9 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Thurston County; total grows to 36

The Olympian

Nine new cases of COVID-19 — six on Saturday and three more Sunday — were announced over the weekend by Thurston County Public Health and Social Services.

The new confirmations push the total number of cases to 36, the data show.

The county also announced three cases on Friday and 10 on Thursday. Prior to that, the county had confirmed 14 cases since March 11, but that figure has doubled in a matter of days not weeks.

Interim Thurston County Health Officer Diana Yu has said the county expected to see “a slight jump in cases” because the newest cases would’ve come from exposure before state restrictions were put in place. She also mentioned an increased local capacity for testing.

Across the state, the total number of cases has grown to more than 4,300 with 189 deaths, including 136 deaths in King County, according to sate Department of Health data.

Around the world, more than 700,000 cases of COVID-19 have been reported, including a world-leading 139,000 cases in the U.S. The virus is responsible for about 33,000 deaths, but nearly 150,000 people have recovered from the respiratory illness, Johns Hopkins University data show.

Follow these steps to limit the spread of COVID-19

• Stay home.

• If you have to go out in the community, keep a distance of 6 feet or more between you and other people.

• If you work, work from home if you can.

• Avoid contact with people who are sick.

• Wash your hands with soap and water, often.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.

• Cover your mouth/nose with a tissue or sleeve when coughing or sneezing.

• If you are sick, stay home and avoid close contact with others.