{"id":557,"date":"2021-02-19T15:29:22","date_gmt":"2021-02-19T23:29:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/daily.ktqa.org\/?p=557"},"modified":"2021-02-19T15:29:22","modified_gmt":"2021-02-19T23:29:22","slug":"2-19-friday-briefing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/daily.ktqa.org\/2021\/02\/19\/2-19-friday-briefing\/","title":{"rendered":"2\/19: Friday Briefing"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"powerpress_player\" id=\"powerpress_player_6482\"><!--[if lt IE 9]><script>document.createElement('audio');<\/script><![endif]-->\n<audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-557-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/daily.ktqa.org\/episodes\/KTQA-DB-20210219.mp3?_=1\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/daily.ktqa.org\/episodes\/KTQA-DB-20210219.mp3\">https:\/\/daily.ktqa.org\/episodes\/KTQA-DB-20210219.mp3<\/a><\/audio><\/div><p class=\"powerpress_links powerpress_links_mp3\">Podcast: <a href=\"https:\/\/daily.ktqa.org\/episodes\/KTQA-DB-20210219.mp3\" class=\"powerpress_link_pinw\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Play in new window\" onclick=\"return powerpress_pinw('https:\/\/daily.ktqa.org\/?powerpress_pinw=557-podcast');\" rel=\"nofollow\">Play in new window<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/daily.ktqa.org\/episodes\/KTQA-DB-20210219.mp3\" class=\"powerpress_link_d\" title=\"Download\" rel=\"nofollow\" download=\"KTQA-DB-20210219.mp3\">Download<\/a> (Duration: 10:46 &#8212; 8.1MB)<\/p><p class=\"powerpress_links powerpress_subscribe_links\">Subscribe: <a href=\"https:\/\/daily.ktqa.org\/feed\/podcast\/\" class=\"powerpress_link_subscribe powerpress_link_subscribe_rss\" title=\"Subscribe via RSS\" rel=\"nofollow\">RSS<\/a><\/p><h1 id=\"state\">STATE<\/h1>\n<div class=\"level1\">\n<ul>\n<li class=\"level1 node\">\n<div class=\"li\">The Washington State Dept of Health has <a class=\"urlextern\" title=\"https:\/\/coronavirus.wa.gov\/news\/covid-19-vaccine-distribution-update-washington-state-department-health-5\" href=\"https:\/\/coronavirus.wa.gov\/news\/covid-19-vaccine-distribution-update-washington-state-department-health-5\" rel=\"nofollow\">issued an update<\/a> on progress related COVID-19 distribution<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"level2\">\n<div class=\"li\">About 1.2 million doses have been administered in our state, and is averaging more than 26,000 vaccinations per day<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"level2\">\n<div class=\"li\">Walmart, Rite Aid, Fred Meyer and QFCpharmacies will be joining Safeway\/Albertsons, Costco, and Health Mart Independent Pharmacies through the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program to be involved in vaccine delivery.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"level1 node\">\n<div class=\"li\">The Department of Health estimates more than 90% of this week\u2019s vaccine allocation to our state was delayed due to severe winter weather elsewhere in the country where vaccines are shipped from.<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"level2\">\n<div class=\"li\">These shipment delays are forcing some providers to reschedule appointments<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"level2\">\n<div class=\"li\">The state-led mass vaccinations sites in Kennewick and Spokane will be closed through the weekend.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"level2\">\n<div class=\"li\">Those with appointments will be contacted by email to reschedule their appointments for next week.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"level2\">\n<div class=\"li\">The Ridgefield mass vaccination site will also be closed Saturday.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"level1 node\">\n<div class=\"li\">The most recent snowstorm greatly impacted the local blood supply, and Bloodworks Northwest is in urgent need of donors to make and keep appointments for blood and platelet donation.<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"level2\">\n<div class=\"li\">Donors must wait 2 weeks after a COVID-19 vaccination dose before giving blood.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"level2\">\n<div class=\"li\">Bloodworks NW is testing all blood donations for COVID-19 antibodies through at least the end of the month, so you get to find out if you&#8217;ve produced antibodies for the virus.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"level2\">\n<div class=\"li\">Individuals can register to give blood at <a class=\"urlextern\" title=\"http:\/\/schedule.bloodworksnw.org\" href=\"http:\/\/schedule.bloodworksnw.org\" rel=\"nofollow\">schedule.bloodworksNW.org<\/a> or call 800-398-7888.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"level1 node\">\n<div class=\"li\">The state Insurance Commissioner again extended his emergency order directing all state-regulated health insurers to make additional coverage changes to aid consumers during the coronavirus pandemic. His order is in effect until March 21st. The previous order was set to expire March 7th.<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"level2\">\n<div class=\"li\">Insurers must Continue coverage for providing telehealth including videoconferencing and phone appointments.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"level2\">\n<div class=\"li\">They must Cover all medically necessary diagnostic testing for flu and other viral respiratory illnesses billed during a provider visit for COVID-19 with no copay, coinsurance or deductible.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"level2\">\n<div class=\"li\">and Insurers must Treat drive-up testing sites for COVID-19 as provider visit with no copay, coinsurance or deductible.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"level2\">\n<div class=\"li\">In addition, if an insurer does not have enough medical providers in its network to provide testing or treatment for COVID-19, it must allow enrollees to be treated by another provider within a reasonable distance at no additional cost.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"level2\">\n<div class=\"li\">All of this may sound familiar if you regularly listen to the Daily Briefing\u2013When the governor issues an emergency proclamation, the insurance commissioner can issue an emergency order related to health care coverage to ensure access to care during a state of emergency that has been declared by the governor, but the commissioner&#8217;s orders are time-limited and must be renewed regularly.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h1 id=\"vaccine_info\">VACCINE INFO<\/h1>\n<div class=\"level1\">\n<ul>\n<li class=\"level1\">\n<div class=\"li\">Washingtonians can find out if they are eligible for COVID-19 vaccines online at <a class=\"urlextern\" title=\"https:\/\/FindYourPhaseWA.org\" href=\"https:\/\/FindYourPhaseWA.org\" rel=\"nofollow\">FindYourPhaseWA.org<\/a>.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"level1\">\n<div class=\"li\">No further tiers or phases have opened up yet, but healthcare workers, first responders, elders 65 years and up, longterm care residents, and those over 50 who live in multigenerational households are all currently eligible.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"level1\">\n<div class=\"li\">For general info on the vaccine, go to <a class=\"urlextern\" title=\"Https:\/\/COVIDvaccineWA.org\" href=\"Https:\/\/COVIDvaccineWA.org\" rel=\"nofollow\">COVIDvaccineWA.org<\/a><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"level1\">\n<div class=\"li\">Eligible King County residents can seek appointment online at <a class=\"urlextern\" title=\"https:\/\/kingcounty.gov\/vaccine\" href=\"https:\/\/kingcounty.gov\/vaccine\" rel=\"nofollow\">kingcounty.gov\/vaccine<\/a> or call 206-263-9600<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"level1\">\n<div class=\"li\">Pierce County residents can sign up for email notifications in advance of future COVID-19 community vaccine events by going to tpchd.org\/notify.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"level1\">\n<div class=\"li\">Anyone wishing to volunteer in vaccination events can learn more at <a class=\"urlextern\" title=\"http:\/\/piercecountymrc.org\" href=\"http:\/\/piercecountymrc.org\" rel=\"nofollow\">PierceCountyMRC.org<\/a><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"level1\">\n<div class=\"li\">Individuals can also go to coronavirus.wa.gov to search for providers, clinics, and pharmacies that may be offering vaccine appointments.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h1 id=\"regional\">REGIONAL<\/h1>\n<div class=\"level1\">\n<ul>\n<li class=\"level1\">\n<div class=\"li\">The Tacoma Pierce County Health Dept reported 113 new COVID cases and 2 new deaths today.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"level1\">\n<div class=\"li\">The county&#8217;s 14-day case rate per 100,000 is 218.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h1 id=\"tacoma\">TACOMA<\/h1>\n<div class=\"level1\">\n<ul>\n<li class=\"level1 node\">\n<div class=\"li\">Starting on Monday, Feb. 22, first-grade students in Tacoma Public Schools will be expected to attend in-person learning four days a week.<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"level2\">\n<div class=\"li\">On March 1, schools plan to welcome students in second grade to in-person learning four days a week.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"level2\">\n<div class=\"li\">The change to four days a week for these grade levels is based on the anticipation that Pierce County\u2019s COVID-19 case rate per 100,000 will continue to stay below 350.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"level2\">\n<div class=\"li\">More info available at <a class=\"urlextern\" title=\"https:\/\/www.tacomaschools.org\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tacomaschools.org\" rel=\"nofollow\">TacomaSchools.org<\/a><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h1 id=\"testing_sites\">TESTING SITES<\/h1>\n<div class=\"level1\">\n<ul>\n<li class=\"level1 node\">\n<div class=\"li\">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.<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"level2\">\n<div class=\"li\">You can go to coronavirus.wa.gov and follow links for \u201cFind Covid Testing Near Me\u201d for specific locations.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"level2\">\n<div class=\"li\">In addition to permanent regular testing locations, The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Dept offers free mobile testing events. The remaining ones this week include:<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"level2\">\n<div class=\"li\">Sat, Feb 20: the health dept will be at Anchor Church on Orchard St. and also at Charles Wright Academy<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"level2\">\n<div class=\"li\">Sunday, Feb 21st: you can get free covid tests in Tacoma at the MDC Child Care Food Program on 945 Fawcett Ave.; in Eatonville at Salvation Army Camp Arnold; or in Bonney Lake at Bonney Lake High School<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"level2\">\n<div class=\"li\">Monday, Feb 22: Sprinker Recreation Center<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"level2\">\n<div class=\"li\">Thursday, Feb 25: Asia Pacific Cultural Center at 4851 South Tacoma Way, and Tacoma Nazarene Church at 3640 S M St<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"level2\">\n<div class=\"li\">Friday, Feb 26: Rainier View Christian Church in Graham<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"level2\">\n<div class=\"li\">Testing runs 10am-3pm.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"level2\">\n<div class=\"li\">If you need later hours, the Lakewood State Emissions Inspection Station is open till 5:30pm<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"level1 node\">\n<div class=\"li\">Some Walgreens pharmacies also now offer free drive-up rapid antigen testing for people Ages 3 and up, including the Walgreens at 38th &amp; Pacific in Tacoma<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"level2\">\n<div class=\"li\">Go to <a class=\"urlextern\" title=\"https:\/\/Walgreens.com\/COVID19Testing\" href=\"https:\/\/Walgreens.com\/COVID19Testing\" rel=\"nofollow\">Walgreens.com\/COVID19Testing<\/a> to pre-register for this testing<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"powerpress_player\" id=\"powerpress_player_6483\"><audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-557-2\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/daily.ktqa.org\/episodes\/KTQA-DB-20210219.mp3?_=2\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/daily.ktqa.org\/episodes\/KTQA-DB-20210219.mp3\">https:\/\/daily.ktqa.org\/episodes\/KTQA-DB-20210219.mp3<\/a><\/audio><\/div><p class=\"powerpress_links powerpress_links_mp3\">Podcast: <a href=\"https:\/\/daily.ktqa.org\/episodes\/KTQA-DB-20210219.mp3\" class=\"powerpress_link_pinw\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Play in new window\" onclick=\"return powerpress_pinw('https:\/\/daily.ktqa.org\/?powerpress_pinw=557-podcast');\" rel=\"nofollow\">Play in new window<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/daily.ktqa.org\/episodes\/KTQA-DB-20210219.mp3\" class=\"powerpress_link_d\" title=\"Download\" rel=\"nofollow\" download=\"KTQA-DB-20210219.mp3\">Download<\/a> (Duration: 10:46 &#8212; 8.1MB)<\/p><p class=\"powerpress_links powerpress_subscribe_links\">Subscribe: <a href=\"https:\/\/daily.ktqa.org\/feed\/podcast\/\" class=\"powerpress_link_subscribe powerpress_link_subscribe_rss\" title=\"Subscribe via RSS\" rel=\"nofollow\">RSS<\/a><\/p><p>STATE The Washington State Dept of Health has issued an update on progress related COVID-19 distribution About 1.2 million doses have been administered in our state, and is averaging more than 26,000 vaccinations per day Walmart, Rite Aid, Fred Meyer and QFCpharmacies will be joining Safeway\/Albertsons, Costco, and Health Mart Independent Pharmacies through the Federal [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[2],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/daily.ktqa.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/557"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/daily.ktqa.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/daily.ktqa.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/daily.ktqa.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/daily.ktqa.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=557"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/daily.ktqa.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/557\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":558,"href":"https:\/\/daily.ktqa.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/557\/revisions\/558"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/daily.ktqa.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=557"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/daily.ktqa.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=557"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/daily.ktqa.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=557"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}