facebook and TVTacoma.com.

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 offers free mobile testing events, found at tpchd.org/covidtesting
    • If your business or organization has the capacity to serve as a mobile testing site OR a communicty vaccination site, call 253-649-1412 or email TSmith@TPCHD.org.
  • Some pharmacies also offer take-home self-testing kits or drive thru rapid antigen testing.