Public Health – Seattle & King County reminds our community to respond to the need for blood donations. Also, faith-based and cultural communities continue to be a vital source of support. Public Health reported 269 new cases of COVID-19 today, bringing the official case count in King County to 3167. In addition, 8 new deaths are reported, bringing the total of COVID-19 deaths in King County to 208.
Blood donors needed to maintain local supply
Social distancing directives have meant the cancellation of the school and employer blood drives that maintain the local blood supply, putting our local blood supply in danger of collapse. While inventories are now holding steady as faithful donors and first-time donors respond to the urgent need, continued help is needed as social distancing continues.
Blood donation is exempt from Governor Inslee’s Stay Home, Stay Healthy order. Blood donation is a controlled activity conducted using strict sanitation measures. Routine blood donor screening methods are expected to reliably protect the blood supply, and there have been no reported cases of transfusion-transmitted coronavirus.
New donors are needed now to step-up and save a life, and for donors to make this a generous and consistent habit. All types of blood are needed for cancer treatment, trauma cases, and many other situations. The process only takes an hour and actual donation time is about 10 minutes.
Bloodworks Northwest has more information on coronavirus, who is eligible to donate blood, and donation locations at www.bloodworksnw.org/coronavirus.
Bloodworks is accepting donations by appointment-only in order to comply with social distancing guidelines. You can make an appointment for donation by visiting www.bloodworksnw.org or by calling 800-398-7888.
Faith Leaders Provide Strong Support In Times Of Physical Separation
With the Stay Home, Stay Healthy order now in effect through May 4, connecting with faith-based and cultural communities continues to be a vital source of support. In March, Public Health – Seattle & King County had the opportunity to stand in solidarity with faith and spiritual leaders who are building unity and connection in times of physical distancing. Go to the Public Health Insider Blog to watch a video of faith leaders sharing how they are providing support for their communities.
Temporary changes in reporting of negative COVID-19 test results
COVID-19 test result data displayed on King County’s COVID-19 data dashboard (www.kingcounty.gov/covid/data) is provided by the Washington State Department of Health (WA DOH). As of April 4, 2020, WA DOH has temporarily stopped reporting data on negative test results. As a result, we are no longer displaying information on negative test results on our data dashboard.
Case updates
Public Health—Seattle & King County is reporting the following confirmed cases and deaths due to COVID-19 through 11:59 p.m. on 4/4/20.
- 3167 confirmed positive cases (up 269* from yesterday)
- 208 confirmed deaths (up 8 from yesterday)
*Many of the new cases being reported today were diagnosed in days prior and do not necessarily represent a spike in new cases. The “new confirmed positive cases” figure we publish each day represents all new confirmed cases reported to us through 11:59 the night prior. Some of these test results were processed on days prior but were delayed in being reported to us.
Important Note: Detailed information about demographics of those who died from COVID-19 is available on the data dashboard (www.kingcounty.gov/covid/data). Be sure to click the button to filter by “positive results only” to see age and gender of deaths.
Isolation and quarantine facilities update
Isolation and quarantine is a proven public health practice for reducing the spread of disease. Examples of people who may need this assistance include people who cannot safely isolate from a family member who is elderly or medically fragile, or people experiencing homelessness. Individuals can only be placed into the King County sites after a health professional with Public Health has determined that they need isolation or quarantine.
Thirty-nine people are currently staying in King County isolation and quarantine facilities.
The number of people at King County’s isolation and quarantine sites will be included in regular updates provided by Public Health. No other identifying or personal information will be provided.