COVID-19 BULLETIN
Tuesday, March 23, 2021
Contact:
Public Information Desk
doh-pio@doh.wa.gov
Recap of Recent COVID-19 News and Updates
Statewide Response Updates
Newest numbers. The Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 334,841 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on March 22. There have been 5,186 COVID-19 deaths in Washington.
For the most recent tally of cases by county, demographics, and more, visit the Department of Health's dashboard and the state’s Road to Recovery Metrics dashboard.
Tuesday, March 23, 2021, data note: Negative test results data from Nov. 21-30, 2020, are incomplete. Thus, negative test results and percent positivity (Testing tab) for that period should be interpreted with caution. Otherwise, the incomplete time frames presented in the dashboard are correct and up to date. The Epidemiologic Curves tab is the most accurate representation of COVID-19 activity and is updated daily as new cases are identified.
State-led mass vaccination sites administer more than 130,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine. Since the four state-led mass vaccination sites opened Jan. 26, a total of 131,483 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been given out. Read the full news release here.
DOH COVID-19 vaccine distribution update. As of March 13, more than 2,517,506 doses of vaccine have been given across the state, which is nearly 80% of the 3,165,350 doses that have been delivered to our providers and long-term care programs. Washington is currently averaging 44,165 vaccine doses given each day. Read the full news release here.
DOH updates guidance documents regarding masking, quarantining, and recommendations for fully vaccinated individuals. These updates are in line with recent CDC announcements and include information on Phase 3 of Gov. Inslee’s Roadmap to Recovery plan where appropriate.
The DOH Resources and Recommendations page contains a full list of COVID-19 public health guidance documents. Send questions to COVIDExternalAffairs@doh.wa.gov.
FEMA, state, and county partners to accelerate COVID-10 vaccinations in Yakima County at a pilot vaccination center. A pilot Community Vaccination Center (CVC) will open in Yakima on March 31 to accelerate COVID-19 vaccinations to Yakima’s historically underserved communities at high risk of infection. Read the full news release here.
Inslee rescinds state travel advisory to align with CDC travel advisory guidance. Gov. Jay Inslee rescinded his November 2020 Travel Advisory and is advising Washingtonians and others visiting Washington to comply with the Center for Disease Control’s current COVID-19 travel advisory guidance. Read the full news release here.
Statewide COVID-19 outbreak report. This weekly document provides an overview of reported COVID-19 outbreaks in our state, based on information in DOH's Washington Disease Reporting System (WDRS). Read the full March 19 report here.
Coping with COVID-19: Suicide prevention. Most of us have experienced feeling burned out, exhausted, and overwhelmed as we navigate the challenges of COVID-19. The risk of suicide, depression, hopelessness, and substance use is typically highest during the disillusionment phase of a disaster, and it’s what we’re seeing right now. Contrary to common belief, the greatest risk of suicide is during the spring, not winter. It’s important we learn how to talk about suicide and suicide prevention when people in our lives may be struggling. Read more or listen to the podcast here.
Resources
Latest COVID-19 reopening guidance for businesses and workers. A full list of current reopening guidance from the Governor's Office is available here.
Find a COVID-19 testing location near you. To make it easier to find a test near you, the Department of Health has created a webpage to help people find COVID-19 testing locations throughout the state.
Guidance and resources for employers and business owners. Sign up for the Economic Resiliency Team weekly business and worker newsletter here.
The state COVID-19 Assistance Hotline is a general information line related to COVID-19. If you need information or have a general question, call 1-800-525-0127, then press # or text 211-211 for help. New hours of operation are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday, and 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and observed state holidays. You can also text the word “Coronavirus” to 211-211 to receive information and updates on your phone wherever you are. You will receive links to the latest information on COVID-19, including county-level updates, and resources for families, businesses, students, and more.
Washington Listens helps people manage stress and anxiety they may be experiencing because of COVID-19. If you or anyone you know is having difficulties managing stress, call the Washington Listens support line at 1-833-681-0211. Hours are from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. TTY and language access services are available by using 7-1-1 or their preferred method. Resources and self-help tips are available on walistens.org.
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