12 New Deaths, 832 Additional Coronavirus Cases In Washington

SEATTLE, WA — State health officials confirmed 832 new coronavirus cases in Washington on Tuesday and reported a dozen additional deaths linked to COVID-19.

According to the Department of Health, at least 392 patients are currently hospitalized with confirmed or likely COVID-19 illnesses across the state — an increase of 27 from the day before.

The state continues to closely monitor hospital activity and occupancy, coordinate transfers and reprioritize distribution of protective gear to frontline workers as needed.

Nearly 6,000 new illnesses have been confirmed in Washington over the last seven days, representing a statewide case rate of 633.6 per 100,000 residents, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s case tracker.

The highest rate of cases by population continues to be seen in central Washington counties.

Since the crisis began, at least 48,575 people have been infected with the coronavirus in Washington, translating to a positivity rate of 5.8 percent among the 841,184 tests performed. According to latest state data, approximately 1,465 residents have died.

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Catch up on the latest developments:

UW Medicine begins statewide antibody study

UW Medicine will begin a major study this month to give researchers and state leaders a better idea of the prevalence of COVID-19 infections across Washington.

The new research project will involve three rounds of antibody tests for 7,000 residents, selected from a wide range of demographics and geographical regions, including urban and rural areas.

A similar study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tested samples from 16,000 people in 10 U.S. regions between late March and early May, finding virus rates approximately 10 times higher than the numbers reported.

Washington’s study, funded by the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, will similarly concentrate on populations who may not have sought tested to begin with, including people who experienced no symptoms and disproportionately impacted minority groups.

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Researchers hope to have the first round of data available to the public in the fall. Each participant will undergo two additional rounds of testing over eight months to give a clearer picture of how long antibodies remain in patients with previous infections.

State health officials and the governor’s office will use the new data to help steer the evolving response to coronavirus moving forward into the fall.

“Data is a crucial tool in helping us fight this pandemic and safely reopening our economy,” Inslee said in a statement. “This study and partnership will provide vital insights about the trajectory of COVID-19 in Washington.”

Read more: New UW Study Will Track COVID-19 Prevalence In Washington

Washington added to list of quarantine states by New York, Connecticut and New Jersey

Three northeastern states added Washington to a growing list of places where travelers must quarantine for two weeks upon arrival. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Minnesota was removed from the joint travel advisory Tuesday, but 10 were added, including Washington, Alaska, Delaware, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska and Virginia.

In New York, the governor imposed a $2,000 fine for travelers who fail to fill out a form at the airport, and they also face mandatory quarantine orders, if necessary.

The expanded order comes as COVID-19 positivity rates continue to climb in dozens of states across the U.S.

Read more: Washington Added to NY, CT, NJ Quarantine List

New poll finds strong support for continued restrictions, mask use in Washington

A new Crosscut/Elway poll, conducted among a group of registered Washington voters, found a majority in favor of pausing reopening plans or reimposing restrictions, and nearly three-quarters who said they wear a face-covering in accordance with state mandates.

The survey found 26 percent of voters in favor of reimposing former restrictions, with 33 percent agreed with the current pause on reopening. Approximately 38 percent said the state should continue with reopening phases.

When it comes to face coverings by party affiliation, Crosscut reported “nearly all” Democrats said they wear a mask when in public, compared to 64 percent of independents and 53 percent of Republicans. Just 10 percent of Republicans said they never wear a mask.

Read more on Crosscut: Poll: Most Washington voters want to pause reopening economy

Total coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and deaths by county:

The above numbers are provided by the state Department of Health, and some numbers differ from the totals provided separately by county health agencies.

[NORECIRC]

This article originally appeared on the Seattle Patch