County metrics
On Nov. 2, our 14-day case rate per 100,000 is 428.1. The 14-day case rate offers the most reliable look at COVID-19 disease burden on Pierce County.
Our hospitalization rate is currently 12.2 per 100,000.
Help on the way for contact tracing and investigation
The Pierce County Council recently approved $4.15 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to provide contact tracing and close contact investigation support for public and private schools. We’re supporting the program and will ask the Board of Health to approve a vendor Nov. 3.
Our schools workgroup met Oct. 28 to provide updates and receive feedback on this work. We’ll meet with private school leaders Nov. 8 to share updates and answer questions.
Updated guidance
The state Department of Health updated its Symptom Decision Tree and Contact Tracing Checklist for K-12 Schools. Changes include:
- Guidance for people with a cough changed again. If you have a cough, you’ll need a COVID test regardless of number or duration of symptoms.
- You have a fever if your temperature is 100.4 degrees or higher.
- More clarity for several flows to next steps.
CDC now recommends fully vaccinated people exposed to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 should be tested 5-7 days later, regardless of symptoms.
DOH updated several documents Oct. 27:
Highlights include:
Schools must offer a 7-day negative test quarantine for close contacts. You can return to school on day 8 if you receive a negative COVID test given 5 or more days after the last time you were exposed. This test can be PCR or antigen but not over-the-counter (OTC). If your family or student decides not to test to shorten quarantine, you must follow a longer quarantine period determined by the district. Schools may choose 10 or 14 days, but we strongly recommend 14. If you’re vaccinated and exposed, you don’t have to quarantine.
You can find help prioritizing where to trace contacts if your resources are limited. Examples of high-priority areas include:
- Buses.
- High-contact indoor sports.
- Meals where students aren’t 6 feet apart.
- Indoor classrooms where students aren’t 3 feet apart or mask wearing is inconsistent.
Low-priority areas include:
- Halls.
- Restrooms.
- Meals where students are 6 feet apart.
- Outdoor classrooms/activities
Students who take part in extracurricular performing arts don’t have to wear masks if they’re fully vaccinated or use screening testing. Those activities include:
- Theater (plays and musicals).
- Speech and debate.
- Competitive dance.
Those students must undergo screening testing at least twice a week.
DOH also clarified guidance on screening testing for athletes in high-risk indoor sports. All unvaccinated athletes must undergo a rapid antigen test either the day before or day of competition.
Vaccine updates
We expect Pfizer vaccine will be available for Pierce County children ages 5-11 soon—possibly by the end of this week.
All public schools in Pierce County have a vaccine partner to provide COVID-19 vaccines at schools. Reach out to yours today to coordinate. We will have 5,100 doses for this age group in stock this week.
Based on data and past behavior, we expect low demand for in-school vaccination. National polls suggest 34% of parents of kids ages 5-11 plan to vaccinate right away. Only 10% of parents prefer to vaccinate their children in schools. 60% prefer the pediatrician’s office.
Resources from Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department
We’ve expanded our testing options! Schools now have access to LetsGetChecked take-home PCR tests that can be used for anyone 2 years of age or older. Request your supply of free test kits now. Our Testing Branch can also provide the following test kits to schools:
- CareStart rapid antigen
- BD Veritor rapid antigen
- EverlyWell PCR self-test (ages 16+)
Contact epitesting@tpchd.org to request. You should also each out to Health Commons schools@healthcommonsproject.org to enroll in the state’s Learn to Return testing program if you haven’t already.
We’ve updated our COVID-19 Case Response Toolkit to reflect DOH’s most recent Symptom Decision Tree for Schools. We’re working on updates to reflect the Oct. 27 updates from DOH.
We’ve prepared a testing guidance memo for schools conducting COVID-19 testing on a regular basis. The BinaxNOW COVID-19 test is one of the most widely available antigen tests in the U.S., but there’s a national shortage right now. We encourage you to use other antigen tests or PCR tests while supplies are low.
We’ve received 21 Test to Stay applications! Many districts and schools have begun offering this to families and students. Interested in having your school participate? Fill out an application online. Have additional questions? Review our recently released Test to Stay FAQs and infographic.
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