Washington Reports 438 New Coronavirus Cases, 4 Additional Deaths

SEATTLE, WA — State health officials reported 438 coronavirus cases and four additional deaths in Washington on Wednesday.

Per the latest data, 75,377 patients have tested positive in the state since the crisis began, and at least 1,935 patients have died from complications linked to COVID-19. According to the state, approximately 311 patients with confirmed or suspected illnesses are currently hospitalized. Overall, hospitalizations have continued to trend downward.

At least 3,234 new illnesses have been confirmed in Washington over the last seven days, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's case tracker. The number of new cases reported statewide has shown steady improvement in recent weeks. However, much of Washington's counties still show a rate of cases by population much higher than the target threshold of 25 cases per 100,000 residents over 14 days.

Health labs have processed at least 1,496,353 tests in Washington since the public health crisis began.

Study finds steroids can help treat critical COVID-19 patients

The World Health Organization is recommending widely available steroids to help treat patients with severe or critical COVID-19 illnesses. The recommendation follows seven clinical trials that found three drugs — dexamethasone, hydrocortisone and methylprednisolone — successfully reduced the risk of death in patients who were severely ill. Right now, the drugs are not recommended to treat those with only minor symptoms.

As the New York Times reports, researchers found steroids helped prevent roughly one-third of the deaths among critically ill patients in the studies.

CDC says a vaccine could be ready by fall, puzzling health experts

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notified health departments across the nation to prepare for a coronavirus vaccine to be distributed in the fall.

Public health officials in Washington and elsewhere have raised concerns that the timeline did not seem plausible to accomplish safely, as several major clinical trials have yet to reach their final stages. Some have expressed concern that a premature rollout prioritizes politics over public safety by cutting short the time needed to fully understand how a vaccine works on the population.

In Washington, the state health officials released a statement Wednesday evening:

The Washington State Department of Health is closely monitoring progress toward development of a vaccine for COVID-19. We are engaged in vaccine planning efforts and we will be ready to distribute a safe and effective vaccine as soon as the time comes. However, all vaccine candidates are still in clinical trials to determine their safety and efficacy.

DOH’s position is that any COVID-19 vaccine should complete Phase 3 trials before being distributed, unless an independent board of scientists reviewing the data finds otherwise based on data from those trials. At this crucial juncture, it is incumbent upon the federal government to critically evaluate these new vaccines for their safety and efficacy in an unbiased way.

In the meantime, DOH will continue working with federal and local partners to build the infrastructure needed for distribution. When a vaccine is ready, we will be prepared to deploy it in a manner ensure that is equitable, safe and timely for the people of Washington.

Read more: Vaccine By Fall A Possibility, CDC Tells States

Pullman police issue first citations over parties near WSU

The Pullman Police Department announced 10 "nuisance party" citations issued of the last week around Washington State University. The police have shifted enforcement strategies for the governor's limitations on large gatherings, as Whitman County has recorded a notable increase in coronavirus cases in recent weeks.

KREM-TV reports the violations are civil infractions, carrying a minimum fine of $250 for the first offense. According to the station, all but one person who was cited were college-aged, and all were hosting parties.

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.