Hello folks!

Here are some updates from TPCHD that may be beneficial to you or those you serve:

 

  1. Everyone 5 years or older can get COVID-19 vaccine, and 12 years or older can get a booster
    1. Use this chart to see if you’re eligible for a booster and which one
    2. Find vaccine information here or contact our call center at (253)649-1412 (8am – 430pm, M-F)

 

  1. Get tested for COVID-19 if you have symptoms or may have been exposed
    1. New walk-up testing site at Sehmel Homestead Park in Gig Harbor

                                                               i.      Open most Mon and Thurs, 8am-4pm and Fri, 12-5pm

                                                             ii.      No appointment needed

                                                           iii.      PCR test only

    1. Your local library system may have home test kits. Call them to check:

                                                               i.      Tacoma Public Library (253)280-2800

                                                             ii.      Puyallup Public Library (253)841-5454

    1. Request free delivery of a home test:

                                                               i.      SCAN Study – test delivered within a day, results within 48 hours

                                                             ii.      Federal Health and Human Services test kits – 4 tests per US household, shipped by USPS within 7-12 days

                                                           iii.      WA Dept. of Health Say Yes! COVID Test– back in stock! 4 tests per WA household, shipped by Amazon

    1. See guidance for testing at home
    2. Businesses and organizations may request testing by filling out this form  
    3. Find all our testing info here or call us at (253)649-1412 (8am – 430pm, M-F)

 

  1. Quarantine and Isolation
    1. Unsure when you should quarantine or isolate?

                                                               i.      Clients and staff in congregate settings should isolate for 10 days if test positive or have symptoms of COVID-19

                                                             ii.      Clients in congregate settings should quarantine for 10 days after their last contact with person with COVID-19 regardless of vaccination status or recovered from COVID-19 infection in past 90 days

                                                           iii.      Staff in congregate settings excluded from work for 10 days after their last contact, but can otherwise follow isolation/quarantine guidance for the general population

    1. Healthcare and human services providers can refer patients for quarantine and isolation at (253) 820-4684 (8am – 10pm, 7 days a week)

 

  1. What should you do if there is a possible COVID outbreak at your facility?
    1. If you discover positive COVID cases amongst your staff and/or guests, inform TPCHD as soon as possible

                                                               i.      If you already have an outbreaks investigator at TPCHD, reach out to them directly

                                                             ii.      If you do not have an assigned outbreaks investigator, call (253)649-1412 (8am – 430pm, M-F) to connect with our outbreaks team for support

    1. See our updated toolkit for homeless service providers. It contains a section on outbreaks to help guide you

 

  1. COVID-19 Data – Cases are continuing to drop
    1. On Feb. 14, our current 14-day case rate per 100,000 is 1,791.7 for Jan. 19-Feb.1, which is:

                                                               i.      38.3% lower than the last 2-week period (date range: Jan. 12-25)

    1. Our current 7-day hospitalization rate per 100,000 is 19.8 for Jan. 26-Feb. 1, which is:

                                                               i.      20.5% lower than the previously reported 7-day period (date range Jan. 19-25)

    1. As of Feb. 9, 64% of all Pierce County residents are fully vaccinated and 68.2% of eligible residents (5 years and older) are fully vaccinated.

                                                               i.      We’ve administered 1,379,617 doses to Pierce County residents and 582,414 residents are fully vaccinated

    1. You can find the latest data on our data page

 

  1. Everyone 6 months or older should get a flu shot; see all our flu info here
    1. Use vaccines.gov to find a flu vaccine
    2. Flu vaccines for uninsured/underinsured adults here

                                                               i.      (Flyer also available in Spanish, Korean, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Tagalog and Vietnamese)

 

  1. Black History Month – See our Facebook posts and meet those making history in Pierce County right now!
  1. Eula Ramroop, Executive Division Director, Franciscan Health System
  2. Alicia Klein, President, Leaders in Women’s Health and Manager, Planned Parenthood Tacoma
  3. Christina Blocker, CEO, Momentum Professional Strategy Partners

 

Please contact myself rhauser@tpchd.org or Jennie Schoeppe jschoeppe@tpchd.org with any questions.

 

Thank you for all the work you do for our unhoused neighbors!

 

Rachel Hauser (She/Her)

Community Health Worker – Rural Comm Outreach

COVID-19 Response

(253)381-7190 • RHauser@tpchd.org

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