A useful tool to help make sense of increasing COVID-19 infection rates

When Steve Lerch, Executive Director and Chief Economist of the Washington Economic and Revenue Forecast Council, gave the updated forecast in June, it was clouded by uncertainty—“the virus has a 50 percent chance of going up or continue going down after state and local gathering bans are lifted.” The already grim economic picture painted by the pandemic had the risk of becoming even worse if the spread of the virus ticked up as local and federal authorities lifted stay home orders.

It’s hardly a month later, and it is starkly obvious that decreased restrictions have led to an increase in virus transmission rates, with some places in the U.S. seeing their hospitals fill to near capacity.

Even here in Washington state, many localities are facing rapidly rising transmission rates. Still others have seen little change or even a decrease in the community spread of the coronavirus, which adds a layer of complexity to leadership decision-making for local governments—including ports.

The landscape as defined by COVID-19 therefore remains undefined and littered with unforeseen hazards. It requires our constant vigilance and attention, from the far-reaching implications of economic fallout to the very real health impacts on our communities.

As a decision-making and informational resource for port leadership and staff, the Washington state COVID-19 Risk Assessment Dashboard provides real-time information about the comprehensive picture of the virus in Washington. You can use the interactive tool to find a wealth of information about indicators that matter to your port district, or more broadly across Washington. It can help you chart a course through the difficult terrain the pandemic presents.