The Washington State Department of Health reported 187 new COVID-19 cases and 17 additional deaths on Sunday, bringing the statewide totals to 10,411 cases and 508 deaths.
King County continues to be the hardest hit with 4,222 cases and 292 deaths while Snohomish County has 1,844 cases and 70 deaths.
Pierce County reported 931 cases and 20 deaths on its website. The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department said on its website the case count likely is low because the Washington Disease Reporting System experienced slow Electronic Laboratory Reporting System uploads and then went offline for emergency maintenance. The numbers could increase again on Monday.
All of Washington’s 39 counties except Garfield County have reported at least one case and 17 counties have reported at least one virus related death.
USDA Unveils Tool to Help Rural Communities
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today unveiled a one-stop-shop of federal programs that can be used by rural communities, organizations and individuals impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The COVID-19 Federal Rural Resource Guide is a resource for rural leaders looking for federal funding and partnership opportunities to help address this pandemic.
“This resource guide will help our rural leaders, whether they are in agriculture, education, health care or any other leadership capacity, understand what federal assistance is available for their communities during this unprecedented time,” Perdue said.
For more information on these actions, visit www.usda.gov/coronavirus.
Central Washington resources to support high priority long-term care needs
After consulting with local authorities, Gov. Jay Inslee and Vice Admiral (ret.) Raquel Bono, M.D, announced today a decision to utilize Central Washington medical resources to help those most vulnerable to COVID-19.
The state has requested about 100 U.S. Health and Human Services personnel and other resources recently deployed to the former Astria Regional Medical Center in Yakima now focus on long-term care facilities where COVID-19 is occurring in other parts of the state.
The Astria facility, which was identified as suitable for 250 low-acuity patients to relieve local hospitals, will be retained and can be quickly reopened in the event of a surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations.
Inslee said the decision was a positive move in the fight against the coronavirus.
“Thanks to the cooperation of communities and businesses across Washington, ‘Stay Home, Stay Healthy’ is slowing the spread of the virus,” he said. “But we can’t let up now, and we need to continue to explore a range of options and assess the best use of our alternative care facilities to ensure they are always available where the need is greatest.”
