June 25, 2020: COVID-19 Joint Information Center Daily Bulletin

Numbers. For the most recent tally of cases by county, demographics, and more, visit the Department of Health's dashboard and the state’s COVID-19 risk assessment dashboard.

Inslee visits Spokane to discuss COVID-19 response and recovery. Gov. Jay Inslee traveled to Spokane today to visit with leaders in local government, health care, and business about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. You can watch his media availability on KHQ Q6.

ICYMI: Gen. (Ret) Jim Mattis wants you to wear a mask. Fellow Washingtonian and former Defense Secretary Gen. (Ret) James Mattis has joined our efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19. Gen Mattis knows now is not the time to let down our guard – maintain your distance and wear your mask. Watch his video message here.

Have questions about face coverings? DOH and the state Joint Information Center are continuing to provide updated information, FAQs and resources about the new face covering requirement that goes in to effect tomorrow. Visit https://coronavirus.wa.gov/masks and www.doh.wa.gov/masks.

Do you need support due to stress from COVID-19? Call Washington Listens, a line that provides nonclinical support to people experiencing elevated stress due to COVID-19. People who call Washington Listens will speak to a support specialist and receive information and connection to community resources in their area. The program is anonymous and no identifying information is maintained. People who staff Washington Listens will receive basic training needed to provide support to individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic. To reach Washington Listens, call 1-833-681-0211. Read the Washington Listens fact sheet.

Food security update. The Washington State Department of Agriculture’s Food Assistance program distributed 1.3 million pounds of food and served more than 192,000 clients this week. In addition, during the first two weeks of June, WSDA and the state continued its support of the COVID-19 response partnership distributing 168,174 Washington Emergency Food Boxes across the state. The governor’s food security coordination team is looking ahead to address staffing concerns in August as Title 32-funded National Guard deployment winds down.

ICYMI: Inslee joins bipartisan coalition of governors requesting federal investments in broadband. Inslee joined a bipartisan coalition of governors who sent a letter to the president and congressional leadership requesting federal investments in broadband, especially in rural communities. Their letter emphasized the importance of broadband in helping economic recovery.

“As COVID-19 continues to impact both urban and rural communities, we are gravely concerned about the compromised digital access that now threatens entire communities, and people’s livelihoods, educational access, quality of healthcare and lives. Our rural communities are particularly less prepared to mitigate the pandemic itself and adapt to what will certainly be a different world in a post-COVID economy, in large part because of the lack of access to broadband.” Read the full letter here.

Resources

Washington 211 COVID-19 Call Center. Do you need information or answers to your questions and concerns about the novel coronavirus (COVID-19)? You can call 1-800-525-0127 or text 211-211 for help. You can also text the word “Coronavirus” to 211-211 to receive information and updates on your phone wherever you are. You will receive links to the latest information on COVID-19, including county-level updates, and resources for families, businesses, students, and more.

Interested in volunteering during disasters and significant events like COVID-19? Register with the Washington State Emergency Registry of Volunteers (WAserv) to partner with public health and others who need assistance in their response to the COVID-19 pandemic.