3/24: ONE YEAR OF BRIEFINGS

By rebecca No comments

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Becky and Sam reflect on producing a full year of KTQA Daily Briefings, why we’re wrapping the DB, and what comes next! That conversation begins at 6:35.

PERENNIAL RESOURCES

  • Remember that state-level updates on COVID-19 can be found online in multiple languages at coronavirus.wa.gov, and lots of COVID data displays are available at doh.wa.gov/CovidDataDashboard.
  • Going to wa211.org online or dialing 211 will link you to all sorts of resources for social, health, and financial assistance.
  • Dialing 311 will connect you to the City of Tacoma
  • The state’s Coronavirus hotline is 1-800-525-0127–it’s open 7 days a week 6am-6pm. Mondays have extended hours till 10pm!
  • You can also text the hotline at 211-211

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.
  • The Tacoma-Pierce County health department has a phone line to help people schedule vaccines if they have trouble with online registration or don’t have internet access: Call 253-649-1412, 8 a.m.- 4:30 p.m., 7 days a week.
  • Links to register for health department vaccine clinics are regularly shared via the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department’s social media accounts on Twitter or Facebook, and its website tpchd.org/vaxtothefuture.

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.
  • The governor has released operations guidelines for outdoor recreation in Phase 3 counties, which at this time applies to all counties in Washington.
    • The infomation can be found online at governor.wa.gov in the news section, or at coronavirus.wa.gov in the “Information for Businesses” section.
    • The guidelines apply to staffed outdoor tennis facilities, public and private-Guided ATV activity, paddle sports, horseback riding, Guided fishing tours, Gondolas or Lift Chairs at Downhill skiing and snowboarding resorts, and overnight group summer camps.

REGIONAL

  • The Tacoma Pierce County Health Dept reported 129 new COVID cases today, up from 81 yesterday, and 1 new COVID-related death.
  • The 14-day case rate per 100,000 was 139 as of today.
  • That’s a 24% increase in the last 10 days.
  • About 20% of all Pierce County residents have received at least 1 dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
  • 60% of Pierce County residents 65 and older are at least partially vaccinated.

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.