COVID-19 BULLETIN
Recap of Recent COVID-19 News and Updates
Thursday, July 15, 2021
Contact:
Public Information Desk
doh-pio@doh.wa.gov
Statewide Response Updates
Newest numbers. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 420,921 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on July 14. There have been 6,036 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 Washington Ready and COVID-19 Risk Assessment Dashboard.
July 14 public health media briefing. Secretary of Health Umair Shah provided an update on the state's COVID-19 response. He was joined by Lacy Fehrenbach, deputy secretary; Michele Roberts, acting assistant secretary; and Lauren Jenks, assistant secretary. View the briefing here.
Washington reaches 70% vaccination initiation milestone. As of July 12, 70% of people 16 and older have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. This percentage includes vaccination rates from the Washington State Immunization Information System and aggregate data from the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Read the full news release here.
DOH SARS-CoV-2 sequencing and variants report. This weekly report summarizes genome sequencing coverage of Washington SARS-CoV-2 specimens from multiple laboratories from across the United States and our state. It provides a statewide view of sequencing capacity and data, including breakouts by county and demographics. Read the full July 14 report here.
SARS-CoV-2 vaccine breakthrough surveillance and case information resource. This weekly report provides data and criteria on fully vaccinated people who test positive with SARS-CoV-2 and may or may not develop COVID-19 symptoms. Read the full July 14 report here.
Inslee rescinds two proclamations related to COVID-19 pandemic. Gov. Jay Inslee today gave advance notice of the termination of two proclamations related to the pandemic to give stakeholders time to adjust their procedures. Read the full news release here.
State launches SmartWA dashboard to help small businesses reopen safely. To help small business owners identify the safety protocols most likely to be important to customers, the state Department of Commerce recently launched a new SmartWA business decision support system and COVID-19 dashboard. Watch this short online demo.
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 DOH 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 weekly Economic Resiliency Team 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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