News for the Week of July 26

News highlights for the week of July 26.

Latest Numbers. In Mercer Island, there have been 633 positive cases reported as of July 26. DOH reported a total of 431,743 confirmed cases as of July 28. There have been 6,119 COVID-19 deaths in Washington. As of July 24, 61% of those eligible to receive vaccines have completed an approved vaccination series in Washington. For the latest city and county data, click here.

Masks required for all K-12 students and staff heading back to the classroom. DOH released updated guidance for the 2021-2022 school year. The guidance aims to minimize transmission and maximize in-person instruction and is informed by the latest science, recently released CDC guidance, and recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Read the full news release here.

Region's top health officials issue unified advice: Everyone should mask up in indoor public spaces. Wear a mask in indoor, public spaces. This unified recommendation comes as case counts in our region are rising again, driven largely by the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant of COVID-19.

Situation Reports. The City will be concluding its monthly Situation Reports (SitReps). The final SitRep will be available the afternoon of August 6. Click here to catch up on the latest information and reports.

Information for Businesses

Safe Reopening page update: Information for businesses and organizations. Clarified guidance for employers to report COVID-19 cases; shared resources including tax credits for COVID-related employee PTO, loans, grants, and culturally and linguistically relevant help available to small and midsize employers.

Vaccine News

King County COVID-19 Vaccine Data At-a-Glance. Page updated daily here.

Need vaccine support? Call the DOH support line 1-833-VAX-HELP for assistance.