State Health Department: COVID-19 data shows encouraging signs as well as reasons for caution Posted: January 29, 2021 741
Seven-day rolling average case counts by age group for Eastern Washington (top) and Western Washington (bottom) showing rebounds in cases after the December holidays, followed by a recent decline in case counts. (Image courtesy State Department of Health)
The Washington State Department of Health Friday released the latest
Declining COVID-19 transmission provides an opportunity to get case and hospitalization rates under control before the faster-spreading in the state. The best estimate of the reproductive number (how many new people each COVID-19 patient will infect) on Jan. 8 was 0.73 in western Washington and 0.71 in eastern Washington. The goal is maintaining a reproductive number well below one meaning COVID-19 transmission is declining for a substantial amount of time.
Gov. Jay Inslee on Thursday announced seven counties, including King, Pierce and Snohomish, would be able to move forward to Phase 2 of the state's reopening plan beginning Monday. The counties are represented in two of the state's regions the Puget Sound and West regions which are part of the state's new phased reopening plan that looks at four different metrics across eight regions instead of a county-by-county approach. During a news.
The changes follow conversations with public health leaders and the state s increasing vaccination rates.
The state was grouped into eight regions, all of which started in Phase 1 of reopening on Jan. 11. Under Inslee’s initial plan, there were only two phases, and the state planned to add more once the situation improved.
In Phase 1, indoor social gatherings are prohibited. Indoor worship services, retail stores, and professional and personal services are limited to 25% capacity. Indoor dining is prohibited, unless restaurants meet “open air” requirements, and outdoor dining is limited to six people per table or two households per table.
To move on to Phase 2, the region must meet the following three of four targets: