Everett – State and local health experts on Tuesday expressed, in strict terms, the need for people to take immediate action to stop the spread of Covid-19.
New cases of coronavirus in Snehomish County and statewide are surpassing previous record highs, while hospital admissions are also on the rise. Officials warned that if the situation does not improve, they will again impose some restrictions on businesses and social gatherings so that the health care system is not overwhelmed with sick people.
“If we had a dashboard, every light was flashing red and every warning market would be closed,” Snowhomish County executive Dave Somers said in a news briefing. “The third wave of the virus seems to be the biggest wave yet. The fact that we count the most cases in the winter months is that everyone’s spine should be sent down. “
Experts say people do not wear masks, especially indoors. So wear a mask, wash your hands and socialize with only five people outside your home each week.
“We know what Covid-1 cases are, we just need to do it,” said John Lynch, an infectious disease doctor at Seattle’s Harborhead Medical Center, during a separate briefing with state and local health experts.
As the holiday season approached, they said, “It’s very dangerous to celebrate with people near you.”
“It’s important to know that we can get covid from people we know, love and trust,” said state health officer Lacey Fehrenbach.
The top health officer in Snowham County, Dr. Chris Sputters said the new sanctions would be “inevitable” if people did not take immediate action.
“Not after the holidays, not next week, not tomorrow – now,” he said.
State health officials and the government. Jay Isle’s chief of staff acknowledged that the epidemic was exhausting. Also, they warned that further action would be needed until people were able to cope with their fatigue and change their behavior – perhaps even a statewide investment-home-like sequence imposed last spring.
“Everything is on the table,” said Kathy Loffey, the state’s health officer. “Unfortunately, if we continue on this ball, at some point we may need to resume sanctions.
Insley is on vacation but is expected to hold a news conference early Thursday to discuss the situation.
David Postman, his staff chief, said nothing was stopping the governor from taking immediate action, but he wanted to give people a chance to “re-calibrate” their behavior to make the turn.
“It simply came to our notice then. We need people to take it seriously, “said Postman.
If Tuesday’s appeal by health officials does not bear fruit, “we will have another press conference to discuss the sanctions,” the postman said.
King County Health Officer Dr. Jeff Duchess warned that if the epidemic worsens, authorities must act quickly.
“Covid-19 is a viral wildfire and we are the fuel,” he said. “Unfortunately, we don’t have time to wait and see what works.”
Last week, more than 1,000 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Snowhomish County, according to the Snowhomish Health District. There were four days in which each single single-day exceeded 140 in total. The new record is 250.
The two-week case count, which ended on Saturday, found 190 infections per 100,000 people in Snowhomish County. Six weeks ago, she was 46.
The previous record high was reached in March, which was 129.
At the same time, the number of people admitted to the hospital due to the virus, which closed in the mid-20s last week, had risen to 44 by Tuesday morning. If the situation worsens, as expected, it will test the capacity of hospitals in the area, Spitters said.
“It’s happening across the state,” he said. “We have nowhere else to send our patients if we can fill the space here. This is definitely a warning sign. What we see in hospitals today is a transmission that happened three weeks ago. ”
The potential lack of beds and protective equipment is not the only concern.
Lack of nursing means beds can become unusable, as there is no staff to care for patients.
Deaths from covid are also on the rise.
Of the 35 deaths reported in October, 20 percent were under the age of 50, Spitters said.
“These are some of the terrible numbers we’re seeing,” he said. “I think we have to accept that we will have a very long winter.”
Around the county, indoor social gatherings where people don’t wear masks are a major factor in spreading the virus, Spitters said.
“When is it a good idea to keep more than five? Never, ”said the spitters.
But virus transmission “comes from all directions,” he added.
“When you have so much transition in the community, and the economy that is trying to open up, sick people show up to work,” Spitzer said. “They don’t feel sick at the time, but someone gets a positive test or they get sick and go home and then get a positive test, and now we have a case at work and they must have infected someone else.”
However, workplace clusters larger than five cases are rare, he said.
The increase in cases is not the result of an increase in testing.
However, as more tests are being conducted in Snowham County, the weekly rate, as well as the number of people experiencing the symptoms, has increased, the weekly health district report said.
The county’s largest test provider reported a 10% positivity rate last week, with 15% of tests returning positive over the weekend, Spitters said during a call with state leaders on Tuesday.
Six weeks ago, less than 3% of county tests were positive.
The weekly report also listed 19 outbreaks in the county’s business, including four restaurants, two retail stores, a government agency, a gym, a bar and a school.
One restaurant was connected to 11 infections.
Spitters refused to identify the industries.
If consumers are in danger of being exposed, the health district will recognize and close the business, he said.
“Usually the problem is behind the counter, or back in the kitchen, and supporters don’t meet the definition of contact in terms of time and proximity.”
Cases are also coming up in about six long-term care homes. There have been 55 cases at a Monroe facility, and the epidemic is not considered resolved.
The serious news comes in the same week that the pharmaceutical company Pfizer announced that it may have developed a vaccine that would be 0% effective against the virus.
Somers said the county is ready to distribute the vaccine, with early doses going to very sensitive populations.
However, before one becomes available to everyone, it will take several months and possibly a year.
“The fruit of the vaccine offering is not imminent,” Spitters said. “They will not help us in this current wave. They will not help us even if the fourth wave comes. ”
The story was contributed by Herald author Jerry Cornfield.
Joy Thompson: 425-339-3449; [email protected]. Twitter: byjoeythompson.
