CORONAVIRUS: Tuesday 8/11 roundup

| Coronavirus | West Seattle news

Five months ago today, a major day in COVID-19 response – many schools decided to close. The pandemic has yet to recede, and we’re still presenting nightly toplines, so here we go:

KING COUNTY’S NUMBERS: From the Public Health daily-summary dashboard:

*16,830 people have tested positive, up 81 from yesterday’s total

*679 people have died, up 3 from yesterday’s total

*2,053 people have been hospitalized, up 10 from yesterday’s total

*340,150 people have been tested, up 2,486 from yesterday’s total

One week ago, those totals were 15,779/657/1,984/307,450.

ANOTHER WEST SEATTLE DEATH: 98136 just recorded its 3rd death. For the record, here are the current totals for the other four zip codes that are all or partly in West Seattle:

98116 – 2
98106 – 3
98146 – 9
98126 – 14

STATEWIDE NUMBERS: Find them here.

WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: Find them here.

BRIEFING TOMORROW: Want to get the statewide status? The weekly media briefing with the state’s COVID-19 response leaders is tomorrow (Wednesday) at 2 pm; it’ll be streamed here.

NEED FOOD? Again this week, 2-5 pm Wednesday and Friday, you can drive up or walk up and get a free box of food at Food Lifeline‘s HQ (815 S. 96th).

GOT INFO? westseattleblog@gmail.com or text/voice 206-293-6302 – thank you!

Max V August 12, 2020 (12:29 am)

81 is good but I hope it’s not just a fluke for today

Bandana August 12, 2020 (7:15 am)

Agreed. Hopefully widespread mask use is beginning to show results.
Friend O'Dinghus August 12, 2020 (8:15 am)

I agree. Getting the infection rate down as low as possible is critical as our migration indoors begins this Autumn. I believe emerging evidence of how the small, expelled respiratory droplets become aerosolized is key to controlling this virus. The smallest droplets, flung far and wide as we speak, sing, cough, sneeze, can suspend in the air just long enough for the ambient low humidity (in indoor climate controlled spaces) to cause the moisture to rapidly evaporate away. Once this occurs, the remaining RNA can remain aloft much, much longer, and drift much, much farther away from the source; the virological equivalent of a brush fire jumping a fire break. When combined with crowded or poorly ventilated spaces, these characteristics result in mini hot zones. Stay safe all. Strength through study!
lg August 12, 2020 (10:04 am)

It’s a much lower number of tests, about a 1/5 of the tests for one of the days recently when over 10,000 tests were run. I’m guessing that is why the number is low. Percentage-wise this would be a pretty HIGH positive rate relative to other days, I am guessing (without doing the math).
- West Seattlite August 12, 2020 (11:40 am)
  
  The daily positive test rate is about equal to the positive test rate for the last week, 3.3% and 3.2% respectively.
CAM August 12, 2020 (3:26 pm)

It’s my understanding that the state has acknowledged they are reporting inaccurately low numbers in regards to testing consistent with recent testing problems in other states.
- WSB August 12, 2020 (3:37 pm)
  
  We have published two recent statements from the state. Their most recent update is here:
  https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/Coronavirus

Mj August 12, 2020 (8:44 am)

I am not a fan of big government, however providing universal free flue shots this year seems like a no brainer to me. Also staying on daylight savings time until the pandemic is defeated would be helpful.

pilsner August 12, 2020 (11:38 am)

Actually how about we go back to standard time now and forget about DT.

Lagartija Nick August 12, 2020 (1:26 pm)

I just got off the phone with my doctor. Was supposed to have an in person appointment but it was switched to a phone appointment because he said Harborview is getting a lot more patients with covid19. He said most in person appointments are being cancelled due to the influx of covid19 patients. Here we go again.

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