Washington Reports 4 Deaths, 456 More Coronavirus Infections

SEATTLE — The Washington State Department of Health reported four more coronavirus-related deaths and 456 new confirmed cases of the disease in their latest update Wednesday.

The data shows a continuing downward trend for the virus overall, with daily case counts in a consistent decline since mid to late-July.

That said, officials continue to stress that this is not the time to be complacent. The growth curve of the virus was flattened once before in April but case counts skyrocketed as restrictions were relaxed in June and July, and medical leaders warn that a third wave could come in the fall if residents do not continue to follow key safety guidelines.

Deaths Wednesday were reported in King, Kitsap and Snohomish counties.

As of Wednesday's update, a total of 72,161 coronavirus cases have been confirmed, and 1,880 Washingtonians have died since the pandemic began.

The state has also fixed a recording issue earlier this week, allowing them to report the total number of coronavirus tests taken once again. A total of 1,391,309 coronavirus tests have been performed in the evergreen state, meaning just 2.6 percent of tests come back positive. That's a significant improvement since the last time this data was released, when the positivity rate was closer to 6 percent. The state's goal is to test so thoroughly that fewer than 2 percent of tests come back positive.

The CDC changes testing guidelines, Washington will not

The Centers for Disease Control recently announced a new policy reversing longstanding guidelines on coronavirus testing.

The change, developed in part through input from a White House task force, says that testing is no longer recommended for those who have been in close contact with coronavirus patients, as long as they show no symptoms. Earlier guidance had said to test everyone who had been within six feet of an infected person for more than 15 minutes.

The new change has been met with widespread backlash from the medical community, and Wednesday Washington state announced it would not be following the new guidance and would continue to encourage thorough testing. The Department of Health issued a statement, reading in part:

"People with symptoms of COVID-19 or who have had close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 should make testing their first priority."

The DOH does note that patients who have been exposed to the virus may want to wait five to six days before getting tested. That's because it takes a few days for the virus to incubate and grow to a level that can be detected on a test, and earlier tests may result in a false negative.

As much as 40 percent of coronavirus carries can be asymptomatic, so critics say the CDC's new guidance not to test the asymptomatic could, in a worst-case scenario, cause transmission rates to rise further.

Read more: The CDC Has Changed Coronavirus Testing Guidance, But WA Will Not

Study finds link between vaping and coronavirus

A new survey has found that vaping may lead to a higher chance of being diagnosed with COVID-19, at least in young people.

The research, published this month in the Journal of Adolescent Health, polled 4,300 people between the ages of 13 and 24. Using that data, researchers found that those who reported using e-cigarettes were five times more likely to have a confirmed coronavirus case. That rate was even higher for those who used vapes or traditional cigarettes.

The Washington State Department of Health says the study is especially bad news here, because vape use has skyrocketed in younger adults and teens in Washington over recent years. In addition, young adults also represent a disproportionate amount of recent coronavirus cases.

"During the pandemic, people need to do everything possible to keep their lungs healthy," Dr. Kathy Lofy, the state health officer said. "It is so important for people to take advantage of the free tools available to help them break the grip e-cigarettes and tobacco have on them."

Read more: Coronavirus Cases More Common Among Young People Who Vape: Study

Updates to Phase 1 county rules

The state has updated guidance to make restrictions more uniform for all counties still in modified Phase 1 of Gov. Inslee's Safe Start plan.

Currently, only Benton, Franklin, Chelan, Douglas and Yakima counties are in the so-called Phase 1.5, but each of those counties health districts crafted their own plans for modified Phase 1, meaning there are some inconsistencies that the state has decided to correct.

Under the new guidance, Benton, Franklin and Yakima counties can now host outdoor group fitness classes with five or fewer people. They're also allowed to host indoor religious gatherings at up to 25 percent building capacity or up to 50 people, whichever is less. Social gatherings are allowed with five or fewer people, and some professional services can come to work at reduced capacity as well.

Meanwhile, Chelan and Douglas counties can also resume religious services at the same rates, as well as limited activities in regulated pools, curbside or pickup library services and drive-in movies. Unfortunately for shoppers, they'll also see their in-store retail occupancy limit cut from 50 percent to 30 percent.

The state says, under the new guidance, all counties in Phase 1.5 should now have uniform regulations, which will hopefully be more equitable and fair going forward.

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.