BA.2 is now 51% of the cases detected in our state, and while places like King and Snohomish Counties are seeing slight increases in new case numbers, overall the state’s numbers are still trending downward. Really, those increases are pretty small, and another key indicator is still falling: COVID hospitalizations.
State Health Secretary, Doctor Umair Shah, says right now they’re monitoring trends here and around the world, and if there was a significant surge, Shah says, “then we would have to look at what our additional tools that we would need to be, perhaps policies need to be looked at, but at this point, we are continuing to just remind people the importance of all the different messages and the actions that we have laid out there.” Those actions include encouraging you to continue masking up in indoor public spaces and crowds, making sure indoor spaces are well-ventilated and, of course, the importance they stress of getting vaccinated and boosted.
State Health says the fourth COVID shot recommendation has received the green light from the Western States Scientific Review Group. Those eligible for a fourth shot are people ages 50 and up and people with compromised immune systems.
Meanwhile, they continue to monitor COVID trends in Washington, the U.S. and around the world. They say the reasons for new COVID case waves prompted by the BA.2 sub-variant likely include that the sub-variant is slightly more transmissible, that mask rules have been loosened and that people are more active. They also point out that those eased rules send a signal to people that life is moving back to normal.
State health leaders also say there’s plenty of doses of a new antibody treatment called Evusheld, which people who had weak immune responses from the vaccines or allergic reactions to the vaccines can take for about six-months of protection.
The other concern is that with federal COVID response funding still in limbo, there might be fewer options for free testing or vaccinations for people with no health insurance. State health officials say there are still mobile and pop-up testing sites and vaccination clinics, which are eligible for FEMA reimbursement. There are also federally-subsidized community and rural health facilities where you could find free COVID services if you need them.
