Inslee talks COVID-19 rates, precautions
Editor’s note: The Herald today introduces Timothy Fairbanks-Clouser, a Washington State University student and writer who will cover the state legislature and government issues.
Gov. Jay Inslee updated the state on rising COVID-19 infection rates and the availability of at-home testing kits in coming weeks during a virtual press conference Wednesday afternoon.
COVID-19-related hospitalization rates are rising and will continue to do so, Inslee said. In light of the omicron variant, the state infectivity rate increased 146% in the last week and daily hospitalizations by 46%, he said.
“We know the next few weeks will be difficult. We expect to see our hospitals become busier. We may see staffing shortages of essential workforce in a variety of our industries,” Inslee said. “I know that Washingtonians are going to be resilient and undeterred in our commitments to continue our efforts.”
The current hospitalization rate is almost as high as the peak during the delta variant wave. Inslee emphasized the importance of being more ambitious when wearing masks so the state can meet the other end of the curve.
“Wearing a mask, getting vaccinated and getting boosted; avoiding unnecessary large gatherings inside particularly,” he said. “These are things that still work, but in all of those cases, we think we can up our game. We can use more effective masking. We can improve our access to testing. We can get more people boosted. All of those are things we can do starting today.”
Inslee said health professionals believe wearing a more effective mask than one made of cotton, such as a KN95 or double masking, particularly with a surgical mask, can help slow transmissibility.
The state is expecting an order of more than five million at-home testing kits, which will be distributed through multiple mechanisms to communities free of charge, said Lacy Fehrenbach, Washington State Department of Health deputy secretary for COVID response.
While the DOH awaits the order for the at-home testing kits, some tests can be found in pharmacies, on Amazon and other online retailers when in supply. Multiple manufacturers and vendors are fulfilling the order due to supply shortages. In total, the tests cost the state approximately $50 million, she said.
“If you’re purchasing an at-home test, think of it like bandaids in your medicine cabinet,” Fehrenbach said. “Order now, plan ahead.”
Inslee said the order significantly expands the availability of rapid and at home-testing for the state. To ensure equitable access, a million tests will be sent to schools upon request and another million to local health organizations to distribute to throughout communities.
Inslee said the state is partnering with Amazon and CareEvolution to expand its COVID-19 testing infrastructure. A web portal is launching in mid-January for all Washintionans to order the test directly to their homes free of charge.
Three and a half million of the tests ordered will be allocated to the state’s web portal, which is separate from the federal portal also being created, he said.
Staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and necessary boosters helps to alleviate the pressure on school districts and other industries facing disruptions as the pandemic spreads, Inslee said.
“[The booster dose] has broader benefits than just the first two doses, it has more consistent results and more long-term immunity compared to natural immunity,” Inslee said. “Getting the booster, you’ll be at better odds of staying out of the hospital than just having had COVID.”
He said the state’s rising infectivity rate drives learning loss, which directly relates to inequity. Lower-income families do not always have the resources to educate their children from home or other means.
“It is our firm and stalwart expectation that we will keep our schools open,” Inslee said. “We believe we have the tools available to provide safety for our students and we’re committed to doing everything we can to use these tools so we can keep our schools open in the upcoming months.”
Inslee believes the state’s current system of monitoring students’ close contacts helps to avoid mass quarantines when a student does test positive for COVID-19.
Fehrenbach restated the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines when coming into close contact with someone who has received a positive test result.
A person does not need to quarantine after close contact with someone who has COVID-19 if they are older than 18 and received all recommended vaccine doses and boosters or those ages 5-17 who have finished the primary series of COVID-19 vaccines, according to the CDC. Anyone who had COVID in the last 90 days using a viral test also does not need to quarantine.
Inslee said students are safe in school when wearing masks and taking other proper precautions. The issue is not with students getting infected in class but outside of school and social settings.
“Obviously, I don’t have a crystal ball about the days to come, but I do believe there is reason to have hope that we will weather this storm because we have the tools available to us to protect ourselves,” he said.