In the United States through 1 pm (PT), there were 12,349,443 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and a total of 257,274 deaths. In Washington, through 5:30 pm, another 1,717 coronavirus cases were confirmed in Washington, bringing the total number of diagnoses to 141,260, according to the state Department of Health. At least 9,765 people have been hospitalized in the state due to the virus.

Gov. Jay Inslee announced additional financial support funds for families and businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic Friday afternoon.

"We know this pandemic is taking an economic toll," Inslee said during a press conference Friday. "On Sunday we announced $50 million in business supports, but after more discussions with legislators and our agencies, we've agreed on how to more than double that."

In addition to funds announced on Sunday, the total new economic supports amount to $135 million. Included in that total is:

• $70 million in business support grants.
• $30 million for the recovery loan program.
• $20 million for rental assistance.
• $15 million for energy bills for low-income households.

There were 170 cases of COVID-19 in Pacific County through 11:59 pm Saturday. Statewide, there have been 130,040 cases and 2,519 deaths reported in Washington.

Nationally through Monday, noon PT, the USA recorded 13 straight days of more than 100,000 cases of COVID-19. The USA reported 11,114,151 confirmed cases and 246,758 deaths from the virus. Also, 1 million children have gotten Covid-19.

Vaccine Developments

For the second Monday in a row, Americans woke up to positive news about the development of a coronavirus vaccine, this time from Moderna. Preliminary results for the biotechnology company's mRNA-1273 vaccine candidate showed to be 94.5 percent effective in preventing the disease. That comes just a week after news of Pfizer's candidate being more than 90 percent effective in early results.

SOUTH BEND - Pacific County turned in a whopping 84.73 percent voter turnout in the 2020 General Election last Tuesday (Nov. 3). Statewide, the voter turnout is 81.26 percent. A total of 14,134 ballots were tabulated of the 16,681 registered voters in the 39 precincts. The next ballot count is Nov. 24, which is the certification date. The last ballot results in the county were calculated Friday, 4 pm, and there are only five left to count. The next statewide ballot count was scheduled for Monday, Nov. 9.

The coronavirus pandemic continues its surge throughout the United States.

In Washington state, new cases continued to exceed 1,000 cases daily. Through mid-afternoon Sunday, another 1,320 coronavirus cases were confirmed in Washington, bringing the total number of diagnoses to 117,331, including 4,239 deaths, according to the state Department of Health (DOH). At least 8,803 people have been hospitalized in the state due to the virus. Last Wednesday (Oct. 4), health officials reported 1,469 new coronavirus cases -- a daily record for the state -- and 16 more deaths in Washington on Wednesday.

Gov. Jay Inslee made the following statement today congratulating President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on winning the popular vote and the Electoral College.

There were 814 new cases of COVID-19 in Washington as of Saturday night, raising the state total to 108,315 confirmed cases since the pandemic began in March, according to updated numbers released by the state Department of Health (DOH) on Sunday afternoon. There were a total of 2,366 deaths in Washington through late afternoon Sunday.

Through Friday, 9:00 p.m., Washington had put up its highest increase in daily coronavirus cases since mid-July. State health officials, after confirming 1,016 new COVID-19 infections on Friday, declared, "The surge has arrived."

Pacific County had 119 confirmed cases, Grays Harbor County, 722, including 11 deaths; Lewis County, 744, and 12 deaths; and Wahkiakum County, only 10 confirmed cases of COVID-19.

The DOH confirmed 928 new COVID-19 cases in the state Friday afternoon. DOH reported that 8,571 people have been hospitalized in the state due to the virus, and a total of 2,450,122 COVID-19 tests have been administered as of Friday night.

There were a total of 106,573 cases of COVID-19, and 2,366 deaths statewide as of 4 pm Thursday.

Records Set Daily

The country has hardly "turned the corner" as President Trump insists frequently.

As the coronavirus soars across the country, charting a single-day record of 99,155 new cases on Friday and surpassing 9.1 million cases nationwide, tracing the path of the pandemic in the United States is no longer simply challenging

SOUTH BEND - Incumbent Republican State Representative Jim Walsh of Aberdeen is running for reelection for position 1 in Legislative District 19 versus Democrat Marianna Everson of Montesano.

In the United States, there have been 225,434 confirmed deaths from COVID-19, and a total of 8,669,894 cases of coronavirus.

The Pacific County Public Health and Human Services has announced that people who attended the Willapa Valley Fall Sip and Shop Tour on Saturday, October 10, have potentially been exposed to COVID. Someone with a probable case attended the event and was confirmed positive at a later date.

Since this was a public event and close contacts are not known, the department of health has issued a public notice. If you attended this event and feel that you have been exposed, it is recommended that you quarantine yourself for 14 days, monitor yourself for symptoms of COVID-19, and get tested if you develop symptoms.

Through mid-afternoon Sunday, a total of 530 coronavirus were confirmed in Washington, bringing the total number of diagnoses to 98,201, including 2,239 deaths, according to the state Department of Health. At least 8,018 people have been hospitalized in the state due to the virus. The state no longer reports deaths on weekends. Saturday, state health officials confirmed 777 new COVID-19 cases. State health officials confirmed 709 new COVID-19 cases in Washington on Friday afternoon.

What's at Stake

While the U.S. Senate conducts hearings on the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett, the lawsuit deciding the fate of Affordable Care Act (California v. Texas) will be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court in less than a month, which puts the future of the law and the health care of millions in peril.

There were a total of 475 coronavirus cases and 0 deaths confirmed in Washington through mid-afternoon Saturday, bringing the total number of diagnoses to 93,035, including 2,190 deaths, according to the state Department of Health. At least 7,786 people have been hospitalized in the state due to the virus. State health officials confirmed 642 new COVID-19 cases in Washington on Friday in addition to seven new deaths.

Gov. Jay Inslee Tuesday afternoon (Oct. 6) loosened restrictions on a range of businesses and activities, from movie theaters to restaurants to outdoor sports, under his four-part coronavirus reopening plan. The move came after Washington this summer stopped counties from advancing to further stages of reopening under that plan.

In a news conference, Inslee said he wasn't resuming those county-by-county reopenings, but described Tuesday's measures as "targeted things to show how we can do this in a safe way" amid the coronavirus pandemic.

On Wednesday, October 14, people signed up for reverse 911 should get a message announcing that on Thursday at 10:15 a.m. Pacific County will participate in the largest earthquake drill in the nation: The Great ShakeOut.

Earthquakes can happen anywhere, so everyone should know how to protect themselves when an earthquake occurs. Coastal earthquakes can be followed by tsunamis - which is why the Great Washington ShakeOut includes a tsunami drill.

Governor Jay Inslee released a statement Thursday on the Boeing Company's decision to move all 787 Dreamliner production to South Carolina.

"Washington state remains the best place in the world to build airplanes. Boeing's success as a company is a credit to the workers and taxpayers of Washington state. Today's announcement is an insult to the hardworking aerospace employees who build 787s.

"I recently asked Boeing's leadership what the company needs to keep 787 production in Washington state. In all our conversations, they never asked for anything. I understand the serious market forces Boeing faces today. What I don't understand is why the company can't commit to restoring production here when the market for this plane improves.

The U.S. Small Business administration (SBA) has awarded the Washington State Department of Commerce a ninth year of funding to help state small businesses grow through exporting. The $1.35 million grant, part of the SBA's State Trade Expansion Program (STEP), is the largest awarded from a total of $19 million to 48 states.

The Washington State Department of Commerce joins forces with School's Out Washington to fund nonprofits straining to provide after school and summer programs, mentoring and social-emotional supports.

The need for youth programs that provide learning, mentoring and social-emotional support to students and young adults has never been greater, but COVID-19 has significantly impacted the ability of many nonprofits to keep their doors open. The Washington State Department of Commerce is partnering with School's Out Washington to distribute approximately $9 million in state Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding to respond to the impact of COVID-19 by supporting programs serving school age kids and young adults facing the most significant challenges to educational and economic opportunity.

Gov. Jay Inslee announced Thursday that Washington is setting new requirements for commercial airports and recommendations for airlines.

This is a statewide approach to the COVID-19 pandemic to help protect the health and safety of workers, passengers and crew in the aviation sector.

"The steps we're taking will help protect those who need to fly," Inslee said. "This guidance isn't just about SeaTac -- these requirements apply to airports across the state -- Pullman, Spokane, Tri-Cities and Everett too."