Summary:

A new public campaign launched, called “Stand Together, Stay Apart.” Public Health—Seattle & King County launched a new data dashboard to update daily case counts and deaths. Public Health announced 82 new cases of COVID-19 today, bringing the official case count in King County to 1359. In addition, six new deaths are reported, bringing the total of deaths in King County to 100.

Story: Stand Together, Stay Apart

Public Health—Seattle & King County has launched a new public information campaign called, Stand Together, Stay Apart in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The campaign urges people to stay home, limit their contact with others, and take the necessary precautions when making essential trips outside the home.

It includes a 30 second video message from Dr. Jeff Duchin, Health Officer for Public Health, shared on Twitter.

Additional social media messages are appearing on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

The purpose of everyone staying home, even people who are young and healthy, is to slow the spread of COVID-19 and help preserve the stability of our healthcare system. 

Data dashboard shows total cases, deaths and demographics

Starting today, Public Health—Seattle & King County will be announcing daily updates to COVID-19 cases and deaths in a new format. A data dashboard goes online today that includes much more information about the status of COVID-19 cases in King County. Many residents have been wondering how many people have tested positive in their city or zip code. Some have been asking about the age ranges of those who test positive or who have died. All of this information is available via the new dashboard, at www.kingcounty.gov/covid/data

The dashboard will be updated daily between 1:00 and 2:00 p.m., pending the receipt of data from key sources, including the Washington State Department of Health. Yesterday, due to reporting difficulties, the totals supplied were estimates. The dashboard includes a timestamp of the most recent updates.

Because there are delays in reporting data from various laboratories, meaning case totals for any given day are commonly reported two or three days later, a graph showing the trend of COVID-19 cases may appear to be flat or declining – but we must assume that this does not actually represent a decline. As more data arrives, each recent day’s count will go up. The total case count and its rate of increase is a better indicator of current trends.

The dashboard includes important information that appears when a user hovers over key data points. A mobile version is also available.

For additional information about COVID-19 and the response in King County, be sure to check our webpage: www.kingcounty.gov/covid

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 3/24/20.

• 1359 confirmed positive cases (up 82 from yesterday)
• 100 confirmed deaths (up 6 from yesterday)

Important Note: With the launch of the new data dashboard described above, Public Health will no longer be listing individual deaths by age and gender in our News Release. Detailed information about demographics of those who died from COVID-19 is available on the dashboard. 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—Seattle & King County has determined that they need isolation or quarantine.

Five people are currently staying in a King County isolation and quarantine facility.  

King County has opened the second of several planned isolation and quarantine sites. Located at 1132 N. 128th Street in North Seattle, this location will have space for 31 people.

The number of people in King County’s isolation and quarantine sites will be included in regular updates provided by Public Health—Seattle & King County. No other identifying or personal information will be provided.

Note to media:

Public Health provides confirmed numbers of cases reported to us, including numbers of deaths, each day that are official through 11:59 p.m. the night before. No other details about cases can be provided at this time.

Public Health will no longer be listing individual deaths by age and gender in our News Release. Detailed information about demographics of those who died from COVID-19 is available on the dashboard. Be sure to click the button to filter by “positive results only” to see age and gender of deaths.